Why do we need another church in Castro Valley?

Don’t we have enough churches?  Why plant another?  These are reasonable questions. The answer is simple: we don’t need less churches, we need more.

The reality is that Christianity is in decline in the United States.  A slew of surveys indicate this.  According to the Pew Research Center, the percentage of Americans who identify as Christians is steadily declining, and the percentage who have no religious affiliation is steadily rising (see chart).  In 2020, according to Gallup, church membership fell below 50% for the first time in US history (see 2nd chart).  In many ways, these are lagging indicators.  The generation most disaffected by Christianity are young people.  Gen Z is the most non-religious generation in US history, with nearly 50% identifying themselves as non-religious (see 3rd chart).  Which means that the decline in membership that major evangelical denominations, like the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) and even the PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) are currently experiencing, will only accelerate in the future.

The old strategies of evangelism programs and community outreach events are increasingly less effective in a culture that sees Christian morality as retrograde.  The difficult issues of sexuality and politics have to be addressed directly in a thoughtful manner that respects skeptics and yet is firmly grounded in the truths of Scripture. Biblical teaching that is solidly orthodox has to be explained in a compelling manner that will give confidence to believers to bring their unbelieving friends to church. 

New churches, with their energy and dynamism, are uniquely positioned to do this evangelistic work.  Statistically, church plants are the most effective at reaching young people and nonbelievers.  The Bay Area is about 4% churched.  96% of Bay Area residents don’t attend church.  Think about that for a moment.  Jesus said, “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers.”  We don’t need less churches, we need more.