“Because the giving landscape is changing, Barna researchers believe there is extraordinary urgency behind this research. The shifting landscape of generosity means that church leaders not only should grapple with these questions, but also they must do so. There is no time like the present—when things are as good as they are likely to get—to explore the current and future efficacy of funding models for church and church planters.” “It’s likely to get tough in the next 10 years, and we have a God-given responsibility to think and plan for the lean years ahead. Now that we understand the context, we can use this data to get ready.” “In light of the research, what systems need to change? What would it look like to make a whole new model?” p. 47, 50-51.

George Barna, Church Startups and Money: A Barna Report Produced in Partnership with Thrivent Financial. 2016.