The overall results will be displayed on digital maps showing a picture of the location of all churches in Melbourne. These maps on Powerpoint will be overlaid with demographic information from the recent national census, allowing comparison of churches to local populations – eg Chinese churches to Chinese populations. These maps and results will also be available for each of the 31 municipal cities of Melbourne.
The research will include a study of emerging and house churches, marketplace ministries, recently planted churches, large housing estates without churches and major people-groups largely outside the Church. A directory will be established of Christian ministry organisations in Melbourne – including prayer, outreach, training, campus and caring ministries.
The result will be a first-ever picture of the Church in Melbourne: where churches are – and where they are not. The research is expected to be complete by early 2008.
RESEARCH AND THE 3.3 MILLION PEOPLE "OUTSIDE THE CHURCH"
In our city of 3.8 million people, it is estimated that less than 500,000 people are active members of the Church. This means maybe 3.3 million people are outside the Church, with little faith or knowledge of the Good News of Jesus, but often with great spiritual hunger.
There are some excellent ministries, and some of these people are coming to faith. Some individual churches are growing. Many churches are being planted in the South-Eastern suburbs. But many areas have few churches or other Christian witness. Most churches and denominations plan and act alone – often focussing on their own survival. Many Christians are leaving "their church" to find more meaningful fellowship, worship and ways of ministry. And most of the 3.3 million don't know the Good News and will never think of "coming to church".
Churches trying harder to do the same things will not change this picture. Without radical change the Church in Melbourne will continue as it is (at best).
The aim of this research is to provide a picture of the Church and the city that will challenge and resource the whole Church for a radically new level of collaborative and intentional mission to our city.
In just over 12 months Church leaders will be invited to city-wide and local meetings to receive the results of this work, which will give something of God's view of Melbourne and His Church. The presentations will reveal the enormous resources within the Church as a whole, the enormous opportunities we have together – and the great challenges of ministering to these millions and of influencing the whole life of the city. Without information there is no change.
Will this lead to the changes needed? That will depend on our openness to share the Lord's compassion for our city, our willingness to go beyond what we are used to (including to new expressions of "church"), and our willingness to become a united missionary movement. It will involve much prayer, faith and humility. This is not just a sociological exercise – it is an invitation to a spiritual journey for God's people in our city. There are many people waiting!
(It is great to report that in meetings of the Reference Group for this project over the past 6 months, with official representatives of almost every denomination – Pentecostal, mainline, evangelical – there has been evident enthusiasm about what it would mean to join as One Body to bless our city.)
This Project has been Endorsed by the following Denominations:
Anglican, Antiochian Orthodox, Assemblies of God, Assoc of Christian Ministries, Apostolic, Baptist Union, Christian Brethren, Christian City Church, Christian Outreach Crusade, Christian Revival Crusade, Church & Missionary Alliance, Nazarenes, Churches of Christ, City Life, Evangelical Chinese Churches, Lutheran, Presbyterian Home Missions, Christian Reformed, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist, Uniting, Vineyard Christian Fellowships and Wesleyan Methodist.
Also endorsed by:
The Australian Evangelical Alliance, Forge Mission Training Network (Vic), OIKOS House Church Support Ministry, Bible College of Victoria, Harvest Bible College, School of World Mission, Tabor College.
People interested in praying for or being part of this project are welcome.
Please contact:
TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE: PO Box 2536, CHELTENHAM, Vic 3192 Ph. 9570 2534
Email: office@transformingmelbourne.org Web: www.transformingmelbourne.org
From: Rev. Rob Isaachsen
Coordinator of Transforming Melbourne
and Melbourne Pastors Network