Church Attendance Is Rising—but New Research Reveals a Troubling Trend

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Do you believe Church attendance is on the rise or the fall? According to Lifeway Research, “Slightly more than half of U.S. Protestant pastors (54%) report their average worship service attendance has increased since 2023.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, church attendance across the nation has only been accelerated by a pre-existing downward trend. Six years later, however, pastors are beginning to see a change: growing attendance, but fewer unchurched newcomers.

Sponsored by the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, Christian Today reports that the survey found 54 percent of churches saw at least a 4 percent increase in average worship attendance. However, this has happened even as 30 percent of churches reported no growth, and 16 percent said their churches declined by 4 percent or more. 

On average, however, these worship services went from 176 people to 183. Churches with over 250 attendees showed 70 percent growth, while churches with between 50 and 99 attendees showed the greatest decline. Bigger churches are slowly increasing in number, but smaller churches are rapidly dying.

Additionally, according to the survey, more than 20 percent of churches reported less than 50 congregants on any given weekend. Also, more than a fourth (27 percent) of churches reported attendance between 50 and 99. Thirty-two percent of houses of worship have said their typical attendance is somewhere between 100 and 249 people. Those churches with more than 250 people in attendance were 22 percent, according to Lifeway Research's survey. 

Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway Research, explained in this survey that while some churches may be experiencing a decline, most pastors are reporting “that their attendance is higher than two years ago.”

When categorized by denomination, Pentecostals have been the most likely to experience growth at 63 percent, while Baptists and non-denominational churches follow close behind at 57 percent. Lutherans have shown the most decline at 37 percent, followed by Methodists at 26 percent.

Biblical Recorder adds, “The presence of young adults is often an indicator of growth. The average U.S. Protestant pastor says attendees ages 18 to 30 make up 17% of their congregation, similar to their percentage of the U.S. population as a whole.”

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Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.