Monday's Catch: 'ACNA Sees Multi-Year Growth' And More

ACNA Sees Multi-Year Growth
Attendance in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) is up by double digits for the third consecutive year, according to congregational report data released June 19 during the denomination’s Provincial Council meeting at Trinity Anglican Seminary in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

These statistics do not address a critically important question, "How much of this growth is conversion growth, growth from non-Christians becoming Christians?" Non-denominational churches are also growing but their growth is primarily transfer growth and demographic growth, churchgoers changing churches and churchgoers moving to a new community, the "circulation of the saints." For 2024 the Southern Baptist Convention reported a increase in church attendance and an increase in baptisms. It also reported an increase in church closures. There is no mention in this report of the number of new startups, where, and the number of new church plants surviving beyond the critical first 5 years. Denominational expansion measured in terms of conversion growth and church multiplication is the best way to gauge a denomination's vitality.

How Smartphones Have Been Used Toward a Torrent of Cyberbullying
It used to be that bullies waited for the schoolyard. Not anymore.Tod ay, the bullying follows our kids home. It follows them into their bedrooms. Into the night. Onto their screens. Into their hearts. The smartphone—what many call a communication device—has also become a megaphone for cruelty, a carrier for shame, and a tool for torment. With just a few taps, a teenager can be mocked, harassed, excluded, or humiliated—sometimes by people they know, sometimes by people they don’t. Let’s not downplay what’s happening. This isn’t teasing. It’s cyberbullying. And it’s a torrent—relentless, anonymous, and deeply damaging.

What Happens in Churches with Long Histories of Short Pastor Tenures (7 Big Patterns to Watch)
Churches with a long history of short pastor tenures often face a host of systemic and cultural challenges. The point here is not to place blame on either pastors or churches. Instead, the goal is to describe what happens culturally, regardless of who is to blame. While each situation has unique factors, there are several common patterns that make long-term pastoral success difficult to achieve in these churches. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward building a healthier, more stable future.

How Do You Deal With Cohabiting Young Adults in Your Ministry?
Most young adults walking through your church doors will have cohabited or are currently cohabiting. So, how do you reach them?

Your Sermon Doesn’t Need AI
Andrew Noble gives four reasons pastors and other preachers should limit the use of AI in sermon preparation.

Dear Bi-vocational Youth Minister, Your Labor is Not in Vain
If you are a bi-vocational minister to youth, sharing with students both the gospel of God and also your very self (1 Thess. 2.8), I want to encourage you in a fundamental reality of your calling: it is your life. You are nothing close to a part-time servant of God, even if you have a part-time employment arrangement with a local church.

4 Practical Ideas for VBS Follow-Up
Strategic follow-up plays a huge role in making the most of your VBS. In fact, intentional follow-up should be an important part of your regular VBS planning, right from the beginning. That means as you’re rounding up supplies, handing off VBS manuals, and putting up decorations, you’re also preparing to make a strong post-event impression.

Tips for Using Cell Phones for Church Directory Photos
A good time to take church directory photos is on VBS Sunday when the church gathers to worship God and celebrate what the children have been learning in VBS.

How to Share Your Faith in the Workplace
For many believers, the workplace can feel like a challenging environment to share the gospel. With professional boundaries, company policies, and the fear of offending others, it’s not always clear how to live out your faith in the workplace authentically without overstepping. Yet, the call to be salt and light applies not just to church or home life, but to every part of daily existence—including the 9-to-5 grind.