The United States Census Bureau released a report in 2020 that provided a striking reminder about who we are as a nation. In a report titled “America: A Nation of Small Towns,” they noted that about 76% of all incorporated places—nearly 19,500 of them—have fewer than 5,000 residents. Even more astonishing, almost 42% of incorporated places have populations under 500.
That means the overwhelming majority of American communities are small. While our cultural attention often focuses on the big cities, the small towns and rural areas form the backbone of the nation’s geography—and, for generations, the backbone of its spiritual life. Yet these are the very places where the church’s presence is now most fragile.
The data underscores an urgent truth: if we do not intentionally strengthen, plant, and support smaller churches, the majority of American communities will have little or no access to a local, gospel-centered congregation.
6 MORE Things Churches Not (Yet) Seeing Revival Can Learn
If your church isn’t seeing revival yet, don’t lose heart. In this follow-up to Part 1, I unpack six more powerful shifts growing churches are making today—changes that can help your ministry thrive and reach more people than ever before.
From simplifying ministries to taking more risks, these principles will help your team embrace innovation, deepen community, and stay laser-focused on the mission that matters most.
ACA Marketplace increases are slamming church budgets
Church and denominational staffs are scrambling to find employee health insurance alternatives in the event Affordable Care Act subsidies expire at the end of the year.
‘Trump is inconsistent with Christian principles’: why the Democratic party is seeing a rise of white clergy candidates
He grew up on a farm in Indiana, the son of a factory worker and eldest of five children. He studied at Liberty, a Christian university founded by the conservative pastor and televangelist Jerry Falwell, and recalls wearing a T-shirt expressing opposition to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Two decades later, Justin Douglas is running for the US Congress – as a Democrat.
Once again: Jesus was not born in a stable!
Every year, in the northern hemisphere, and especially in Northern Europe, we are apparently caught by surprise as the evenings draw in, and the morning light comes later. It always seems surprising, even though it is the same every year.
And every year, I brace myself for the repetition of the ill-founded claim that Jesus was born in a stable, alone and isolated, with his family ostracised by the community—despite the complete lack of evidence for this reconstruction. It will be repeated in pulpits, real and virtual, up and down the land, so I do not apologise for reposting once more this annual feature.
Who was St Margaret of Scotland and why is she important?
16 November is the day when people remember St Margaret of Scotland. She was born in Hungary and became Queen of Scotland, where she restored the religious life of the country. This is her story....
When No One Thanks You: Encouragement for Unnoticed Pastors
Many pastors serve in small or struggling congregations. You may not receive the recognition others do. But you are seen by the One whose “well done” truly matters.
How to Mix Old and New Music in Your Christmas Worship Set
Blending old and new songs in a Christmas worship set can feel like walking a tightrope. You want to honor cherished traditions, introduce fresh expressions of praise, and keep the entire congregation engaged. When done well, this mix creates a worship atmosphere that feels both familiar and alive—bridging generations and inviting everyone to sing with joy.
Are We Slow to Speak and Rush to Judgment on Social Media?
The human impulse to rush to judgment has always existed, but now it is common to believe whatever we hear and then post outrage using social media. But what if in our use of social media we applied the concepts of innocent until proven guilty, and from the mouth of Jesus, “Do to others as you would have them do to you”?
Most college students disagreed with Charlie Kirk
A whopping 94% of American college students had heard of Charlie Kirk before the time of his death, but only 30% of students said they agreed with his views.
What Role Does AI Have in Discipleship?
When we let AI take over the relational work of discipleship, we lose more than efficiency. We lose the essence of what makes it meaningful.
The gift of fellowship in building one body in Christ
There’s a saying that a lone coal grows dim, but coals heaped together glow red-hot. The same could be said of the Church. We are not designed for isolation but for interdependence. From the earliest days of creation, God declared that it is not good for a person to be alone, and that truth reverberates through the entire story of redemption.
The Christian life, in all its fullness, is not a solo pursuit - it is a shared journey - a divine collaboration of grace, gift, and love.
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