A new survey has shown that 65 per cent of Christians who are part of expanding churches attribute their growth to movements in the Holy Spirit.

The encouraging statement comes from a recent survey of over 2000 Christians commissioned by the Church Army.

The survey found those in growing churches also believed strong leadership and evangelical outreach played an important part in the progression and growth of their church.

National Development Director Ian Robertson from Premier Radio, who carried out the survey for Church Army said, "We planned to conduct a survey which would contrast the opinions of church members and leaders in growth churches alongside those that are in stable or declining churches.

"We've now a much richer picture of why some churches are expanding while others are in speedy decline."

|QUOTE|Robertson reported that those in both growing and declining churches felt they knew the reasons behind the condition of their church.

"Church members in growth churches attribute their success to the movement of the Holy Spirit, strong church leadership, evangelical outreach and youth work.

"This contrasts strongly with those churches in decline where they consider an increasingly secular British society, aging congregation and lack of youth work to be behind their falling numbers."

Church Army is at the centre of the new fresh expression agenda.

Mark Russell, Church Army's Chief Executive explained, "We have noticed a different attitude amongst churches that are open to change and direction of the Holy Spirit. They are willing to get out there and make things happen- taking risks for the sake of the gospel. They have caught the imagination of new generation of Christians by doing church differently - more real, radical, relevant, dangerous- and more fun.

"At Church Army we want to be able to help churches across the UK be more effective and I have faith that this survey will assist us in doing just that."