Reflecting on the Western Church.

The modern, western church is struggling. This is not new to anyone. Most churches tend to cast blame outward. However, before any transformation can take place there needs to be an inward consideration to evaluate how the church communicates and engages with people. Even though it is not usually said, most churches don’t understand why people don’t understand the value churches provide. There must be an honest look at where the local church struggles and where the local church has succeeded in communication and engagement.

Change your perspective and look at the church through the community’s eyes.

It is easy to get caught up in the church's day-to-day activities. Between meetings and preparation, it is easy to lose purpose and intentionality. When this happens, things begin to spiral downward. Slowly at first, and then before you know it, the local church is a husk of what it used to be. When the church breaks free from the routine and becomes purposeful and intentional, great things begin to happen.

Consider This:

68% of American Churches have less than 100 People

— Lifeway Research

Only 20% of Americans attend church each week, with 41% of Americans attending church monthly or more.

— Gallup

16% of Christians who attended church pre-pandemic have stopped attending entirely .

— Barna Group

31% of American Church have less than 50 People.

— Lifeway Research

57% of Americans are seldom or never in a religious service.

— Gallup

Boomers represented the greatest loss in attendance. 22% of Boomers have stopped attending church altogether, compared to only 13% of Millennials.

— Barna Group

Looking at Church Attendance

44% of people go to church to feel closer to God.

However, less than 20% of church goers feel close to God on a Monthly Basis

27% of people go to church to learn about God.

However, less than 10% of church goers feel they learned something about God or Jesus the last time they attended.

22% or people go to church because the Bible says to fellowship with other believers.

However, 61% say they did not gain any new insights regarding faith when they last attended.

10% of people go to church because they are looking for community.

(Barna Group)

We have work to do

Building engagement to encourage discipleship, growth, and fellowship.