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December 9, 2025
Title: ASSEMBLIES OF GOD AND DENOMINATIONS: HOW THEY MIGHT (STILL) MATTER
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Jeff Walton
with Institute on Religion and Democracy www.theIRD.org
Statistician Ryan Burge recently wrote an
article
on healthy statistical trends in Assemblies of God churches
across America.
Today, Jeff Walton discusses this article by Burge, in addition to his own personal opinion on church growth in America. Jeff Walton is the Communications Manager and Anglican Program Director for the
Institute on Religion and Democracy.
Click
here to read Jeff’s article.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Do the people in the pews care about a denominational affiliation? Jeff discusses more information from Ryan Burge’s research, specifically within the
Assemblies of God denomination and the theological training their pastors/ministers receive.
Why is the Assemblies of God denomination growing while others are shrinking?
Why is it important to have good, Biblically-based seminaries, church planting networks, and mission-sending organizations for all denominations?
Jeff discusses the need for more of type of evangelism in ALL denominations across the world – not just in America.
Why is the Assemblies of God denomination more ethnically diverse than others?
Click here to help support The Institute on Religion and Democracy.
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May 20, 2021
Title: The Church is Slowly Dying
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Dr. David Ayers
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)
Part 1 of 2
Many churches of all denominations were already in decline before the COVID-19
Pandemic. Now, even more are suffering. Is there hope for a comeback?
Dr. David Ayers is a fellow for Marriage and Family with the Institute for Faith
& Freedom at Grove City College. Click
here to read more on this topic from Dr. Ayers.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Are the vital signs of the Church in American troubling?
Are too many people identifying as NONES? What is a NONE? Dr. Ayers offers
several extremely startling statistics.
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Title: Part 2 of 2 - The Church is Slowly Dying
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Dr. David Ayers
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Are people attending church less?
Are people committed less to the church?
How do we encourage ourselves and others to double down with commitment to our
church?
Can kids/teens really be a witness in their public schools? Are college-age
young adults equipped to be witnesses?
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February 24, 2020
Title: Mega Churches vs Small Churches
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Chelsen Vicari
with Institute on Religion and Democracy www.theIRD.org
Part 1 of 3
Is there really a difference between mega churches in the big city and small rural country churches?
Chelsen Vicari, the Evangelical Program Director at the IRD, has some insight today.
Chelsen is the author of “Distortion: How the New Christian Left is Twisting the Gospel and Damaging the Faith”.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What makes a mega church a “mega church”?
What are some valid criticisms of mega churches?
Can there be spiritual encouragement in a mega church?
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Title: Mega Churches vs Small Churches
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Chelsen Vicari
with Institute on Religion and Democracy www.theIRD.org
Part 2 of 3
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What is the Great Commission?
Why should Christians follow the command of the Great Commission?
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Title: Mega Churches vs Small Churches
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Chelsen Vicari
with Institute on Religion and Democracy www.theIRD.org
Part 3 of 3
Questions/Issues Discussed:
How can every church, no matter the size, fulfill the Great Commission?
What should our focus be, individually, even at church?
You can read Chelsen’s op-ed on this here.
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February 9, 2007
Title: STAND-OUT CHURCHES Segment 1 of 2
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Brad Waggoner
with Lifeway Research www.LifewayResearch.com
What do leading churches have in common? The Director of Lifeway Research, Brad Waggoner, describes the characteristics of leading evangelical churches. Are any of these characteristics evident in your church? For more information, log onto www.LifewayResearch.com
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Title: STAND-OUT CHURCHES Segment 2 of 2
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Brad Waggoner
with Lifeway Research www.LifewayResearch.com
What do leading churches have in common? The Director of Lifeway Research, Brad Waggoner, describes the characteristics of leading evangelical churches. Are any of these characteristics evident in your church? For more information, log onto www.LifewayResearch.com
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August 31, 2006
Title: Church Swap, Church Growth and a Passion for the Lost
Topic: Church Growth
Discussed by Dr. Thom Rainer
with Dr. Thom Rainer www.ThomRainer.com
Is the fire burning in many churches in America? Is Biblical illiteracy growing rapidly in America? Is there hope for the church today? How can we be better disciples of Jesus Christ?
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