There appears to be quite the pattern happening when it comes to why churches are either thriving or failing.
In a new Lifeway Research study, it was discovered that the protestant churches in America are split almost completely between thriving and failing.
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The executive director of Lifeway Research says that, “Clearly, the last two years of attendance growth was aided by people returning to regular attendance after being away since the start of the pandemic.”
This could be a factor in why 52% of congregations have seen attendance growth while 48% have either stayed the same and declined. However, take a look at which churches are growing and which are declining.
While large churches keep growing and smaller churches keep decreasing in size, perhaps the most interesting notion is what Lifeway had to say about which denominations are growing.
Evangelical pastors are more likely than mainline pastors to say their church is growing (57% v. 46%). Denominationally, Holiness (63%), Pentecostal (62%) and Baptist congregations (59%) are more likely than Methodist (43%) and Lutheran churches (37%) to be experiencing growth of at least 4%.
So, it is the mainline denominations that we see struggling while those that are open to the move of the Holy Spirit continue to increase.
/**/Another intriguing part of the findings by Lifeway includes the rate at which churches and denominations are spreading the Gospel.
Evangelical pastors are more likely than their mainline counterparts to say their churches have prayed at least once a month for missionaries (89% v. 78%), prayed at least once a month for a specific mission field or people group (84% v. 78%), helped start a new church (40% v. 30%) and sent out long-term missionaries (18% v. 8%).
What’s on paper just may also show the reality of what’s happening in the spiritual realm. Churches are either on fire for the gospel, empowered by the Holy Spirit, or they are not. As we continue to move forward toward the end time harvest where God promises to pour out His Spirit on His sons and daughters, we will see how the larger church either moves with or against His power and glory.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
