Research and Trends

“If you want a roadmap for how to raise a child to be a spiritual champion,” he explains, “the actions undertaken as part of those four disciple-making practices offer a well-traveled pathway en route to a successful outcome.”

Compared to three years ago, pastors say they’re more likely to be relying on armed churchgoers and less likely to have a no firearms policy for their building.

As people interact with the world around them, their beliefs about the world and their place in it stem from their understanding (or misunderstanding) of the character of God. And most churchgoers believe God wants them to prosper financially.

Those leading the smallest churches, with fewer than 50 in attendance at weekend worship services, are among the most likely to say their congregations have a growing fear about the future of the country and world (72%).

Similarly, younger pastors, those 18-44, are the most likely to say they’re very familiar with deconstruction (36%), while pastors 65 and older are the least likely to possess that same level of familiarity (12%).

Compared to 2019, fewer churchgoers today see video streaming as a valid replacement for physically attending church when sick or caring for someone who is sick (76% v. 69%), traveling (60% v. 48%), too far away to attend (45% v. 38%) and when they get up late (36% v. 24%).

The national sample of 1,010 evangelical Protestants was shown the same ad, but the child pictured was either Asian, Black, Latino, or White.

According to Barna, “Pastors who haven’t thought about leaving ministry say 'the immense stress of the job' (34%), 'current political divisions' (32%) and feeling 'lonely and isolated' (18%) are factors that have negatively impacted their ability to lead at their church within the past year.”