Evangelism has always been central to the mission of the church. It’s not merely a ministry within the church but the very heartbeat of its purpose. As churches look for ways to grow—not just in numbers but in spiritual vitality—understanding the connection between evangelism and church growth is essential. Without a focus on outreach, even the most vibrant congregations can become inward-focused, missing the mission Jesus gave.
Number of Americans who don't identify as Christian but claim 'personal commitment to Jesus' nears record high: survey
In a striking shift amid declining trust in organized religion, a new Barna Group study signals a surge in Americans’ commitment to Jesus, with younger generations leading the charge. The research, part of the State of the Church 2025 initiative, finds 66% of U.S. adults affirm a personal commitment to Jesus that remains vital, a 12-point leap from 2021’s record low of 54%.
Surge in searches for local churches
The Church of England has been buoyed by latest figures showing a leap in visits to its church finder website. More people than ever before are looking for a local church on the Church of England's dedicated search page, AChurchNearYou.Com. Page views on the page rose significantly from 128.1 million in 2023 to 198.6 million in 2024.
Regional parish development programs aim to improve organization and outreach
The diocese of Ottawa has become the latest in a recent wave of regions across the Anglican Church of Canada to begin work on a program of parish development. Like the diocese of Niagara and the ecclesiastical province of British Columbia and Yukon, which have similar programs, Ottawa is aiming to provide parishes, their clergy and their lay leaders with the education and resources to streamline their decision-making, focus their vision and purposefully reach out to their communities.
10 Ways Pastors Can Improve Their Preaching and Connect with Their Congregation
Preaching is at the heart of a pastor’s ministry. It’s how God’s Word is brought to life for a congregation and how lives are transformed. But even seasoned pastors know there’s always room for growth. Connecting deeply with your congregation requires more than just sound theology—it calls for authenticity, clarity, and intentional communication. If you’re looking to grow in this area, here are ten pastor preaching tips to help you preach more effectively and forge stronger connections with those in your care.
Every Part of the Service Matters
Did you know that your church has a liturgy during the Sunday gathering? A liturgy is simply the order of a public worship service. No matter how relaxed or formal your Sunday service is, you have some sort of weekly routine that your people have come to expect. A liturgy, when done well, regulates the worship of God in the way that God prescribes. There may be a variety of forms and circumstances, but the elements will be the same across various churches all over the world. Assuming the best of your church, each week God’s word is read, prayed, sung, preached, and seen. And insofar as this is true of your church, that means that every part of the service matters. And if every part matters, then missing part of the service matters too.
10 Mistakes Worship Leaders Make — and How to Avoid Them
Worship leadership is more than musical skill or stage presence—it’s a sacred responsibility. Worship leaders guide people into God’s presence, shaping the spiritual tone of a congregation’s gathering. However, even the most passionate leaders can fall into traps that limit their effectiveness. Identifying common worship leader mistakes can help avoid pitfalls and lead with greater wisdom, humility, and grace.
Ancient Trinitarian hymn from c. 200AD brought back to life
An ancient Trinitarian worship song written around 200AD, has been repackaged and was released on April 11. ‘The First Hymn’ is based on a fragment of papyrus found 100 years ago in ancient Egyptian ruins and kept in a climate-controlled vault at Oxford University. On examining the piece, John Dickson, Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity, decided: “We need to give this back to the Church”. Dickson brought in Christian songwriters Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding to bring the song “back to life” in a way that it could be used and sung in churches today....
Measles cases in Texas continue to grow. Trump’s funding cuts could make it worse
A surge in measles cases across West Texas has raised concerns amongst officials about the potential for outbreaks of preventable diseases across the US due to funding cuts for public health initiatives.
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