Research and Trends

Jesus didn’t gloss over the messiness of faith. He stopped and pointed at the doubt about who he is, and then he offered hope.

Pastors at the largest churches (those with 250 or more in attendance) are the least likely to say the economy has somewhat or very negatively impacted their churches this year (34%). They are also the most likely to report that giving levels are above those in 2022 (57%).

Membership in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont churches together grew by 1% from 2017 to 2022. Every other area saw a numerical decline for Southern Baptist churches.

Pastors and church leaders should be aware of its potential uses within their churches while remaining diligent toward the ways in which AI can undermine the message being communicated and change us without us even being aware.

"The persecution of Christians continues to grow around the globe. As Americans, we must decide how we'll respond,” said Ryan Brown, president and CEO of Open Doors US. “Our hope is this report not only provides a call to respond, but also helps inform that response."

“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.