AN ANALYSIS OF BAPTISMS
IN THE LOUSIANA BAPTIST CONVENTION
through the annual church profile reporting year 2009
Keith Manuel - Associate Evangelism Director
This study is an analysis of the statistical information directly or indirectly affecting baptisms provided by Louisiana Baptist Convention (LBC) churches through the Annual Church Profile (ACP) in order to determine trends in evangelistic activity in the Louisiana Baptist Convention churches.
Churches of all sizes are of significant value in the kingdom of God and to Louisiana Baptists. All of our LBC churches are vital to reaching the lost and at the same time, all contain inherent strengths and weaknesses. This report highlights the statistical work of our churches, with the hope of finding ways to become more effective evangelistically, both corporately as cooperating churches and individually as autonomous fellowships.
One aspect of the study deals with larger and smaller membership churches based on resident membership in 2009. Churches with a resident membership of 499 or less (small) were one group (1,289 congregations) and churches with a resident membership of 500 or more (large) were the second group (161 congregations). The ACP showed 385,618 total resident members in LBC churches, the small churches reported 186,717 resident members (48%) as opposed to the large churches reporting 198,901 resident members (52%). There are more small churches than large churches, however, the large churches report more resident members.
Some downplay the importance of smaller churches,
however this study shows
the smaller church is effective in evangelism.
Smaller churches baptized
significantly more people than larger churches.
Smaller churches reported 6,197 baptisms (57%)
and
Larger churches reported 4,619 (43%).
In addition, smaller churches showed
a greater ratio of baptisms to resident membership
than larger churches
Smaller churches(30 to 1)
and
Larger churches (43 to 1).
Smaller churches baptized more youth (1,202/59%)
and more children (1,674/53%)
than larger churches (Youth: 812/41%; Children: 1,477/47%).
In fact, smaller churches in Louisiana
baptized more people every year than larger churches
for the past 15 years.
The second aspect of the study is
the impact of Sunday School or Small Group ministry on reaching the lost.
Churches in the LBC
consistently baptized close to 10% of their Sunday School average attendance.
The following list shows averages for the last five years.
Baptism average 8.7
Baptism average 7.5
Baptism average 7.6
Baptism average 7.0
Baptism average 7.5
While Sunday School’s average attendance declined, worship attendance increased, almost recovering in 2009 from a pre-Hurricane Katrina high of 182,137 in 2004.
In fact, the statistics revealed 2009’s average was higher than 2005’s.
- 2005 172,574
- 2006 157,999
- 2007 159,903
- 2008 168,374
- 2009 173,518
Sunday School or Small Group ministry is still the most important method of reaching the lost. However, Sunday School attendance continues to decline with a slight turn upward in 2009. Conversely, the model of large worship attendance is not producing baptisms and healthy growth.
A third aspect, already briefly mentioned, is the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the entire state. All areas of reporting in 2006 were down except Cooperative Program giving.
| Total Churches | -24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting Churches | -44 | |
| Total Membership | -22,084 | |
| Resident Membership | -30,543 | |
| Worship Attendance | -14,575 | |
| Baptisms | -2,300 | |
| Youth Baptisms | -504 | |
| Children’s Baptisms | -599 | |
| Total Sunday School | -18,377 | |
| Sunday School Attendance | -11,588 | |
| Undesignated Receipts | -10,555,788 |
While Hurricane Katrina severely affected the State of Louisiana, the storm also severely affected our churches that are still rebuilding five years later. Reporting for 2009 compared to 2005 revealed some areas of growth, however, most areas did not show growth.
| Total Churches | -35 | |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting Churches | +41 | |
| Resident Membership | -2,824 | |
| Worship Attendance | +944 | |
| Baptisms | -1,817 | |
| Youth Baptisms | -820 | |
| Children’s Baptisms | -777 | |
| Total VBS | -9,585 | |
| Total Sunday School | -30,897 | |
| Sunday School Attendance | -13,002 | |
| Undesignated Receipts | +24,395,672 | |
| Cooperative Program | +1,658,216 |
Children and youth baptisms are the fourth aspect of the study. Children’s baptisms trend downward since 1990. There was a 41% drop in children’s baptisms from 1990-2008. However, in 2009 baptisms increased over 2008 by 66 baptisms (3095/3161), up 2%. This was the first increase of more than 50 baptisms since 2002 (+156 baptisms). Youth baptisms decreased 29% since 2005 and these baptisms show no significant increase in 2009 (2014 baptisms) over 2008 (2009 baptisms).
The work of churches reporting 1,000 or more in worship attendance is the fifth aspect of the study. In 2009, the ACP showed 19 churches in this category. Churches of this size averaged 103 baptisms. Only 18 of the churches reported average Sunday School attendance that resulted in an average of 1,000. Large churches kept pace with all Louisiana Baptist churches by averaging baptisms of 10% compared to Sunday School average. The 19 churches reported total baptisms of 1,955 or 18% of total state baptisms.
The sixth aspect of the study is an analysis of churches new to the convention for five years or less. Some of these churches are new plants and others are new to the convention. In 2009, the LBC added three more churches (78/81) in this category. This group’s number of churches and baptisms increased significantly in the last 10 years.
The following table shows the number of congregations and the number of baptisms per year:
| Year | # of Congregations | # of Baptisms |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 11 |
| 2002 | 4 | 27 |
| 2003 | 4 | 30 |
| 2004 | 9 | 47 |
| 2005 | 15 | 94 |
| 2006 | 25 | 108 |
| 2007 | 52 | 426 |
| 2008 | 78 | 399 |
| 2009 | 81 | 633 |
While the numbers strengthened and the percent of baptisms to the total of all state baptisms increased (From .09% to 5.86%), the average number of baptisms per church showed these churches averaging less than more established churches, except in years 2007 and 2009.
| Year | New Works | Total State |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5.5 | 7.5 |
| 2002 | 6.8 | 8.0 |
| 2003 | 7.5 | 8.4 |
| 2004 | 5.2 | 8.7 |
| 2005 | 6.3 | 8.7 |
| 2006 | 4.3 | 7.5 |
| 2007 | 8.2 | 7.6 |
| 2008 | 5.1 | 7.0 |
| 2009 | 7.8 | 7.5 |
There is a misconception about newer works baptizing more people than established congregations. When the definition of a new work is stretched to include congregations 50 years or younger the evidence reveals a different reality. In 2009, there were 414 congregations in Louisiana 50 years or younger. These churches baptized 3,247 people or 30.04% of total baptisms in the state as compared to congregations 50 years or older baptizing 7,562 people or 69.96% of total baptisms.
Where the new works (5 years or less) excel is in ratio of membership to baptisms. In 2009, the ratio was 13.3 compared to the rest of the churches 37.1. The new works’ average worship attendance was stronger than churches with resident memberships of 149 or less (104 compared to 68). In addition, baptisms per church were stronger when making the same comparison (7.8 compared to 3.4). However, per capita giving to the Cooperative Program is an issue for newer works. The average per capita gift declined since 2007 at a much greater pace than the rest of our churches while resident membership in the new works increased exponentially.
Year Resident Members New Works Established • 2007 2,379 $70.76 $60.66 • 2008 4,294 $54.00 $58.42 • 2009 8,441 $35.43 $56.93The new work churches are making significant contributions to the work of Louisiana Baptists, but these churches are not without challenges.
The final aspect of the study is an overview of the churches who reported baptisms in five categories: 100 or more baptisms; 10 or more baptisms; 5 or more baptisms; 1 or more baptisms; and 0 baptisms.
The following list includes reporting years 2004-2009.
- 2004/1434 churches reporting
- 13 churches baptized 100 or more
- 371 churches baptized 10 or more
- 690 churches baptized 5 or more
- 1157 churches baptized 1 or more
- 277 churches 0 baptisms
- 2005/1413 churches reporting
- 12 churches baptized 100 or more
- 364 churches baptized 10 or more
- 657 churches baptized 5 or more
- 1136 churches baptized 1 or more
- 277 churches 0 baptisms
- 2006/1367 churches reporting
- 6 churches baptized 100 or more
- 284 baptized 10 or more
- 567 baptized 5 or more
- 1066 baptized 1 or more
- 301 churches 0 baptisms
- 2007/1358 churches reporting
- 10 churches baptized 100 or more
- 309 churches baptized 10 or more
- 595 churches baptized 5 or more
- 1053 churches baptized 1 or more
- 305 churches 0 baptisms
- 2008/1465 churches reporting
- 5 churches baptized 100 or more
- 309 churches baptized 10 or more
- 608 churches baptized 5 or more
- 1120 churches baptized 1 or more
- 345 churches 0 baptisms
- 9 churches baptized 100 or more
- 311 churches baptized 10 or more
- 615 churches baptized 5 or more
- 1127 churches baptized 1 or more
- 323 churches 0 baptisms
In 2009, more than one-fifth (22%) of our reporting churches did not report a single baptism. At the same time, only 42% of our churches baptized what amounts to more than one person every four months.
Louisiana Baptists had less than 10 churches baptizing 100 or more people in three of the last four years.
CONCLUSION
The work of Louisiana Baptists in evangelism is still going strong, although the work has suffered since Hurricane Katrina. The statistical analysis reveals the following observations.
First,
smaller churches seem to connect with the lost
more effectively than our larger churches.
There may be several factors determining this conclusion but one cannot overlook the level of personal interaction with the pastor and/or staff along with the personal connection with church members.
A second observation
smaller churches connect with children and youth
as well or somewhat more effectively than larger churches.
This is true in spite of the perceived lack of programming for children, youth and the churches’ ability to connect with young families that have children and youth in their homes.
The third area of observation deals with Sunday School or Small Group ministry.
The analysis shows the vital correlation between Sunday School and baptisms.
Worship attendance is not an effective indicator of a churches’ evangelistic effectiveness.
Churches must find ways to connect worship attendees with their Small Group or Sunday School programs.
Fourth, Louisiana Baptists are still struggling with the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The probability is high that baptisms would almost reach pre-Katrina levels if Sunday School attendance recovers.
Children and youth baptisms are a fifth area observation. With the trending significantly down in these areas, the call needs to be for churches to refocus their efforts on children and youth.
The sixth observation is the largest churches in our state are keeping pace with the rest of the churches in our state. However, the concern again is in the area of Sunday School average attendance. If the large churches are going to increase baptisms, the focus must be on increasing the average attendance in Small Group attendance.
Seventh, while new works shine in the area of evangelism among Baptists in Louisiana, there is a significant decline in Cooperative Program giving. The cooperative work of evangelism and the ability to sustain the efforts to assist churches in reaching their communities will suffer if the trend continues.
Finally, Louisiana Baptists cannot overlook the opportunity to reinvigorate the work of evangelism in every size church. The statistics reflect a need in all churches for evangelism training and for opportunities that allow church members to share their faith.
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