New Church Research * Hartford Institute for Religion Research has just completed the most extensive survey ever conducted on American churches and reveals that
· 50% of all congregations have fewer than 100 adults, and 25% have fewer than 50.
· Fewer than 10% have more than 1,000 adults.
· 52% are located in small towns and open country.
· Over 66% (200,000) sponsor or support a thrift shop.
· Over 33% (120,000) are involved in tutoring.
· Over 80% have or support a food pantry.
· 62% maintain strong ties to their denominations.
· Religious history is important to ethnic groups
· Church growth in the West has surpassed the South
(PWB 3/22/01 and Explorer 3/27/01)
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