Membership in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont churches together grew by 1% from 2017 to 2022. Southern Baptist growth in Northeast is evident as the only region with numerical growth.
Pastors and church leaders should be aware of AI-powered preaching 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 persecuted Christians worldwide 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 theyre more likely to be relying on armed churchgoers and less likely to have a no firearms policy for their building, reflecting shifts in church security measures.
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, a trend highlighted by rising prosperity gospel beliefs.
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 pastor fear in congregations 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 church livestreaming services 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, to explore race and gender fundraising bias.
