The Present Future: A Dynamic Workshop with Dr. Reggie McNeal

Friday, January 19, 2007
5:00pm - 6:00pm - Registration
6:00pm - 9:00pm - Workshop

Saturday, January 20, 2007
9:00am - 3:00pm - Workshop
(Lunch provided)

• The current church culture in North America is on life support.
   
• The further down you go in the generational food chain, the lower the percentage each succeeding generation reports going to church.
   
• 90% of kids active in high school youth groups do not go to church by the time they are sophomores in college. One third of these will never return.
   
• A growing number of people are leaving the institutional church for a new reason. They are not leaving because they have lost faith. They are leaving the church to preserve their faith. They contend that the church no longer contributes to their spiritual development.
   
• The world is profoundly different than it was at the middle of the last century. We are entering a new epoch of human history called the postmodern age. The postmodern world will demand a new church expression. Much of what we call church is not going to survive.
  
  
  Whether you are knowingly nodding your head in agreement, shaking your head in disbelief or furrowing your brow with questions, the above statements are true according to Reggie McNeal in his book, The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church. He believes that many of the old beliefs and assumptions held by church leaders and congregations are not working and causing the death of the church culture, as we know it. He adamantly states that this does "not mean the death of the church. The church Jesus founded is good; it is right. The church established by Jesus will survive until he returns."
  
  In The Present Future, McNeal communicates, adds to, supports and enlarges on these worrisome red flags but he also provides a place to start conversations that will encourage a shift in perspective and a refocus of the church’s identity and ministry in a changing world.