"Seventy-eight percent of Americans say they are "convinced" that God exists"

• 12% think God probably exists, but have "a little doubt";
• 4% think God probably exists, but have "a lot of doubt."
• 4% think God "does not exist, but are not sure,"
• 1% are "convinced" that God does not exist.

Albert L. Winseman, D. Min. "Americans Have Little Doubt God Exists: Belief strong, but not monolithic."The Gallup News Service. December 13, 2005 Copyright © 2006 The Gallup Organization, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved.

In recent years, much has been written and said about the global mission field within North America. The recent flood of immigrants, international students, and guest workers has risen to high levels.

• For instance, Canada, with its supportive immigration policies, is now 18 percent foreign-born. In fact, it is estimated that Canada’s largest city, Toronto, contains over two million foreignborn residents—half of its population.
• The United States has also experienced substantial migration waves the past few decades. The percentage of foreign-born has risen from 4.7 percent in 1970 to 12.5 percent in 2005. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that half of the United States will be of a different race or ethnicity than non-Hispanic white by 2050.

What can be assessed from these statistics? How have we performed as a denomination in including North American people groups into our ministries and missions strategy? 

Read full report (pdf).

Does Congregational Size Influence the Percentage of New People?

• Download PPT
• New People in U.S. Congregations: Who are They and Why Do they Come?  by Deborah A Bruce, Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) presentation at the Religious Research Association (RRA), Kansas City, 2004.
• Like Cheese to a Mouse: Luring New Worshipers:  U.S. Congregational Life Survey Overview