Friday's Catch: 'Multisite churches — also known as franchises — are now a staple of American life' And More

Multisite churches — also known as franchises — are now a staple of American life
A new study of multi-site churches has found that such congregations have become commonplace, found in almost every state in the nation. Many of the 1,800 multisite churches have started a new location by merging with another church.

The Burge Report: America’s Largest Churches: What's Happened the Last Decade?
America’s largest churches are becoming significantly larger. A decade of Outreach 100 data shows that megachurch growth is increasingly concentrated among a relatively small group of established, evangelical, multisite congregations. Yet the picture is more complex than explosive growth alone: many longtime megachurches have grown only incrementally, many have declined, and the pandemic reshaped attendance in uneven and lasting ways.

Five Tips for Churches Considering Property Development
Mark Elsdon, Co-CEO and Lead Builder of RootedGood, shares five lessons to help church leaders reimagine their property, respond to community needs, and develop new expressions of ministry while creating sustainable futures for their congregations.

Rising food costs putting children’s futures at risk across the globe, World Vision warns
Rising food prices are putting the futures of millions of children around the world at risk, as families in many countries struggle to afford the basics, a new report from a leading Evangelical humanitarian organization has warned.

World Vision released its "Price Shocks 2026: The Affordability Crisis Moving Nutritious Diets Out of Reach" report last week, the fifth annual such survey. It compared the price of a basket of basic food with average wages in 62 countries, based on prices found at local markets for 10 common items, among them rice, flour, eggs, chicken and milk.

Nationalism is a discipleship challenge, say Christian leaders
The growth of nationalism is raising important questions about how churches disciple the people in their pews, a panel of Christian leaders told the Church Resources Exhibition 2026.

Regardless of Legal Indecision, Few Pastors Want to Endorse Candidate

Even if everything were legally settled to allow religious organizations to endorse candidates, few pastors would take that opportunity.

Yes, pretend Trump is on the ballot, because he is
According to Frederick Buechner, one of my favorite writers, “Generally speaking, if you want to know who you really are, as distinct from who you like to think you are, keep an eye on where your feet take you.”

So, as your feet take you into the voting booth now or on Nov. 3, please do what President Donald Trump has asked you to do: “Pretend that I am on the ballot.”

Actually, you don’t have to pretend at all, because every Republican candidate who has remained silent in the face of the president’s cruelty and ridicule and lying and greed might as well be Trump himself.

Two years into the Trump administration, tariffs and an unprovoked war with Iran, YouTube viewers are bombarded with Republican attack ads blaming the Biden administration for the nation's economic woes brought on by Trump's policies. This is rich considering who it comes from. The Republican congress has done next to nothing for the average American Joe but gone along with Trump and contributed to the nation's economic woes. And they want the public to believe that is the fault of the Democrats?! Independents like myself need to think real hard whether they want two more years of this nonsense.

The True Voice of Aslan
What 'The Chronicles of Narnia' say about the voice of the great Lion, and why it matters.

Improving the Worship Service Experience
What makes people choose a church and keep coming back? Russ Bredholt Jr. examines research on worship attendance and the factors that shape a meaningful church experience, from preaching and hospitality to community and connection. He challenges church leaders to look beyond attendance numbers and rethink how the entire worship experience can better serve their congregation.

Reformed Doesn’t Mean Robotic: A Case for Expressive Worship
Reformed theology is grounded in convictions concerning the Bible, salvation, the Church, God’s sovereignty and the gospel....Reformed theology doesn’t prescribe a single cultural style of worship for all Christian communities. This distinction is particularly important among African Christians. For while we should readily receive Reformed theology we must simultaneously ask whether certain inherited worship practices are biblical necessities or simply cultural expressions.

AI Panel Discussion with Gen. James Cartwright and Allison Pugh
As artificial intelligence continues to impact the ways that we work, connect, and care for each other, faith communities are still developing an understanding of what it means for the church, relationships, and ethics. In this discussion hosted by Wesley Theological Seminary, David McAllister Wilson is joined by Dr. Allison Pugh and General James Cartwright to examine both the opportunities and the risks of AI.

10,000 Digital Guides and the Need for Spiritual Fathers 

You and I live in a digital Corinth, and we too certainly have “countless guides in Christ” (1 Cor. 4:15). Podcasts, social media accounts, YouTube channels, book authors, Xers, Substackers, sermons from celebrity pastors we care for more than the ones coming from the pulpits at our own churches—we have countless guides in Christ. More countless than the Corinthians could have dreamed of.

And, also like them, we don’t have many spiritual fathers. The Corinthians at least had Paul. What about us? Can the swaths of Gen Zers getting the vast majority of their Christian content via their phones name anyone they could call a father in the faith?