Despite stability in Christian identification, religious practice and the importance of religion for most Americans has not found the same sure footing.
Decline of religion remains stalled, says new Pew report. But there's no revival yet.
For the past five years, the decline of religion in America has stalled, after years of decline.
Rising number of Brits leaving Christianity turning to paganism
A growing number of Britons who leave Christianity are turning to paganism or other forms of spiritualism instead of converting to other major religions, a new study has found.
10 Things Church Members Do That Make Their Church Instantly More Welcoming
A genuinely welcoming church rarely starts with signage, greeters, or clever branding. It starts with ordinary people doing ordinary things with intentional grace. When a church family embraces small habits that communicate openness, warmth, and humility, guests feel it within minutes. The atmosphere changes. Hearts relax. Conversations begin. The whole community becomes a place where the love of Christ feels lived, not advertised.
10 Reasons People Stay in a Church Long-Term
People decide to stay in a church for more reasons than we usually imagine. While visitors may show up because of location, music, or a friend’s invitation, the factors that keep them rooted over years are deeper and far more relational. When leaders understand why people stay in a church they can cultivate healthier communities that feel like home instead of a pit stop.
How Important Is the Feeling of Belonging at Church?
People leave churches for various reasons. Sometimes they leave a church because they don’t have a sense of belonging there.
Let The Young Man Come To Church With Mixed Motives
Of which other cohort in the West would we be so wary of? And of which other cohort in the West do we assume nothing but pure, abstract motive for coming to Christ? Are we running the gloryometer over The Young Man alone, to ensure that he – alone of all cohorts – is coming to Jesus for pure, noble, abstract reasons? I fear we are.
Religious leaders say they’re observing a hidden trend among younger Americans
Even as fewer and fewer young people consider themselves religious, a small percentage of young adults are practicing their faiths with unusual avidity. This cohort of people in their early 20s are rejecting both religion-by-habit (just doing whatever your parents did) as well as the secularism, skepticism and agnosticism that grew among their parents’ generations, religious experts say. And the examples of this surge, albeit anecdotal, are visible across faiths....
Thom and Jess continue the “Future Church” series with an episode on how church staffing is changing in this new era of ministry.
Churches are smaller, leaner, and more focused than ever. Budgets are tighter, but opportunities for mission are wider. The result is a new kind of church staff—leaders who serve both inside and outside the church, combining pastoral calling with marketplace skills.
In this conversation, Thom and Jess introduce four co-vocational roles that are shaping the staff structure of the future church.
Future Church Series – Episode 6: What Is the Size of the Typical Church in the Future?
Thom and Jess conclude the “Future Church” series with an episode that puts church size into perspective. In an age when many pastors feel pressure to grow larger, the reality is that most congregations are small—and that’s not a problem. This episode explores what the data actually reveals about church attendance, why most churches are smaller than we think, and how leaders can find encouragement no matter the numbers.
The corpse that was asked to change its religion
Christians in India are facing increased violence, social antagonism and legal scrutiny, according to advocacy groups. Attacks on Christians have been almost daily this year. These affect families, pastors and tiny congregations in multiple states.
Sick 8-word taunt by Minnesota ICE agents revealed during arrest of Somali woman
ICE agents who arrested a U.S. citizen of Somalian descent arrested by ICE agents in Minnesota last week made threatening, disparaging remarks about the hijab she wore and touched her inappropriately, the woman's cousin told local media.
The Making of N.T. Wright: His Calling, What He Gave Up, and His Views on Spiritual Warfare
In this episode of the podcast, N.T. Wright discusses the forces that formed him into the scholar, priest, and writer he is today: his early influences, his calling, and what he gave up to pursue his writing. He also shares his views on spiritual warfare and the problem of Christians demonizing their enemies.
12 Things Pastors Do That Build Trust Quickly
In a world increasingly characterized by cynicism, the currency of leadership is no longer just charisma or competence; it’s trust. For those called to shepherd God’s people, the ability to build trust isn’t merely a leadership skill—it’s a spiritual necessity. When a congregation trusts their pastor, ministry flourishes, people are more receptive to the Gospel, and the church moves forward in unity. How can we cultivate this essential bond rapidly and authentically? It starts with intentional habits and a heart submitted to serving others.
Email or Texting? How to Stay Connected to Your Congregation
Ministry leaders want to stay connected to your congregation in ways that feel personal, timely, and spiritually meaningful. The problem is that people communicate differently than they did even five years ago. Some respond instantly to texts, while others only check email when the moon is in retrograde. Sorting out which channel works best isn’t a matter of choosing one forever, but understanding how each tool helps shepherd your people well.
Resourcing the Church in the Age of AI
How can Christians and churches use AI as a tool without compromising authentic community with God and one another within the church?
Hope that holds: How to gently walk with teenagers wrestling with life’s meaning
Where does a young person find hope when everything feels uncertain, pressured, and performative? Today’s teenagers are growing up in a world of fragmentation with post-pandemic changes, always-on social media, global instability, and deep personal questions many adults never hear them ask out loud.
Sometimes, it’s not just about what’s going on around them, but within. Teenagers have unspoken questions about identity, purpose, belief. What’s the point? Why does anything matter? Is there anything out there to find hope in?
Family Ministry in Our Post-Modern World
Family ministry has been changing in our post-modern world. Children’s ministry workers and Sunday school teachers must be aware of the new dynamics. And we must notice how trends affect church programming and outreach strategies.
No comments:
Post a Comment