More new churches start in the UK than Starbucks stores
Research to be released at the upcoming Mission 21 conference on church planting reveals that more new churches are starting in the UK than Starbucks stores. This startling new data flies in the face of the image of the church as a dying institution with no relevance to modern society.
While 481 UK Starbucks branches have started since 1998, more than 500 churches have begun during the same period. As this figure is based on only 18 of the more than 400 denominations in the UK, many more churches may actually have opened.
“This is exciting news for the UK church!” declares Graham Cray, Bishop of Maidstone. “It seems that everywhere I look today there is a new Starbucks full of people. It is great to think that the same thing is happening with churches. Jesus has so much more to offer to people’s lives than just a caffeine buzz!”
This research will be formally released 9 March at the Mission 21 church planting conference in Sheffield. Up to 800 church leaders from across the UK Christian scene are expected to attend. Speakers will include Bishop Graham Cray, founder of the Pioneer church movement Gerald Coates and the former vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton Sandy Millar.
Dr Martin Robinson, National Director of Together in Mission, states: “God is not dead and neither is his church. I believe that this research and conference will inspire churches to take God’s message of love to every corner of our nation.”
Mission 21 is sponsored by the Group for Evangelisation, Together in Mission and Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Information on booking for the conference can be found at www.stream247.com
