|
|
Young Adults Are Showing Up to Pray
One in three young adults is back in the pews more often than a year ago. When asked why, the top answer is prayer.
New Barna research, part of its State of the Church initiative with Gloo, surveyed 3,049 Americans ages 18 to 35. Thirty-four percent say they attend church more often than a year ago. Forty-five percent report no change, and 21% attend less. The gain is uneven: young men (41%), Black young adults (41%), and Hispanic young adults (36%) report the biggest increases. When asked why they show up, 45% named prayer, ahead of every other spiritual reason on the list. Worshiping alongside others came second at 38%. Barna researcher Daniel Copeland says the data shows no appetite for reinvention. Young adults want prayer and shared worship, not sharper production.
For your church, this should be seen as an invitation. The young adults filling your pews are wanting to pray with people who will still be there next year. A church that meets that need builds the kind of trust attendance numbers can't measure and depth alone can produce.
Three steps this week:
Give prayer room in the service. Be conscious of how much time you’re dedicating to communal prayer. Add a few more minutes than you normally would, even inviting people to pray in pairs.
Open a low-stakes door. Add a 30-minute prayer gathering before or after service. Tell newcomers exactly what to expect.
Ask the ones who came back. Find three young adults attending more this year. Ask what brought them and what would keep them.
|
|
Ministry Intel
Correct Doctrine Doesn't Excuse Bad Character | The Exchange with Ed Stetzer
Lisa Harper tells Ed Stetzer that a leader who can define every doctrine but lacks humility holds information that hasn't reached the heart yet. She points to Matthew 23, where religious leaders knew Scripture and missed Jesus. The same test applies to a congregation that shows up for prayer and stays for character.
This week: Ask a staff member if your theology forms people or just informs them. Where's the gap?
A Growing Number Call Some Bible Truths Obsolete | Lifeway Research
Nine in 10 churchgoers say they can read a passage and explain what it means. Yet 34% now accept some biblical truths while rejecting others, up from 30% in 2019, and that number climbs to 54% among those under 30. Confidence in interpreting Scripture is rising among your newest members while confidence in Scripture itself softens.
This week: Ask a small group how confident they feel explaining why certain biblical truths still apply today.
Growth Toolkit
Tracks attendance, groups, volunteers, and giving in one database. Its reports show who is arriving and who is fading, so you can call before someone drifts away. Starts at $29/month.
Self-paced Bible courses taught by scholars, with facilitator guides for select classes. Run one as a fall small group. Free.
What would you like to see more of? Hit reply and let us know.
You're receiving this because you care about growing healthy churches. Forward this to a fellow pastor who could use some encouragement.