January 1, 2026
Think Outward
Every church will tell you they have an outward focus because they know that's Jesus' Great Commission, but the truth is that many are not.
January 1, 2026
Every church will tell you they have an outward focus because they know that's Jesus' Great Commission, but the truth is that many are not.
January 1, 2026
We need to start thinking and planning for succession earlier rather than later, knowing that the stakes are high, the process takes time, and that we are following a biblical mandate.
January 1, 2026
Retirement doesn’t mean ministry is over. It just means it looks different. The way we influence and serve may change, but God still uses us.
January 1, 2026
Elders and pastors need to intentionally work to identify and develop future pastors and leaders, viewing this as both a calling and a priority.
January 1, 2026
If your main motivation is to please other people, and your self-worth depends on others’ approval, you will be frustrated and disappointed.
January 1, 2026
When done with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, succession and an intentional interim create the smoothest path to pastoral transition.
November 6, 2025
Love has persuasive power. Compassion makes our arguments more convincing, but without love, our arguments sound hollow.
While a minister may not want to know what individuals in their church give, it’s wise for them to know about the annual budget, the average weekly or monthly giving, how much debt, if any, the church has, and what percentage of the budget is being spent to service the debt.
Statistics from Christian Standard Church Report for 2024.
Fast Facts compiled from the 2024 Christian Standard Church Report.
The Christian Standard Church Report for 2024 provides important historical data, current trends, and valuable insights.
Christian Standard Church Report for 2024. This is a representative sample of our movement that provides important historical data, current trends, and valuable insights.
October 31, 2024
The act of giving elicits positive feelings and emotions for both the giver and the receiver, making it one of the most important exchanges you can have with someone.
July 1, 2024
In 2023, 57 percent of churches reported that giving exceeded their budget, with 21 percent saying giving met their budgeted needs. . . .
May 1, 2024
The pandemic caused some churches to refocus or redefine their ministry practices. . . .
January 24, 2024
There is still time to complete Christian Standard's Annual Survey of Churches. This survey of 2023 data is designed for every Restoration Movement church (Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ)—from the largest to smallest—and takes only a few minutes to complete . . .
January 16, 2024
The Christian Standard Annual Survey of Churches is now available! We encourage all Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ to complete it by Friday, Jan. 26. It takes just a few minutes . . .
January 1, 2024
By Kent E. Fillinger “Hurting people hurt people” is a familiar and true phrase. But on the flip side, “healthy people help people.” A minister’s spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health will directly affect his ability to lead, serve, and help others. The healthier the leader, the more fruitful he can and will be. A recent Gallup survey found that workers are more stressed this year than last year. This coincides with a 2022 survey by ValuePenguin (a research and analysis company) that reported 84 percent of Americans feel stressed at least once in a typical week. A U.S. Surgeon
September 1, 2023
By Kent E. Fillinger It’s been said that a person can live 40 days without food, four days without water, four minutes without air, but only four seconds without hope. Hope is a power that energizes us with life. The available research on hope is limited, so Christian Standard conducted an online survey in May 2023 to assess how hopeful people are about the future of the church. The survey size was limited—just 141 responses—but the results were informative. It’s worth noting that 87 percent of the survey participants reported attending church “more than once a week” or “once a
May 1, 2023
By Kent E. Fillinger When I look back at the last few years through the filter of our annual survey results, I would argue that 2020 was a year of crisis, 2021 was a year of adaptation, and 2022 was a year of transition. In-Person vs. Online Worship Attendance One exciting transition churches experienced last year was more people shifted back to in-person worship from watching online. Comparing 2022 in-person worship attendance data to 2021 showed attendance increases for churches of all sizes. The megachurches (with average weekly worship attendance of 2,000 or more) suffered the greatest attendance declines during