By Aaron Earls BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Most Americans may not regularly attend church themselves, but they have a higher threshold for calling someone a regular churchgoer than pastors. According to a recent Lifeway Research study of U.S. adults, 53% say someone should be considered a regular churchgoer or regular church attender only if they attend church services at least … [Read more...]

By Aaron Earls BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Most pastors believe their churches will be around for at least another decade, but that’s not the reality for some. According to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors, 94% believe their churches will still exist in 10 years, 4% disagree and 2% aren’t sure. Yet, even among the more than 9 in 10 who are looking forward to an … [Read more...]

By Aaron Earls BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Every church aims to welcome guests in some way. Those efforts may just look different in different churches and may have changed over the last decade. According to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors, more than 99% of churches welcome visitors in at least one of 11 ways. Fewer than 1% say they don’t do any of the almost … [Read more...]

By Aaron Earls BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Anecdotes often portray parents and student ministry leaders at odds, but both groups share a desire to see the next generation grow spiritually. Each also believes they have a positive, healthy relationship with the other. A study from Lifeway Students and Lifeway Research explores the perspective of churchgoing parents of teenagers and … [Read more...]

By Aaron Earls BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Half of U.S. Protestant pastors say their churches are growing but some warning signs remain about their congregational future. U.S. Protestant churches are almost evenly split between those that have grown within the past two years and those that are plateaued or declining, according to an Exponential study by Lifeway Research. Around … [Read more...]