Creating Community, Revised & Updated Edition

Introduction


It’s hard to believe it’s been sixteen years since we wrote the original manuscript for Creating Community. Much happened for us during that time. I bet much happened for you. Organizationally and culturally, life has definitely changed.

At North Point, our good God has opened many hearts and unlocked many doors since 2004. Back then, we were meeting in two locations and were one year away from celebrating our tenth anniversary. Today we are about to celebrate twenty-six years of ministry with eight campuses in the Atlanta area; scores of partner churches throughout the US; and partner networks in Latin America, the Republic of Ireland and the UK, and Australia. Group life at North Point Ministries has grown immensely as well. In 2004, we had 7,200 adults involved in groups through our two Atlanta campuses. Last year, by God’s grace and through the efforts of many amazing people, we had over 31,000 involved in groups through our Atlanta campuses and thousands more
through our partner churches.

But without a doubt, some of the biggest changes that have occurred over the past sixteen years have been cultural. Here’s a sampling of some of the differences between 2004 and today:


GIG ECONOMY: Since the launch of companies like Airbnb, Etsy, and Fiverr, temporary employment, freelancing, and single-contract gigs have all grown immensely. Today, 36 percent of US workers do some kind of gig work.

EATING OUT: With quick-service options like food trucks, carryout, and delivery, Americans now spend less on groceries than on eating out. And when we want to eat at home, let’s not forget that grocery delivery services like Instacart and Amazon Fresh and food-prep companies like Blue Apron, HelloFresh, and Sunbasket have made eating in even easier.

WORKING FROM HOME: Working from home became the new normal with over 80 percent of US workplaces either currently offering flexible options or planning to offer them, according to one study. And that was before the pandemic of 2020.

MUSIC INDUSTRY: Music subscription services like Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and Amazon Music have taken over the music landscape with physical CD sales disappearing.

MENTAL ILLNESS: According to a study published by the American Psychological Association, teens and young adults have experienced a dramatic increase in mental health disorders. Teen depression grew by 52 percent, and young adult depression grew by a staggering 63 percent.

ONLINE EDUCATION: The pre-pandemic years found online education already growing significantly. That trend will certainly continue because of online education’s greater flexibility, lower financial cost, and customizable course.

DE-SHARING SERVICES: Companies like Lyft and Uber changed the way Americans commute.

SMARTPHONES: Sixteen years ago, almost no one had a smartphone. Today, over 80 percent of Americans have one. And not only have smartphones changed the way people work; they have also changed the way people play by providing access to video games and replacing traditional cameras.

AMAZON PRIME: Amazon Prime was introduced in 2005 to little fanfare even with two-day shipping. Today, much to the dismay of many retailers, Amazon and shopping have become synonymous. And what was already becoming true became indisputable during the pandemic.

SOCIAL MEDIA: In 2004, Facebook was being launched at Harvard. Today it boasts 2.8 billion monthly users, and it is only one of many social media sites. A recent report suggests that adult Americans spend over two hours a day on social media. And that number is climbing.

Yes, in the past sixteen years, much has changed. All our lives have changed. On top of all the cultural changes, we have gone through a major recession, a major recovery, and a major pandemic that caused another economic downturn in the midst of social unrest. Yet one thing hasn’t changed—people. People like you and me. People like those you work with. People like those you live around. People inside the faith. People outside the faith. Young people. Old people. Everyone in between. All people. Everywhere. People still have the same needs they have always had. And one of those needs has become only more acute.