More churches are needed for a burgeoning harvest field.

Again, consider the numbers. I heard Dr. Vinson Synan, who was the former dean of the School of Divinity at Regent University say, “Over 85% of all people who come to Jesus will do so in a church, and in conjunction with an invitation from a caring friend.”

And while this is true the church-to-population ratio in United States has been in decline for decades. In 1900 our nation had 27 churches for every 10,000 Americans. By 1950, this ratio had dropped to 17 churches for every 10,000 people. Since 1950, we actually have 30 percent fewer churches to reach the growing number of unchurched people in our land!

There are one hundred and twenty million unchurched people in the United States. That makes us the fourth largest mission field in the world. Truly the work of the great commission is incomplete.

God has placed a burden on my heart for a specific area of the harvest field. After much prayer the Lord directed me to target an area of great growth in Northern Virginia. Gainesville and Haymarket have grown so quickly that the numbers of churches are few in relationship to the growing population. There are over 70,000 people within a given three mile radius of downtown Haymarket. Less than 40% of the population presently attends church making this highly populated and growing area a tremendous opportunity for a life-giving church.

See why start a new church and why I am planting a church?

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