New, and until recently unnoticed, forces are reshaping our world. When people think of world influencers, armies, dictators, economies and terrorism come to mind. But a renowned research expert says they are none of these.

Founder and president of the Barna Group, George Barna is known as “the most quoted person in the Christian Church today” according to Tyndale House Publishers. In his latest book, Revolution, Barna describes the forces that are shaping our culture and redefining the church in today’s world. The shocking news is “that local congregational churches have virtually little to no influence in our culture.”

Barna’s research identifies “the seven most dominant spheres of influence. They are movies, music, television, books, the Internet, law and family. The second tier of influence includes schools, peers, newspapers, radio and businesses.”

Just as Martin Luther’s 95 theses posted on the Wittenberg church door in 1517 sent shock waves around the world, so are these research findings — and newly emerging revolutionaries — presenting a wake-up call for today’s “congregational formatted” churches (churches that gather as congregations in a church building on Sundays). For Luther the issues were more theological. For the emerging revolutionaries the issue is more methodological: how the biblically commissioned unfinished task gets done.

The church is increasingly being defined not by buildings and programs, but by embedded believers within these tiers of influence who are dispersed in the workplace, neighborhoods and marketplace. This previously unrecognized shift in believers’ thinking is redefining the church both today and for the future.

Barna Group research has projected a dramatic change in the congregational church as we know it today. By the year 2025 only one-third, or 30 to 35 percent, of the faith community will be participating in a traditional local congregation in contrast to 70 percent when we entered the 21st century. An additional one-third will be active in alternative “micro” forms of community fellowship, currently the fastest growing segment. These include home and workplace fellowship groups and even Internet chat rooms and webcast fellowships that span the globe. The final third will foster its faith and fellowship in the media, arts and other cultural forums.

Already there are as many ministries operating outside local congregations as within them. Barna’s research notes that while the congregational format is currently dominant, the decline is rapid with replacement by micro models of house churches, professional and hobby affinity fellowship groups, and cyberchurch formation.

Millions of believers are recognizing that membership in most institutional churches does not measure up to the dynamic call to relationships and service that transcends labels, institutions and denominations. These are the new revolutionaries who are very much alive and growing in their faith and influence.

Barna makes it clear that the new revolutionaries are not trying to overthrow or replace the existing congregational church. They are redefining the church’s vision as being salt and light outside the saltshaker (congregational formatted church) to transform communities.

Where there are two or three believers gathered in His name, be it on the Internet, telephone or in the workplace, there is the church. The priesthood of all believers is being recognized as a new force for transformation. Billy Graham said, “The next great movement of God will be in the workplace.”

Jesus Himself was a revolutionary. His methodology did not focus on changing governments or establishing institutions. He did more battle with religious leaders than with any other segment of the population. He was a threat to their establishments. His revolution was all about relationships and service.

The hallmark of the new transformation revolutionaries is their commitment to learn more about how to love God and people. These change agents are first and second commandment performers in the context of their Monday worlds and neighborhoods. They do whatever it takes to get closer to God and help others do the same. Their focus is on what unites us in Christ, not on what divides true believers.

This movement is international. K.P. Yohannan wrote a similar book well before Barna’s, documenting the dynamic movement of God’s Spirit among indigenous believers throughout Asia and Africa calling for the new revolution.

To survive and thrive, today’s congregational churches will have to devote themselves more to redefining success, their mission and methodology if they are to influence their communities and cultures. Rather than being preoccupied with getting people inside their walls and programs, they will need to figuratively “tear down those walls” and equip transformation agents for the workplace, the marketplace and neighborhoods.

The new revolution calls those eager to love God fervently with a commitment to take hope to those outside the congregational church on their “turf.” Believers connecting and sharing a common vision in their workplace and neighborhoods are beginning to turn heads as a powerful force for constructive change and influence.

The strategy is simple. Connect and equip intentional believers with the vision and the encouragement to be salt and light in every tier of influence, institution and neighborhood in every community of our Monday world. It is happening with and without the support of congregational churches.

This movement of God’s Spirit is spontaneous, without the need to be cranked, promoted or pumped. It is springing up like Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser as a fountain of blessing. God’s indwelling Spirit in believers authenticates the source of supernatural power. It never lacks for supply nor does it run dry. As Tim, a revolutionary, told me, “It’s bubbling in my soul. I cannot keep it quiet. God’s Spirit is bubbling, bubbling, bubbling day and night all around the world. I have never felt more a part of what God is doing both locally and globally. It is a compelling vision that transcends the boundaries of labels, institutions and congregations. It is more about being the church wherever you are 24/7.”