Vital Signs: 2025 Annual Statistical Report pt. 2
Part 2 of the Vital Signs 2025 Annual Statistical Report covers ministers’ retirement confidence, multisite ministry trends, and what churches reported about giving, staffing, and mission investment.
Series: News
Alien Life and Christianity: What C.S. Lewis Can Teach Us
The possibility of alien life does not need to frighten Christians. C.S. Lewis helps believers think with imagination, humility, biblical faithfulness, and confidence that all creation belongs to Christ.
May 30, 2026
Christianity and UAPs: curiosity without panic
Unidentified anomalous phenomena raise real questions, but Christians need not panic or speculate. Scripture gives us a steady framework of creation, humility, discernment, and Christ’s lordship.
May 27, 2026
AI Companions and Christian Faith: How the Church Should Respond to Artificial Intimacy
AI companions are reshaping friendship, romance, and sexual temptation. Christians need a faithful response rooted in embodied love, biblical holiness, real community, and gospel grace.
May 27, 2026
Vital Signs: 2025 Annual Statistical Report pt. 1
Survey participation rebounded in 2025, providing stronger data on baptisms, worship attendance, and online viewing trends. The report also notes shifting in-person patterns and the aging profile of lead ministers, alongside encouraging signs of training pipelines.
Going Steady
David Faust reflects on biblical steadfastness, urging believers, parents, workers, preachers, and elders to stand firm, stay faithful, and remain steady in an unstable world.
May 26, 2026
Through the Lens of a Visitor
Terry Allcorn shares practical ways churches can welcome visitors well, from clear websites and signage to thoughtful explanations of Communion, offering, and follow-up.
When Political News Becomes Spiritual Formation
Political news does more than inform Christians—it can form us. Here’s how churches can resist fear, outrage, contempt, and tribal identity while remaining faithful in public life.
May 20, 2026
Are People Going Back to Church?
Are people going back to church? From campus revivals to rising Bible engagement, Seth Bryant highlights research trends and offers practical steps churches can take to prepare for first-time and returning guests.
May 19, 2026
Obesity in the Church
Tyler McKenzie explores obesity, body insecurity, and Christian stewardship, calling believers to recover a biblical theology of the body rooted in creation, self-control, and resurrection hope.
Your Ministry Matters
In this Editor’s note, Shawn McMullen encourages church leaders—especially in small congregations—to remember that every faithful ministry matters. Prioritize personal holiness and depth with Christ, and trust God with the breadth of the impact.
May 12, 2026
GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AND GO MINISTRIES CREATE PARTNERSHIP TO PROMOTE MISSIONS
Great Lakes Christian College and GO Ministries signed an agreement creating new missions-focused pathways, including a semester study abroad option, a high school credit course tied to a short-term trip, and a U.S. college pathway for Dominican students.
MINISTRY CONTINUES ON THE FORMER CAMPUS OF CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
After Cincinnati Christian University closed, the former Price Hill campus began a new chapter. BLOC Ministries is partnering with IDEA Price Hill to provide after-school support and community care—and leaders hope their presence is “good news.”
Hope for the Future
What do Gen Z and Gen Alpha think about faith—and what should churches do next? Luke Proctor explores concerning trends, surprising hope, and three practical choices to help pass the baton to the next generation.
May 2, 2026
Is America Going Back to Church?
Are we seeing a religious “vibe shift” in America? Survey data, Bible-reading trends, and stories from Restoration Movement churches point to new openness—especially among younger adults.
April 28, 2026
Review: “A Great Awakening”
Sight & Sound Films’ A Great Awakening dramatizes the friendship of George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin, framed by the Constitutional Convention. The review calls it inspiring and historically accurate overall, despite some cinematic liberties.
April 28, 2026
Central Christian College of the Bible to Become Central Bible University
Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Missouri, will change its name to Central Bible University effective June 1, 2026. President David Fincher said the update clarifies identity while keeping the school’s mission unchanged.
April 22, 2026
NCAA Releases Statistics On Your Kid’s Chance of Getting a Scholarship and Going Pro
NCAA data helps parents face the long odds of playing beyond high school and resist the youth-sports profit engine. Youth sports can still shape faith and character—if your “why” is bigger than scholarships or going pro.
April 14, 2026
The Night the Monks Stopped in Gasburg
Pleasant Hill Christian Church hosted Buddhist monks during their “Walk for Peace,” drawing hundreds to Gasburg, Virginia. After the presentation, Greg Hand shared the gospel—then faced online backlash that ultimately strengthened the congregation’s resolve.
SCHOLARSHIPS CAN HELP PAY FOR A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Outside scholarships can significantly reduce college costs—especially when students use scholarship databases, ask guidance counselors about local awards, and explore community, employer, and church-based opportunities that often have smaller applicant pools.
