Articles for tag: Church Attendance

Christian Living

Proud, but Not Satisfied

By Mark A. Taylor Don”t count CHRISTIAN STANDARD among today”s crop of church bashers. Even when we don”t headline our cover with “I love the church,” we make a point of encouraging the local church and its leaders. But posts at our site this month give special reasons to feel positive. For example, we couldn”t agree more with Bob Russell”s local-church cheerleading. Think of all the dysfunction and distress our world would face without the healing and help the church has extended through the centuries. Then there”s Kent Fillinger”s annual update on the state of megachurches and other churches among

April 16, 2014

A Brand-New Life

By Mark A. Taylor I bumped into our backyard neighbor at the grocery store, and the conversation went from the price of groceries to the weather to “How are your kids?” And then she told me, “We”ve been going to church.” She had visited our church once, several years ago, but she had never come back. And I always felt she was embarrassed by that. ButÂ now she was smiling. “The girls love it, and the first Sunday my 13-year-old daughter asked if she could go back that night to youth group.” Then her expression became more earnest. “It”s really

February 18, 2014

Bible Study Theology & Bible

Beyond the Problem

By Mark A. Taylor Let”s not dwell on the fact that too many know too little about God”s Word. After clarifying the situation (and more than one writer at our site this month gives troubling facts and examples), let”s talk about how to solve the “know problem” all around us (not only in our neighborhoods, but in our churches too). We’re posting many stories and strategies to help your church increase biblical literacy where you are. From this wealth of help, several principles stand out. “¢ People want to know the Bible better. When presented with an accessible plan for

September 14, 2013

City Growth, Church Growth?

By Darrel Rowland For decades Americans fled the city for suburbs, and their churches followed them. But the trend has reversed””at least for now””with more people moving into the city. Will churches return with them? That”s a key question because the statistics showing the new boom in city growth collide with findings on spiritual beliefs, such as those compiled by pollster George Barna. The country”s current demographic upheaval is stark. From 2001 to 2010 only five U.S. cities grew faster than their surrounding suburbs. Now most cities are outstripping the “burbs, which hasn”t happened since the 1920s. A U.S. Census

June 8, 2013

Is Missional Working?

By Stephen Sams At Axis Church in Mason, Ohio, we don”t use the word missional. It”s not that we are opposed to the word, it”s just that we try to use words that people understand. When you are trying to reach people who don”t know Jesus, you must use words that communicate and create mental pictures. If people can”t define it or explain it, then they can”t carry it out or act on it. Nearly everyone in America has a concept of church. They think they understand it. They have predetermined definitions of concepts like discipleship, evangelism, and worship, largely

May 17, 2013

Former Attorney Makes a Case for Christ

By Kent E. Fillinger Brian Kruckenberg didn”t grow up in a Christian home, but he attended church several times as a senior in high school. A teacher shared the gospel with him, and he began to understand it. But he finished high school, college, graduate school, and law school without giving faith in God much thought. After a friend invited the young attorney to church, Kruckenberg soon committed his life to Christ and started studying the Bible and serving in several ministries. Kruckenberg”s passion for volunteering in his church continued to grow over the next four years, and in 2004

May 28, 2012

Organizations & Events Local Churches

MEDIUM-SIZED CHURCHES: The 2011 List

A listing of 35 medium-sized churches participating in Christian Standard’s 2011 survey, including church location, senior minister, website, average worship attendance, and number of baptisms.

May 22, 2012

LARGE-SIZED CHURCHES: The 2011 List

This survey listing features 71 large-sized churches averaging 500-999 in worship attendance in 2011, with information on church locations, senior ministers, websites, attendance, and baptisms.

May 15, 2012

Megachurches: The 2011 List

Christian Standard’s annual chart identifies more than 100 megachurches and emerging megachurches, highlighting congregations with weekly attendance ranging from 1,000 to more than 2,000.

April 3, 2012

Care & Counseling Trauma

A Room Called Remember

A lifelong church member describes how childhood abuse, unanswered questions, and painful experiences with the church nearly drove her away—and how safe relationships helped her begin healing without abandoning her faith.

March 2, 2012

Daniel Schantz

Church Life

Sitting Pretty

Daniel Schantz remembers the wooden church pews of his childhood—their unforgiving stability, lessons in discipline, and endless possibilities for imagination—in this humorous reflection on church life.

February 11, 2012

Daniel Schantz

Church Life

His Church & Her Church

Daniel Schantz humorously compares the very different ways he and his wife experience church, from fellowship and worship to Communion, sermons, and the people sitting around them.

January 13, 2012

Steve Carr

Counting Sheep

Steve Carr questions whether attendance numbers alone can measure church success, examining biblical examples, transfer growth, evangelism, and the need for a broader understanding of congregational faithfulness.

January 9, 2012

Rob Kastens

In Just One Year: I Pray I’m Wrong

Rob Kastens considers Christianity’s decline in the West and growth across the Global South, calling Western churches to renew their commitment to disciple-making and support the expanding global church.

January 5, 2012

Greg Nettle

In Just One Year: The Worst and the Best

Greg Nettle considers economic hardship, declining church attendance, cultural challenges, vulnerable children, and global suffering—and how difficult times can become opportunities for the church to be at her best.

October 12, 2011

Church & Ministry Youth & Children's Ministry

Remember the Children

George Barna’s research on declining church participation points toward a vital response: invest in the spiritual development of children whose beliefs and values will shape tomorrow’s church and culture.

April 28, 2011

Organizations & Events Local Churches

MEDIUM-SIZED CHURCHES: The 2010 List

A Christian Standard survey listing of 47 medium-sized churches that averaged 250-499 in worship during 2010, including attendance and baptism data.

April 22, 2011

Kent E. Fillinger

Christmas or Easter?

Kent E. Fillinger compares Easter and Christmas attendance increases, encouraging churches to rethink evangelism strategy and invest more intentionally in Easter planning and guest follow-up.

April 21, 2011