John Ronsvalle Boeken

OVERVIEW of The State of Church Giving through 2017 Chapters update church member data in the U.S., including: —1968-2017 data for a composite set of denominations; —1921-2017 data for 11 denominations; —Future trends; —Denominational overseas ministries support through 2017; —Cost-per-day for various church populations to address global needs; —Potential Catholic giving in ten archdioceses; —An analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2017, and cash contributions to charitable causes; and, —Chapter 8 is the special focus chapter. Downward trends in church giving and membership, explored in the earlier chapters, can be reversed. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has placed eternity in the human heart, but people don't understand. The chapter explores directions people search for understanding, noting Hollywood seems to understand this need better than the church. The church has not but can provide a positive agenda for affluence: Closing, in Jesus' name, the Promise Gap—the difference between: 1) goals set to reduce the global Under-5 Child Mortality Rate (U5MR), and 2) the actual U5MR. Progress tables are included. With an average of 1 million children dying in the Promise Gap each year, the book states, "It's time for the church to stop letting Hollywood have all the good lines."

"You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times." Jesus Christ quoted in Matt. 16:3 NIV.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need" (Luke 12:31, NLT). "Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts" (Ezekiel 14:3, NLT). "No one can serve two masters. Either he will the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money" (Matt. 6:24, NIV). " greed, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5, NIV). " for everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 2:21, NIV). "Why do you call me. 'Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46, NIV). "And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders" (Acts 14:3, NLT). "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" (James 4:17, NIV). "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:14, NIV).