Shocking Statistics

Only 85,000 converts outside of church walls...

10,000 Southern Baptist Convention churches baptized zero; 18,000 baptized five or less; and for the first time in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention we have a decline in attendance. Seventy percent of all Baptist churches are dead, dying or at a plateau. It is being quoted that we baptized 400,000; however; here are the facts. The majority of baptisms were biological, rebaptisms and those joining from other denominations. Only 85,000 were baptisms of the unsaved, unchurched from a pagan culture. This should cause us to weep openly for the souls of the lost. According to Clay Price of the Baptist General Convention of Texas our youth baptisms are mostly biological and, sadly, youth baptism trends have followed a steady decline since 1974. The number of youth baptisms is very small from the pagan, unchurched culture. In 1997, out of 31 million youth in America, we baptized only 93,000 youths. The majority were biological.

Phil Jones of the North American Mission Board states that only 287 churches baptized 100 or more persons (all ages included) and only seven churches 100 or more youth; 58 churches baptized 50 or more youth; 23,518 churches baptized one or less youth; and 17,414  churches baptized no youth at all.

Where is the passion for souls we once had and where are our tears for souls? We have gotten over loving Jesus and loving souls.

"I have somewhat against you, you have left your first love" (Revelation 2:4)

According to Gage, "It is time to quit fighting and go fishing." Jesus said,

"Follow me, and I will make you Fishers of Men." (Matthew 4: 17)