Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists Report Increase in Members

[sianrose]

Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists Report Increase in Members

February 15, 2011 09:50 PM EST

Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Seventh-Day Adventists are all reporting an increase in the number of their members this year. The National Council of Churches' 2011 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, which was released on Monday reflected growth for these three denominations.

The Catholic Church has seen an increase in members with a growth of .57 percent, bringing their total member count to 68.5 million. This number brings the Catholic religion to the number one spot on the top 25 churches list for most members

According to an article at the Christian Post, there are a few churches reporting increase that are considered by some Christians to be cults.

The Jehovah's Witness religious group has reported a 4.47 percent increase in their memberships. The increase brings the religious denomination to 1,162,686 members. Jehovah's Witnesses often come under fire for their views on certian medical treatments, such as blood transfusions, as well as their views on military service.

Another religious group reporting an increase is the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination. They had an increase of 4.31 percent, bringing them to 1,043,606 members. Seventh-Day Adventists observe the Sabbath on Saturdays instead of Sundays, and have differing views on the Trinity than most mainstream religions.

It definitely seems as if people are becoming more interested in religion lately. Do you have any thoughts on the increase in members for Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Seventh-Day Adventists?

I copied the article...it is at... news.gather.com....but as normal... apostates have left their comments...I am even starting to recognise the names of these sad people...

[ksg55]

@ Sian: Are the numbers for America only? If so, they are reporting the Catholic number as over 68 million? I'm thinking that is closer to the number for Catholics worldwide.....while the article only list over a million for Jehovah's Witnesses? That being said, it is a great witness that Jehovah's Witnesses continue to grow. I would think the religion that is easist to be would have the greatest numbers, as in Catholicism. They're not even expected to bring a Bible w/them. Yet, it amazes me that w/all the reports of child abuse by priests, no, not just in America, like they wanted all to believe years ago, that it was an "American problem." No, it's a world-wide problem that touches even their pope, as we have seen for the past year or more. Their will be no excuse for those who continue to cling to such as they turn a blind eye to the truth.....the whole system of Babylon the Great will soon be destroyed and then it will be too late for ones to say, "We didn't know." Because Jehovah has been exposing the rotten tree of BTG, so there is no excuse for them, now is the time to get out of her before it is too late. :readbible:

[sianrose]

This was from an other article on the same subject...

Ten of the 25 largest churches, however, did not provide updated membership figures for this year's edition.

The largest 25 Churches (ranked by membership):

1. The Catholic Church, 68,503,456 members, up .57 percent.

2. Southern Baptist Convention, 16,160,088 members, down.42 percent.

3. The United Methodist Church, 7,774,931 members, down1.01 percent.

4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6,058,907 members, up 1.42 percent.

5. The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members, no membership updates reported.

6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc, 5,000,000 members, no membership updates reported.

7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4,542,868 members, down1.96 percent.

8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., 3,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

9. Assemblies of God, 2,914,669 members, up .52 percent.

10. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2,770,730 members, down 2.61 percent.

11. African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

12. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

13. The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), 2,312,111 members, down 1.08 percent.

14. The Episcopal Church, 2,006,343 members, down 2.48 percent.

15. Churches of Christ, 1,639,495 members, no membership updates reported.

16. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

17. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

18. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 1,400,000 members, no membership updates reported.

19. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., 1,310,505 members, down 1.55 percent.

20. Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1,162,686 members, up 4.37 percent.

21. United Church of Christ, 1,080,199 members, down 2.83 percent.

22. Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), 1,076,254 members, up .38 percent.

23. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, 1,071,616 members, no membership updates reported.

24. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1,043,606 members, up 4.31 percent.

25. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., 1,010,000 members, down 59.60 percent (due in part to a new methodology of counting members).

[Dages]

+4.5% in North America for us ?

Wow, you are really giving your best over there, bros ! ><

[jeremy]

@ Sian: Are the numbers for America only? If so, they are reporting the Catholic number as over 68 million? I'm thinking that is closer to the number for Catholics worldwide.....

the US are about 6% of the church's total worldwide 1.1 billion membership

[jeremy]

This was from an other article on the same subject...

Ten of the 25 largest churches, however, did not provide updated membership figures for this year's edition.

The largest 25 Churches (ranked by membership):

1. The Catholic Church, 68,503,456 members, up .57 percent.

2. Southern Baptist Convention, 16,160,088 members, down.42 percent.

3. The United Methodist Church, 7,774,931 members, down1.01 percent.

4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6,058,907 members, up 1.42 percent.

5. The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members, no membership updates reported.

6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc, 5,000,000 members, no membership updates reported.

7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4,542,868 members, down1.96 percent.

8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., 3,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

9. Assemblies of God, 2,914,669 members, up .52 percent.

10. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2,770,730 members, down 2.61 percent.

11. African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

12. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

13. The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), 2,312,111 members, down 1.08 percent.

14. The Episcopal Church, 2,006,343 members, down 2.48 percent.

15. Churches of Christ, 1,639,495 members, no membership updates reported.

16. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

17. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

18. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 1,400,000 members, no membership updates reported.

19. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., 1,310,505 members, down 1.55 percent.

20. Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1,162,686 members, up 4.37 percent.

21. United Church of Christ, 1,080,199 members, down 2.83 percent.

22. Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), 1,076,254 members, up .38 percent.

23. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, 1,071,616 members, no membership updates reported.

24. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 1,043,606 members, up 4.31 percent.

25. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc., 1,010,000 members, down 59.60 percent (due in part to a new methodology of counting members).

I love how united they are. Look at the unity between the United Methodist Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church and then the The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. What do they say when it comes to a head count. 'I'm Methodist, but don't count me in with those Methodists over there' Of course we also know that 24 of the 25 figures above are really just based on 2 Timothy 3:5.

[ksg55]

yes, Jeremy, so true....."having a form of godly devotion, but proving false to it's power." Their disunity along w/BTG's false teachings shows this quite profoundly. :readbible:

[Astrid]

how to do you become a member of the catholic church? Being baptized only a few weeks late; or are they counting the numbers of 14-year-old teenagers who get their confirmation? (Both would be sad....)

[ksg55]

the US are about 6% of the church's total worldwide 1.1 billion membership

Thankyou Jeremy, yes, I am wrong in thinking that was a world figure.....over a billion for the Catholics......wide and spacious the road leading off to destruction and many are those that are on it, indeed.

[Dages]

We are not the more numerous, but we have the best progression !

[ksg55]

We are not the more numerous, but we have the best progression !

well said, David.....and the only ones in that long list that know and love Jehovah....we are so privileged.

[ksg55]

Just a short note......ABC News w/Diane Sawyer mentioned the churches that have an increase, saying in the end that Jehovah's Witnesses have the highest growth rate......yes, some good news on the bad news!!! )'>

[destiny]

the article can be found here.....http://abcnews.go.com/US/american-religion-national-council-churches-reports-pentacostalism-gains/story?id=12931023

The Jehovah's Witnesses, known for their door-to-door preaching, had the largest growth of any single denomination. They believe secular society is corrupt, and that Armageddon is imminent. Famous members include Venus and Serena Williams. Membership shot up 4.37 percent in a year.

Membership in the Mormon Church also went up, by nearly 80,000 members. With famous members like Mitt Romney, Glenn Beck and "Twilight" author Stephanie Meyer, the church is doing more outreach to the mainstream media.

[Dages]

Hmm, the fact is that we are growing because we are preaching... some are growing only because they have children ;)

[sianrose]

Another nice opening paragraph

Churches with firm theologies, door-to-door evangelizing and high expectations for member involvement continue to grow in the United States, even as mainstream Protestant faiths keep losing members, according to the National Council of Churches.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses remained the fastest-growing denomination, followed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Utah-based LDS Church was the fastest growing of the 10 largest faiths.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, the 20th-largest denomination, swelled by 4.37 percent from 2008 to 2009 for a total of 1,162,686 members, according to numbers reported to the council last year and included in a newly released 2011 yearbook....

.sltrib.com

[dewdrop]

Hmm, the fact is that we are growing because we are preaching... some are growing only because they have children ;)

I admire your humor!

[dvid]

Who is behind the numbers? We do not count just interested ones, those who attend meetings, those who cheer for us. To be counted as Jehovah's Witness one has to be active preacher. 2011 yearbook asks - do you know any other religious organisation with more than 7.5 milion volunteers, teaching others Bible? Who are those counted in other churches? How many of those "Catholics" at least attend masses at their churches? And how many Catholics are active preachers? As of May 2007, the Vatican website stated that there were some 406,411 priests serving the Church worldwide. :-D

So, who is indeed the biggest christian church worldwide?

[shelly]

Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists Report Increase in Members

February 15, 2011 09:50 PM EST

According to an article at the Christian Post, there are a few churches reporting increase that are considered by some Christians to be cults.

Cults? They must be talking about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! LOL

[sunshine]

It seems as if the numbers are only in America - I should think the increase in Catholics would be due to immagration from South American and other countries, but let's face it, all you have to do is sneeze in a church and they add you to their numbers as being Catholic for all eternity.

Great news about the friends in America - there's still much to do.

At 4.47% that would probably make us the fastest growing Christian group in America.

Yay!

(re apostates, let them have their day, doesn't stop us from being the fastest growing Christian religion...lol)

[bookworm]

Who is behind the numbers? We do not count just interested ones, those who attend meetings, those who cheer for us. To be counted as Jehovah's Witness one has to be active preacher. 2011 yearbook asks - do you know any other religious organisation with more than 7.5 milion volunteers, teaching others Bible? Who are those counted in other churches? How many of those "Catholics" at least attend masses at their churches? And how many Catholics are active preachers? As of May 2007, the Vatican website stated that there were some 406,411 priests serving the Church worldwide. :-D

So, who is indeed the biggest christian church worldwide?

Good point!!