If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing...(1 Cor. 13:2b)

Churches seem to be turning inward. They seem to be emphasizing the comfort and happiness of members over the transformation of those members. The amount of money flowing through many church offering plates has increased 112 percent in the last 15 years, but the amount of money churches give to missions causes has increased at only half that rate.

An analysis of financial data shows congregations nationwide are sending smaller percentages of their undesignated offerings to missions. Designated giving to special missions offerings also has increased at only half the pace of increases in undesignated giving to church causes.

These trends are common to the church in the United States, churches seem to be turning inward. They seem to be emphasizing the comfort and happiness of members over the transformation of those members.

The church, and particularly missions, is shrinking as a market share of people's spending. The average member of a Christian church in the United States gives only 2.6 percent of his or her income to the church.

Perhaps there has been a vacuum of leadership on the national level to raise people's eyes off their own individual needs. There has been a lack of comprehensive vision to challenge people to be willing to invest in the kingdom of God.

We don't really believe what we say we do, because if we did, we'd be spending our money differently.