For a change of pace in this blog, I thought I would share with you what a group of people in the Southern Baptist denomination thought would happen during the decade of the 80s. Compare with a predicted list to our current state of churches to see what unfolded in the Protestant and Catholic domain in America and other parts of the world. Notice how we in 2026 may have been affected by unknown sources from 46 years ago. Even international churches and believers outside of the United States may look to the status of their own local worship. Here we go!
- a new global missions consciousness will develop
- more members will be concerned about serious Bible study
- increased emphasis will be placed on the importance and need for
evangelism in the churches
- affirmation of spiritual values and spiritual gifts by lay persons in the
work of the church in daily life will increase
- financial support of the churches will continue from my social problems
and economical fluctuations
- sustained flexibility and openness in church programming will develop
- increased weekday activities will take place in many churches
- a new dimension of pride in denominational loyalty will develop
- new vitality will come in many small cities and rural communities
10.churches will become less geographical and more relational and
membership
11.standards for measuring success will change
12. use of audiovisual materials will increase
13. awareness in the churches of power, and usefulness of mass
communication will come
14. problems of energy and inflation will affect the churches
15. a general frustration on realizing some of the older methods will lonoccur
16. the age of mix in the churches will change
17. a change in attitude toward Baptist institutions will develop
18. the place of women in the churches will be elevated
19. the bi-vocational ministry will rapidly gain new acceptance in southern
Baptist life
20. church vocation will continue restless
21. the gradual encroachment of the government into the church domain
will increase
22. massive urbanization and growth of urbanization and Metroplexes will
continue
23. the problems of the aging will become more acute
24. church day schools will continue to moderately flourish
25. the impact of church music will be greater than ever
They predicted some items that will affect the whole of society and not churches only. They say that others, if they develop, will have the greatest effect on church. Now, review this list to see what has actually occurred, what you think should happen not only in the Baptist area but also other Christian denominations. Maybe, we should take warning for some of the things that are thought to develop. Most of all, we must be in prayerful concern for what God has ahead for each professing believer and for each individual church in America and around the world.
Christian Writer 