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World Need and Giving Potential
Sometimes the level of need around the world is so overwhelming, it is difficult to believe that the body of Christ has incredible potential to meet many of these needs in Jesus' name.
As described in our research, church member giving
is declining as a portion of income, and is currently around 2.55%. The figure
below shows what could happen if giving went up to an average of 10%.
If Americans who identify with the historically Christian church increased their giving to an average of 10% of
income, there could be an additional $170 billion given to the church.1 If 60% of this amount were made available to expand overseas missions activity, that number would mean an additional $102 billion available for overseas missions.
One source estimates that $70-$80 billion would impact the worst of world poverty2 and $5 billion could end most of the 9.7 million under-5, global, annual child deaths3. Also, $7 billion would be sufficient for global primary education for all children.4
One billion would address the costs of global evangelization, according to one estimate.5
You should be aware, that there could also be $34.0 billion more a year for
domestic outreach.6 And this all on top of our current church activities.
Even if money were available for outreach, you may still wonder if positive
global change is possible. The following graph indicates the progress made in
the areas of child deaths, life expectancy, literacy and unreached people groups
over the last several decades. As an aside, demographic experts have noted that
birth rates tend to go down when child death rates decline. Experts now believe
that child death rates need to be addressed in order to tame world population growth.
According to Joshua Project 2000, there were 225 untargeted people groups as of June, 1999. Untargeted means there is no reported on-site church planting effort and no mission organization has committed itself to church planting in the next two years among this people.
This information should encourage us. Progress is possible. And with the
potential resources that could be available, even greater things can happen. At the same time, it also serves as a warning that we can't take this progress for granted. We can make a difference—if we decide to.
Basis for the calculations of potential giving by historically Christian churches in the U.S. in 2006
In chapter seven of The State of Church Giving through 2006, titled "Why and How Much Do Americans Give?" a 2006 figure of total giving to religion was presented in the "Denomination-Based series Keyed to 1974 Filer Estimate." That figure was $71.7 billion.
A figure of 81% was multiplied by the 2006 figure for giving to religion of $71.7 billion to determine what amount was given by those who identify with the historically Christian church. The result was $58 billion. In 2006, if giving had increased to an average of 10% from the actual level of 2.55% given, instead of $58 billion, an amount of $228 billion would have been donated to historically Christian churches. The difference between the $58 billion given and the potential of $228 billion is $170 billion, the additional money that would have been available at an average of 10% giving. The above figure of 81% was based on an empty tomb, inc. analysis of data published in George H. Gallup, Jr., Religion in America 2002 (Princeton, NJ: The Princeton Religion Research Center, n.d. [received 2/28/2002]), p. 40, and referred to that portion of the U.S. population that identifies with the historically Christian church--those communions and traditions, such as Roman Catholic, Orthodox, evangelical and mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, and Anabaptist, that profess a commitment to the historic tenets of the faith.
2Carol Bellamy, The State of The World's Children 2000 (New York: UNICEF, 2000), p. 37.
3Gareth Jones, et al.;"How Many Child Deaths Can We Prevent This Year?"; The Lancet; http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/p1150140673603138111/full text; p.6 of 7/7/03 2:06PM printout.
4Carol Bellamy, The State of The World's Children 1999 (New York: UNICEF, 1999), p. 85.
5The State of Church Giving through 2006, page 58.
6The State of Church Giving through 2006, page 57.
7Data refer to the most recent year available during the period specified by the column footer.
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The child-death counter for 2009 was based on 2007 data which was obtained
from The State of the World's Children 2009 (New York:UNICEF, 2008), p.121.
SOWC09-FullReport-EN.pdf http://www.unicef.org/sowc09/docs/SOWC09-FullReport-EN.pdf
downloaded & printed 1/23/2009. Accessed via http://www.unicef.org/sowc09/report/report.php
It is the most recent data available.
The 9,216,000 annual child deaths were divided by the number of seconds in the year.
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