Difference between revisions of "Growth of Christianity"

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*[https://www.brnunited.org/news/good-news-christianity-is-growing-around-the-world/#:~:text=The%20population%20growth%20rate%20is,top%203%20billion%20before%202050! Good news! Christianity is growing around the world!], Baptist Resource Network
 
*[https://www.brnunited.org/news/good-news-christianity-is-growing-around-the-world/#:~:text=The%20population%20growth%20rate%20is,top%203%20billion%20before%202050! Good news! Christianity is growing around the world!], Baptist Resource Network
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Videos:
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea0hheaptPI Christianity Is Still Growing at Epic Rates!]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZuoSF_J9mw Top 10 countries where Christianity is growing the fastest by converting], 2022
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 03:58, April 25, 2024

The prominent historian Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University, indicates that he believes Christianity faces a "bright future" worldwide (See also: Global Christianity).

According to MacCulloch, "Christianity, the world's largest religion, is rapidly expanding – by all indications, its future is very bright."[1]

See also: Future of Christianity

Christianity has seen tremendous growth over its 2000-year history.[2] Christianity has recently seen explosive growth outside the Western World (See: Global Christianity).[3] In 2000, there were twice as many non-Western Christians as Western Christians.[4] In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western Christians as there were Western World Christians.[5] There are now more non-Western missionaries than Western missionaries.[6]

In 2011, the American Spectator declared concerning research published in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research: "The report estimates about 80,000 new Christians every day, 79,000 new Muslims every day, and 300 fewer atheists every day. These atheists are presumably disproportionately represented in the West, while religion is thriving in the Global South, where charismatic Christianity is exploding."[7]

Despite strong persecution in the Middle East, thousands of Muslims are turning to Christ.[8]

Center for Global Christianity - Annual statistics - including projected growth of Christianity statistics

See also: Center for the Study of Global Christianity

The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) declares about their organization that it is "an academic research center that monitors worldwide demographic trends in Christianity, including outreach and mission. We provide a comprehensive collection of information on the past, present, and future of Christianity in every country of the world."[9]

Every year in the International Bulletin of Mission Research the Center for the Study of Global Christianity publishes an annual snapshot of global Christianity which includes projected growth of Christianity statistics.

Center for the Study of Global Christianity, annual snapshot of Christianity in the world:

Projected growth of Christianity graph

See also: Future of Christianity

2016 Projected growth of Christianity graph.[10]

Historical examples of the exponential growth of Christianity

See: Historical examples of the exponential growth of Christianity

Growth of Christianity in China

See: Growth of Christianity in China

Rapid growth of Christianity in Africa in recent times

African Christians clapping at an open air meeting.

In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.[11] See: Global Christianity

See also: Historical examples of the exponential growth of Christianity

Updated figures for 2021 show that there are now nearly 685 million Christians in Africa, already vastly surpassing projected figures for 2025.[12] It shows Christianity continues to grow among every Continent and Tribe, just as was prophesied in the Scriptures long ago by the Prophet Daniel and Saint John the Apostle. The Prophet Daniel saw Christ at the right hand of the Father receive worship from people of every tribe and tongue and St. John the Apostle, in the Book of Revelation, prophetically foretells a vast multitude that no man could number, adoring and praising God and Christ. The updated projection for 2025, from Gordon Conwell, is now an amazing 760 Million!

New data from the Gordon Theological Seminary shows that, for the first time ever, more number of Christians live in Africa than on any other single continent.[13]

"The results show Africa on top with 631 million Christian residents, Latin America in 2nd place with 601 million Christians, and Europe in 3rd place with 571 million Christians."[14]

The statistics from the World Christian Encyclopedia (David Barrett) illustrate the emerging trend of dramatic Christian growth on the continent and supposes, that in 2025 there will be 633 million Christians in Africa.[15]

For more information, please see: Study traces exponential growth of Christianity in Africa

Catholic Church in Africa

Philip Jenkins reported in the Catholic Herald: "In 1900, the whole of Africa had just a couple of million Catholics, but that number grew to 130 million by the end of the century, and today it approaches 200 million. If current trends continue, as they show every sign of doing, then by the 2040s there will be some 460 million African Catholics. Incredibly, that number would be greater than the total world population of Catholics as it stood in 1950."[16]

By 2025, one-sixth (230 million) of the world's Catholics are expected to be Africans.[17][18]

Accordingly, the latest available figures for 2020 show that 640 Million Africans are now Christians, reaching and surpassing the earlier estimate for 2025.[19] As of 2020, Catholics worldwide were 1.33 billion.[20] Similarly, the projections for Catholics have been exceeded, with 234 African Catholics, for the year ended 31 December 2017.[21]

The way that things are going on in the African Continent, there are good prospects of there being over a billion African Christians in 20 years.

Growth of evangelical Christianity

Growth of pentecostalism

Members of the Pentecostal Church of God in Lejunior, Kentucky praying for a girl in 1946.

See also: Pentecostalism

Pentecostalism has experienced explosive growth for the past half-century. The membership is young and fast-growing. Combined, the Pentecostals (in separate denominations) and charismatics (inside other denominations) add up to very large numbers. The statistics are highly inexact but the combined total is perhaps one Christian in ten, worldwide.

In 2011, a Pew Forum study of worldwide Christianity found that there were about 279 million classical Pentecostals, making 4 percent of the total world population and 12.8 percent of global Christendom Pentecostal.[22]

The American sociologist and author Peter L. Berger introduced the concept of desecularization in 1999.[23][24] According to Berger, "One can say with some confidence that modern Pentecostalism must be the fastest growing religion in human history."[25] See also: Growth of pentecostalism and Growth of religious fundamentalism and Historical examples of the exponential growth of Christianity

Phillip Jenkins published the 2011 book The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity.[26]

Chuck Colson, citing the work of Jenkins, writes:

“ As Penn State professor Philip Jenkins writes in The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, predictions like Huntingtons betray an ignorance of the explosive growth of Christianity outside of the West.

For instance, in 1900, there were approximately 10 million Christians in Africa. By 2000, there were 360 million. By 2025, conservative estimates see that number rising to 633 million. Those same estimates put the number of Christians in Latin America in 2025 at 640 million and in Asia at 460 million.

According to Jenkins, the percentage of the world's population that is, at least by name, Christian will be roughly the same in 2050 as it was in 1900. By the middle of this century, there will be three billion Christians in the world -- one and a half times the number of Muslims. In fact, by 2050 there will be nearly as many Pentecostal Christians in the world as there are Muslims today.[27]

”

The atheist author and advocate David Madison, PhD wrote in March 2019: "I remain haunted—and terrified—by what I read on a Christian website, not long after the turn of this century: that by 2025, there will be one billion (yes, that’s with a “b”) Pentecostals in the world."[28]

Internet evangelism

See also: Internet evangelism

Internet evangelism is, as the name suggests, the process of evangelizing and spreading the gospel using the internet.

Cru is one of the world's largest evangelism organizations within Christendom and has over 25,000 full-time missionaries. In 2006, Alan Beeber of CRU predicted that internet evangelism will result in more conversion that all other forms of evangelism for CRU combined.[29] Internet evangelism is effective at spreading Christianity globally - especially in countries where there is Christian persecution and evangelism is more difficult.

The Christian internet evangelism organization Global Media Outreach indicates that it has had over 2.5 billion "gospel visits" to its websites.[30][31] Global Media Outreach works with many Christians around the world (see: Global Christianity).

The Christian internet evangelism organization Network211 indicates that over 56,000,000 web visits have occurred on its websites.[32] Network211 works with many Christians/churches throughout the world.

There are other significant Christian internet evangelism efforts as well. For example, the Billy Graham Association is also active in internet evangelism.[33]

Franklin Graham is the president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

In 2022, the Billy Graham Evangelism Association announced:

“ Launched in 2012, Search for Jesus impacts website users with the truth of the Gospel and relies on a network of over 1,400 trained volunteers who interact with users and answer live questions. With a mission to reach those hurting and in need, Search for Jesus utilizes the accessibility of the internet to reach places otherwise closed to the Gospel.

Using these digital tools, more than 300 million people have indicated a decision for Christ and received follow-up through the internet ministry. To date, the PeaceWithGod.net websites have welcomed over 100 million online users. With messages in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, American Sign Language, and Russian, Search for Jesus has been able to expand globally and cross language and accessibility barriers.

“This is significant because we’re following Billy Graham’s legacy of spreading the Gospel across the globe using every opportunity we have. The average person spends nearly seven hours a day on the internet, so we want to meet these people where they are,” said Mark Appleton, director of internet evangelism for BGEA, in a press release. “Search for Jesus has given us the chance to spread the Gospel like never before.”[34]

”

The Billy Graham Evangelism Association says about its desire for volunteers for its internet evangelism program:

“ People around the world are searching for answers online. Many find hope through Search for Jesus. Would you join us to make a lasting impact for God’s kingdom and see lives changed by Christ? You can serve with us as an online counselor, discipleship coach, or email responder, or get your church involved. If you have a heart for sharing the Gospel, an Internet connection and a few hours a week, consider making Search for Jesus your own personal ministry–a way for God to use you by reaching hurting people around the world in their time of need.[35] ”

The Christian Post states:

“ Online evangelism is producing real disciples for Christ, according to a recent study.

Over half of those who made a decision for Jesus over the Internet have subsequently shared their faith with others, Global Media Outreach's study reveals.

Additionally, 34 percent read their Bibles daily and nearly half pray for at least 10 minutes a day...

The study, called the Christian Growth Index, measured the responses of more than 100,000 people from around the world...

Fifty-one percent of those surveyed said they shared their faith three times or more and 37 percent said they shared their faith at least once or twice.

Global Media Outreach is a global ministry that presents the Gospel online through websites such as WhoisJesus-Really.com and GrowinginChrist.com. There are more than 5,500 trained online missionaries worldwide who respond to questions asked by seekers through emails.[36]

”

Also, many churches stream their services online in real-time and/or provide them on a platform (such as Facebook or YouTube). This is not only for the benefit of members who cannot attend services due to illness or old age, as well as people who live in areas with no Bible-believing church nearby, but also for visitors who want to check out what the church believes and how it conducts services before deciding whether to visit in person and ultimately become members.

Animated maps showing the growth of Christianity in the world over time

Global Christianity trends

Christianity by continent

Hong Kong Christians at Gateway Camp. In 2005, there were four times as many non-Western World Christians as there were Western World Christians.[37]

See also: Christianity by continent and Global Christianity

In terms of its geographic distribution, Christianity is the most globally diverse religion (See: Global Christianity).[38]

Below are articles on Christianity in the six continents which have major populations:

See also

External links

Videos:

References

  1. ↑ Historian predicts 'bright future' for Christianity
  2. ↑ http://users.adam.com.au/bstett/BChristianIncrease12.htm
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Is Christianity taking over the planet?
  5. ↑ https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077
  6. ↑ https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077
  7. ↑ http://spectator.org/archives/2011/02/28/thriving-christianity
  8. ↑ Thousands of Muslims reportedly turning to Christ in Middle East. Fox News (from The Christian Post). January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  9. ↑ Center for the Study of Global Christianity - About
  10. ↑ Total Christian population graph
  11. ↑ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa
  12. ↑ https://www.gordonconwell.edu/center-for-global-christianity/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/12/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2021.pdf
  13. ↑ Johnson, Todd M.; Zurlo, Gina A.; Hickman, Albert W.; Crossing, Peter F. (November 2017). "Christianity 2018: More African Christians and Counting Martyrs". International Bulletin of Mission Research 42 (1): 20–28. doi:10.1177/2396939317739833. 
  14. ↑ Africa overtakes Latin America for the highest Christian population (en) (24 July 2018).
  15. ↑ World Council of Churches Report, August 2004
  16. ↑ Jenkins, Philip, Catholicism's Incredible Growth Story.https://catholicherald.co.uk/catholicisms-incredible-growth-story/. 8 Sept 2016.
  17. ↑ David Barrett, International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Vol. 30, No 1, January 2006, 29.
  18. ↑ Donadio, Rachel. "On Africa Trip, Pope Will Find Place Where Church Is Surging Amid Travail", The New York Times, 2009-03-15. (en-US) 
  19. ↑ https://www.gordonconwell.edu/center-for-global-christianity/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2020.pdf
  20. ↑ http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Catholics-increasing-worldwide,-reaching-1.329-billion-49663.html
  21. ↑ https://cbk.blob.core.windows.net/cms/ContentItems/29708_29708/dossier-fides-statistics-2019-en.pdf
  22. ↑ Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (December 19, 2011,), Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population, p. 67.
  23. ↑ Journal of Church and State, Desecularization: A Conceptual Framework by Vyacheslav Karpov, 2010
  24. ↑ Peter L. Berger, “The Desecularization of the World: A Global Overview,” in The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics, ed. Peter L. Berger (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999)
  25. ↑ Pentecostalism – Protestant Ethic or Cargo Cult?, Peter Berger, July 29, 2010
  26. ↑ The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity by Philip Jenkins. Publisher: ‎ Oxford University Press; 3rd edition (September 13, 2011). ISBN-10: 0199767467. ISBN-13: 978-0199767465
  27. ↑ How Christianity is Growing Around the World by Chuck Colson
  28. ↑ Atheist author and advocate is absolutely TERRIFIED about the future growth of pentecostal Christianity, Examining Atheism, March 2019
  29. ↑ http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf
  30. ↑ If the twelve disciples had iPhones, Religion News Service]
  31. ↑ Global Media Outreach - websites visitors counter
  32. ↑ Network211 - visits
  33. ↑ Billy Graham Association - Internet evangelism
  34. ↑ BGEA Marks 10 Years of Internet Evangelism Ministry ‘Search for Jesus’, National Religious Broadcasters website
  35. ↑ Biiy Graham Association - Internet evangelism
  36. ↑ Study Reveals Internet Evangelism Is Effective, Christian Post
  37. ↑ https://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077
  38. ↑
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