Bridging the gap between
Faith and the Marketplace

Stats

U.S. Faith Decline

A 30 yr. projection based on pre-pandemic data. This drop has likely accelerated. *

Rise of "NONE"

NONE (Religious unaffiliated). The largest group at 30% in 2020. As GEN Z enters the marketplace this is expected to exceed 50% in the next generation.**

Leadership Shift

Generation Z began entering the marketplace in force in 2017. In 2023 14% are business owners **

Expanding Gap

Interest in attending Sunday worship amongst those born between 1980-2012 ***

Clergy Capacity

A pre-pandemic survey from Fuller Seminary and Focus on the Family conducted from 1050 Reformed Evangelical pastors. ^^

Spiritually Open Gap

Do you believe there is a spiritual dimension to our world? In addition to this data, 74% of Gen Z wants to grow spiritually. *^

Tomorrow does not look like yesterday

Engaging as sojourner

A three step model for extending Christian community.

The attractional model thrived in the 1970’s

Church Attender

Church non-attender

In the late 1900’s non-Christians lived in a Christian dominant culture. Stepping into a Church community was a way to experience a societal norm. Presently a cultural gap is rapidly expanding between the Church and Society. As Generation Z overtakes Millennials, even seeker friendly Churches will appear irrelevant. With 75% of NONEs not interested in corporate worship, it is unrealistic to expect Sunday morning to be attractional.

A 3 step Missional Model

1. Engagement

Throughout history God’s people have crossed cultural divides to proclaim God’s covenant love.

Likewise, New Vertical chaplains engage existing social systems as entry points for pastoring in the broad scope of life. They serve the city by developing and supporting healthy networks. (Jeremiah 29:7) 

New Vertical Chaplains offer people fresh engagements with the gospel. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

2. Hospitality

New Vertical chaplains extend the Gospel into the systems mentioned above by organizing collaborative gatherings. Under the Christian concept of hospitality, these collaboratives are casual and robust in content.

By providing needed resources to community leaders, New Vertical supports the broader scope of economic and civic health. The health of a business and its surrounding community are inseparable. (Luke 11:1-13)

Additionally, New Vertical chaplains follow Christ's example of hospitality. Setting a table of grace amongst questioning people. (Matthew 9:9-13)

3. Discipleship

New Vertical Chaplains offer a 10 month system (PATH) for aligning the systems of life. Participants receive a flexible framework for all areas of life (family, work, money, etc.).

These graphs are not about membership or doctrinal fidelity. They illustrate an imperative to cross the cultural divides based on Jesus’s teachings.

Supporting the Church

A discipleship model to engage the marketplace with the gospel. Supporting the Church and seeking the flourishing of Christ’s Kingdom

NEW VERTICAL is a non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Click here to support the vision.

* - https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/
** - https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/generation-z-future-of-faith/
^^ - 1B - http://www.churchleadership.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=42347#:~:text=We%20found%20that%20over%2070%25%20of%20pastors%20are,leave%20the%20ministry%2C%20most%20after%20only%20five%20years
*** - https://news.gallup.com/poll/467354/childhood-churchgoing-habits-fade-adulthood.aspx
*^ - https://www.barna.com/research/rising-spiritual-openness/