Here come the Nones
They are the fastest growing religious group in the United States; the “Nones,” the religiously unaffiliated. According to Pew Research in 2021, 3 in 10 Americans now self-identify as religiously unaffiliated. That’s an increase of 6 percentage points from 2016, building upon a 4 point increase from 2011. In the 10 years between 2011-2021, “nones” increased from 20% to 30% of the U.S. population, and there’s no indication that the trend is slowing. As Christianity loses cultural influence, agnosticism is inheriting the increase.
Among millennials, those born between 1981-1996, 40% self-identify as religiously unaffiliated. Gen Z appears to be on a similar trajectory. I don’t think these numbers are particularly surprising to anyone who is paying attention. However, they do beckon the question: How will we respond? Are there ways we can be both more faithful and effective in our gospel witness to an increasingly irreligious society and culture around us?
As missionaries are sent out to minister in various contexts, they gain insights, partnerships, and skills that can be synergized with those who send them. While the multiplication of reproducing disciples is our primary goal in sending missionaries, an underappreciated benefit is that these missionaries learn unique ministry skills and gain broader perspectives that can be of use and encouragement to our North American churches, IF we’re intentional about leveraging them. I’m more than a little excited to join a cohort doing just that. I’ve been recruited to an ABWE project focused on creating a training seminar and curriculum for reaching America’s “Nones.” Our last 14 years of service in the most irreligious nation on earth have given us some unique ministry experiences which we’re excited to distill and transmit in this seminar so that North American churches can effectively reach their agnostic neighbors with the gospel!
It’s been one year since we transitioned ministry assignments, and I wish I could say it hasn’t been at all difficult. Candidly however, it has been one of the harder seasons of our lives as we discover how God is redirecting and recalibrating our ministry, we struggle financially through rising inflation and decreased support, and we steer our 5 teen and 1 tween children toward God-honoring adulthood and helping them adapt to American life. However, it’s also been a tremendous blessing to see how God turns and twists us toward those services ordained for us. While we miss much of what lies behind us, we feel like we’re ministering now in a way that rings true to our giftings and our effectiveness in our labors is being multiplied. Mobilizing North American churches to reach their irreligious neighbors is one part of that bigger picture coming into focus for us. As my research and thoughts develop on this topic I’ll be sharing some of them in upcoming blogs.
We sincerely appreciate your prayers for our ongoing training ministry to missionaries and for this project under development. We would also appreciate your prayers for our regular financial partnerships. We would like to expand our network of partners with this ministry in the Kansas City area, and we would be grateful for your prayers for open doors.
As we look over the records of the individuals, families, and churches who have partnered and are partnering with our ministry, we are filled with deep gratitude for the encouragement that so many have been to us, and the way God has provided for our family and ministry through His people. In the immediate future of ministry, an increase of committed financial partnerships will be necessary. While I try not to inundate our updates with calls for financial support, we also recognize that those who read our updates and are familiar with our ministry are those most likely to partner with us. As we pursue new inroads for financial partnerships, it is the already established paths that bear some of the ripest fruits in this regard. If you’re considering how you can support missions and missionaries in a tangible way, we do need your support. ABWE has a new giving page that should simplify and streamline donations and committed support. https://give.abwe.org/worker/514
Thank you for your partnership in prayer, in purpose, and in every other practical way.
