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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 was 2.56% in 2007. 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 $161 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 $96.5
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 9.2 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 $32.0 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 2007
In chapter seven of The State of Church Giving through 2007, titled "Why and How Much Do Americans Give?"
a 2007 figure of total giving to religion was presented in the "Denomination-Based series Keyed to 1974 Filer
Estimate." That figure was $75.1 billion.
A figure of 73.8% was multiplied by the 2007 figure for giving to religion of $75.1 billion to determine what
amount was given by those who identify with the historically Christian church. The result was $55.4 billion. In
2007, if giving had increased to an average of 10% from the actual level of 2.56% given, instead of $55.4 billion,
an amount of $216 billion would have been donated to historically Christian churches. The difference between
the $55.4 billion given and the potential of $216 billion is $161 billion, the additional money that would have
been available at an average of 10% giving. The above figure of 73.8% was based on an empty tomb, inc. analysis
of data published in Barry A. Kosmin and Ariela Keysar; American Religious Identification Survey [ARIS 2008] Summary Report;
Hartford, Conn.: Trinity College, March 2009; p. 5 of 7/4/2009 printout, 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 2007, page 57.
6The State of Church Giving through 2007, 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 2010 was based on 2008 data which was obtained
from The State of the World's Children Special Edition [2010] Statistical Tables (New York: UNICEF, 2009), p.11.
SOWC_Spec_Ed_CRC_Statistical_Tables_EN_111809 http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/SOWC_Spec_Ed_CRC_Statistical_Tables_EN_111809.pdf
downloaded 12/15/2009, and printed 12/22/2009. Accessed via http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_51775.html
The 2008 data is the most recent data available.
The 8,772,000 annual child deaths were divided by the number of seconds in the year.
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