The latest book from researcher George Barna predicts that the church as we know it may be on its way out. Replacing pews and hymnals: "alternative forms of organized spirituality, as well as individualized faith experience and expression."

His evidence includes the upsurge of house churches, participation in marketplace ministries, use of the Internet to satisfy various faith-related needs or interests, and the development of unique and intense connections with other people who are deeply committed to their pursuit of God.

This trend is being driven by people Barna calls, "revolutionaries." They are typified by a strong faith that leads them out of a typical church populated by lukewarm believers and into a more radical pursuit of God and service to Christ.

Barna’s book, "Revolution," is due out Oct. 31.

NEW STUDY: Church buildings and church health

I also took a look at Dr. Thom Rainer’s study for the Cornerstone Alliance on how buildings and building programs impact church health. This is a white paper that can be accessed after inputing personal information on Cornerstone’s site. A major point that emerged from the recent study was that building programs prove overwhelmingly positive to the ministry of a church. The one regret churches expressed over their building programs was that they didn’t build more.

Of course this flies in the face of Barna’s assertion that buildings and traditional church ministry may soon be a thing of the past. In fact, as many builders and church leaders have known for a long time, the majority of churches (81 percent according to this study) actually grow after a facility addition. That may be part simple mathematics and physics—how many people actually fit in your space—but it must also be part vision, as the church leaders call for the congregation to grow.

And of course all the research and speculation about church growth would be incomplete without the recognition that God calls people to himself using multifarious methods and ways. As Thom Rainer might say, "both/and."

With our continuing October focus on discipleship at ChurchCentral.com, I thought some of you may be interested to know about a new Church of the Nazarene Strategic Marriage Initiative. The program is designed to help churches create an intentional ministry to married couples in three distinct areas: premarital preparation; marriage education and enrichment; and marriage crisis intervention.

The program incorporates new print and video materials, as well as training events for pastors, lay couples, and district leaders. Training begins this month with the Nazarene Marriage Enrichment leader couple training in Williamsburg, Va., October 14-16, 2005. Several other training sessions are scheduled for the beginning of 2006.

For information contact Jim Pettitt, coordinator of Family Life Ministries, 816-333-7000, ext.2436 or Familymin@nazarene.org.

Hurricanes expand clergy job descriptions

Finally, it’s week six after Hurricane Katrina and the spiritual leaders in New Orleans are still in full-time emergency ministry mode. From preaching, to counseling, social work and encouragement, the job descriptions for these clergy have never been more broad. A story running on Christianity Today’s Web site provides a peek into the turmoil these servants of God continue to mop up each day.