New research by Barna Group and Gloo, as part of their State of the Church initiative, reveals a historic shift in church attendance. For the first time in decades, younger adults, specifically Gen Z and Millennials, are now the most regular churchgoers, surpassing older generations who have traditionally led in church attendance.
Garrison Keillor: The Pied Piper of liberal Mainline nostalgia
Garrison Keillor is still on the road at 83. From 1974 to 2016, he was on the radio practically every Saturday night at 5:00 Central Time. The show was called A Prairie Home Companion.
It is time to prioritize children over guns
It is time for religious leaders to call down the wrath of God on those who are willing to sacrifice children for guns and war.
UMC-affiliated Virginia Wesleyan University will change name, draws pushback from alumni
Virginia Wesleyan University, an academic institution with ties to The United Methodist Church, plans to change its name next year to honor a woman who contributed extensively to the school's development, garnering opposition from some alumni who say it "disregards" the school's legacy.
Could the thinking behind the Alpha Course help to bring our world together?
Stay Curious’ is the slogan promoting the popular ‘Alpha Course’ that thousands of churches across the globe will be running in coming months.
Personally, I reckon that ‘stay curious’ could be great advice for anyone trying to navigate our fractious 21st century world.
FIRST-PERSON: 5 Things I Learned Pastoring a Church Through Transition
Whether or not your church is in a time of purposeful transition, these are valuable lessons for any pastor.
Things I’ve Learned Since Leaving the Pastorate
In 1989, I was called to my first church, beginning a full-time pastoral ministry lasting just over twenty years. But, since resigning a dearly-loved church in 2009, I haven’t held a full-time pastorate or staff position. Here are a few things I’ve learned since then.
5 Components of an Unplugged, Acoustic Worship Set
When a church decides to plan a stripped-down musical moment, an acoustic worship set can offer a refreshing change of pace. The unplugged feel creates space for simplicity, vulnerability, and authentic congregational participation. Without the full band, production lights, or wall of sound, the focus returns to voices, melodies, and the shared presence of God’s people. Planning this type of worship set requires more than just turning down the volume; it demands intentional choices in arrangement, leadership, and atmosphere.
Rise with the Sun: A New Song with CityAlight
It is a tremendous joy to tell you about a new song I have had the pleasure of creating with my friends from CityAlight—a song that wonderfully complements From the Rising of the Sun: A Journey of Worship Around the World. We formally launched “Rise with the Sun” yesterday with a debut performance at the Getty Music Sing! conference, and today we are making it available to you.
Lord, It Is Night
This prayer was written by the late Rev. John Williamson for the New Zealand Prayer Book. The musical setting was composed by Ginny Wilder.
The text is found at the conclusion of Night Prayer in the New Zealand Prayer Book.The Secret Behind Memorable Sermons Revealed with Dan Heath
Dan Heath, author of Made to Stick, The Power of Moments, and other seminal leadership books, talks about the 6 surprising traits of sticky sermons, how to design church experiences people never forget, why focusing on the problem is the wrong approach to leadership, what he's learned from Chick-fil-A, and getting people to change.
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Digital Bible distribution outstrips print worldwide for the first time
For the first time ever more digital copies of Scripture were shared than print versions, the United Bible Societies Fellowship (UBS) has said.
In its Scripture Distribution Statistics report for 2024, UBS said that the number of printed Bibles distributed across the world fell from 24.2 million in 2023 to 22.5 million last year. However, the number of online Bibles distributed was 25.9 million, surpassing physical copies for the first time.
Learning from Mistakes in Youth Ministry
Learning from mistakes is essential, especially in youth ministry. After all, everyone makes mistakes. That’s a cliché, but it’s true…even for church workers. Yet not everyone learns from their mistakes.
Why do some people—even reasonably intelligent ones—keep repeating the same mistakes over and over? Keep an open mind as you consider these insights....
Trunk or Treat Games: 12 Fall Festival Activities
Need easy Trunk or Treat games for church harvest events? Then read on for fun Trunk or Treat ideas that children will love!
Is Sharing the Gospel a Part of Your Everyday Life?
For many Christians, the call to live out their faith is clear, yet the practice of speaking openly about it can feel intimidating. We know Jesus commissioned his followers to go into the world and proclaim the good news, but in the fast pace of daily life, it can be easy to view evangelism as something reserved for pastors, missionaries, or organized church events. The truth is that sharing the gospel is meant to be woven into the fabric of everyday life. It’s not about adding one more task to an already busy schedule—it’s about seeing every moment as an opportunity to reflect the hope we carry in Christ.
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