Evangelicalism's Unexpected and Surprising Future

July 22, 2015 by Soong-Chan Ra

Continued from Page 1

Consider these findings from "The Changing Shape of Boston's Church Community" in New England's Book of Acts (Boston: Emmanuel Gospel Center, 2007). In 1970, the city of Boston was home to about 200 churches. Thirty years later, there were 412 churches. The net gain in the number of churches was in the growth of the number of churches in the ethnic and immigrant communities. Haitian communities began planting churches in 1969, and now Boston has more than fifty Haitian churches. Between 2001 and 2006, ninety-eight new churches were planted in the city of Boston; of those ninety-eight, nearly forty have non-English or bi-lingual services, including Spanish, Creole, and Portuguese. Why was it then, that the majority of the country viewed Boston as a spiritually dead place? This is not spiritual death, it is spiritual life and vitality.

As 21st-century American evangelicals, we are challenged with demographic realities that point to a multiethnic church in the United States on a macro level. Given this reality, do the structures, forms, expressions of white American Evangelicalism serve as an appropriate response? Or does our demographic reality necessitate freedom from the Western, white cultural captivity of American Evangelicalism?

Author's Note: This post is derived from the introduction of The Next Evangelicalism.

Page: 2 of 2

7/22/2015 4:00:00 AM

Future of Faith

Future of Faith: Evangelicalism

Public Square

Culture

History

Immigration

Multiculturalism

Christianity

Protestantism

Evangelicalism

more at patheos

Book of Isaiah in Heavy Metal: Warrior Psalmist's Bold Take

Alan Lechusza Aquallo

What does it mean that Scripture is inspired? 2 Timothy 3:16

B. J. Oropeza

Getting Comfortable in the Company of Angels

Talley Cross

Reviews of Beyond Deconstruction (and an Easter Excerpt)

James McGrath

About

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos