While maybe 70% of the population have had some contact with the Church, and 57% identify as “Christian”, these “contacts” are rarely developed as opportunities to share the Gospel of Jesus. Despite the great resources in the Church, with 1700 over churches and over 3000 Christian mission and ministry organizations, it is estimated only about 5000 come to faith each year in the Church. TM research indicates about 200 people a week cease to attend church and less than 20% of the population and only 8% of people under 34 attend about monthly. The people groups largely absent from the Church include professional people, those less educated, single or divorced or in de facto relationships, or blue collar workers, or under 34.
Most of the City is outside the Church with no real idea what it is or what it stands for. Many see it as useless or a problem to get rid of.
Transforming Melbourne believes this situation is intolerable and that there are clear biblical responses we could take to see the urgent change that is needed. For the sake of the Church that we hand on to our children, and more importantly for the future of our City which depends on the Church and the Christian faith more than it knows. – But how could it know how vital the Gospel is if we don’t know, and we tolerate its decline!