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TechnoratiStill, mainline denominations are rediscovering church planting, says Stetzer. Some of the national churches that have a church planting emphasis include the Reformed Church in America, Assemblies of God, Presbyterian Church in America, the Baptist General Conference, and the Missionary Church.
"They're seeing North America as a mission field needing to be evangelized and re-congregationalized," Stetzer says.
Debunking claims that most new church starts fail within the first year, the study showed that survival and success are markedly greater than realized. The latest research suggested that 68 percent of the roughly 4,000 churches planted each year are still functioning four years later.
Despite the growth, sophistication and diversity of church planting in the United States, one question remains: Why don't we see church planting movements in the Western world like we see in the Global South?
The study suggests that North America has not yet seen a breakthrough in true church multiplication.
But Stetzer sees America growing closer toward a major movement.
"Church planting has grown in its scope, diversity and impact," Stetzer says. "North American churches, networks and denominations are making church planting a growing priority. Such emphases push the church closer toward a movement – where churches plant churches that plant churches across North America and the world."
And Travis remains hopeful.
"I am hopeful that this study and the growing number of outstanding church planting conferences and resources will inspire a new wave of planters in the years ahead," said Travis. "That would be very good news indeed. Launching vibrant new congregations is often a more feasible and more fruitful strategy than attempting to revitalize struggling congregations."
The State of Church Planting USA study was based on interviews with more than 100 denominational leaders (representing dozens of different denominations), 200 church-planting churches and some 45 church planting networks.
