Some 428 new churches have been planted in states and territories across Australia in the past 13 years, according to latest data figures from a nationwide survey - and 168 of those since 2021.
National Church Life Survey (NCLS) Research published the results this month, July, following the “snapshot” from the New Churches Database taken on April 12, 2024.
NCLS Research undertakes studies into Australian church health, leadership, spirituality and the connections between church and community, including the quinquennial National Church Life Survey.
The organization released the figures as part of its New Churches Research Project, giving the definition of a new church as being a local fellowship started since 2011.
“Australian denominational leaders and others were invited to update new church details via an online interface,” NCLS Research stated.
“Independent church plants and house churches could also register and contribute.
“These 'new churches' could include new congregations, church plants, faith communities or gatherings. It is noted that different movements use various labels for describing what a ‘new church’ is.”
The data showed most new church plants evidential in New South Wales (125 churches), followed by Queensland (86 churches), Victoria (78 churches) and Western Australia (57 churches).
Respondents for the New Churches Research Project, representing nearly 100 churches of the reported 428 fellowships, were also asked to give information about support received for the new church plants. Feedback showed 79 percent received ongoing coaching, mentoring or supervision, and 74 percent given training.
Some 69 percent had a relational link to a sending church or similarly linked body, according to the report.
“Some two thirds had gone through assessment processes,” stated NCLS Research. “Around half had received financial support (57%), administrative support (51%) and development pathways (46%). Only 23% had been given access to property.”
Evangelical initiatives such as Alpha, an introduction to Christianity course, complement the planting of new churches as believers seek to reach fellow Australians with the gospel.
In a foreword for Alpha Australia’s “Year in Review” for 2023, Melinda Dwight, national director, said 93,000 Australians had undertaken the evangelistic course that year, out of 850,000 since the course began in the country. The course was run in 1,390 churches.
“The unity within the Australian Church in embracing this mission has been heartening, especially the enthusiastic participation of teenagers, both as leaders and attendees,” Dwight wrote in a foreword to the report.
“Alpha Pioneer, Nicky Gumbel, challenges us: ‘Ask God to give you a vision that is so big that without him it is impossible.’ Our vision is to see many more Australians from all walks of life – teachers, farmers, workers, parents, nurses, students, retirees, prisoners, teenagers, and anyone with questions or doubts – exploring faith through Alpha over the next decade.
“Our mission is about the transformation of society, the evangelisation of nations, and the revitalisation of the church. Every Alpha run, every guest welcomed, every question shared, and every prayer uttered brings us closer to this mission becoming a reality.”
