Numbers that don't make sense to us.

Stats are in the hands of statisticians.

Perhaps it is time for statistician, Kelcy Hahn to release the full report concerning the 2007 “ICOC” church survey. Indeed, Hahn is correct with his statement: Overall, the numbers tell a remarkable, if uneven, tale of survival, repentance and recovery.

It seems to icoccommentary the report (coming) was dissected by “ICOC” evangelists long before the news of an increase was made public. Also, Mike Taliaferro wasted no time submitting extracts from the full report on ICOC Hot News on Monday, April 28, 2008. Here the breakdown members by regions indeed reach the mystical number 90,130. Thus the ICOC grew by 1.7% in 2007. Furthermore, icoccommentary confirms this fact and is relief to found that our calculators can make sums!

But the numbers don’t make sense to us.

Let us consider church lists submitted on Mission Memo’s 2007 survey. Perhaps the numbers tell a remarkable, if irregular tale?

There are 8 regions. Africa was one of the first regions to contribute 100% as reported by Mission Memo’s article, entitled 525 on Wednesday, March 26, 2008. According to Taliaffero’s ICOC Hot News report Africa tallies 10,750. In comparison, Mission Memo Africa church lists actually tallies 10,788. The difference is 38. How can a region, which reported 100%, be more than stipulated in the full report?

Here follows a breakdown in numbers from regions as reported in ICOC Hot News by Taliaferro and what can be viewed at Mission Memo. Readers please do your maths and comment freely!!!

ICOC Hot News Members by Region:

Africa 10,750
Asia/Pacific 18,489
Canada/U.S. 37,154
Eurasia 6,797
Europe 2,724
Latin America/Caribbean 13,748
Middle East 468

TOTAL: 90,130

Mission Memo Members by Region:

Africa 10,788
Asia/Pacific 17,339
Canada/U.S. 36,311
Eurasia 6,817
Europe 2,351
Latin America/Caribbean 13,465
Middle East 209

TOTAL: 87,280