wheels off the bicycle of mission: now you go do it. “Then Jesus called the twelve
together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money …. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. … They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere” (9:1-6).
25 largest U.S. churches (2009 data) Denomination/church name
Roman Catholic Church
Southern Baptist Convention United Methodist Church
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church of God in Christ
National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc. ELCA
National Baptist Convention of America Inc. Assemblies of God
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) African Methodist Episcopal Church
National Missionary Baptist Convention of America Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc. Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Episcopal Church Churches of Christ
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Inc. African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A. Baptist Bible Fellowship International Jehovah’s Witnesses United Church of Christ
Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ Totals
Do you notice the stance of this communal band of missionary lead- ers? They travel light and go forth into the community as guests. They find themselves at their neighbors’ kitchen tables, eating what is put in front of them. Mission is the seeking of hospitality in the world. Later, the fledgling mission cadre
expands. The Lord appoints the 70 (that’s all of us) and sends them out in pairs to every place and town he intended to go. “The harvest is plenti- ful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send
out laborers into his harvest” (10:1-2). Again, he joins them together as a mission community seeking hospitality and welcome in the world. Travel light, take it to the people,
into their homes and communities. Don’t take bread because you will eat your neighbors’ bread. A denomi- nation is a community of compan- ions—bread sharers—seeking and sharing the companionship of Jesus for the life of the world. 
Stephen P. Bouman
Current ranking [last year] 1 [1]
2 [2] 3 [3] 4 [4] 5 [5] 6 [6] 7 [7] 8 [8]
9 [10] 10 [9]
11 [11] 11 [11] 11 [11] 14 [14] 15 [15] 16 [16] 17 [17] 17 [17] 19 [19] 20 [20] 21 [21] 22 [23] 23 [22] 24 [25] 25 [24]
Membership 68,115,001
16,228,438 7,853,987 5,974,041 5,499,875 5,000,000 4,633,887 3,500,000 2,899,702 2,844,952 2,500,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 2,337,349 2,057,292 1,639,495 1,500,000 1,500,000 1,400,000 1,331,127 1,200,000 1,114,009 1,111,691 1,072,169 1,071,616
Increase/decrease from year ago 1.49%
-0.24% -0.98% 1.71% 0.00% 0.00% -1.62% 0.00% 1.27% -3.28% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% -1.92% -2.81% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% -2.00% 0.00% 2.00% -2.93% 1.76% 0.00%
147,384,631 0.49%
NOTE: Percentage changes in bold italic signify that membership was not updated from previous reported figures. SOURCE: YEARBOOK OF AMERICAN & CANADIAN CHURCHES 2010
26 The Lutheran •
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