March 13, 2026
Kent Fillinger uses superhero teams to encourage pastors not to serve in isolation. He highlights rising pastoral loneliness and offers practical ways solo ministers can find support, accountability, and encouragement through trusted ministry relationships.
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.
November 6, 2025
If we’re serious about trying to reach lost sinners and fish for people like Jesus told us to, then it’s essential we understand the beliefs, behavior, and belonging of those we’re fishing for so we can use the right kind of “bait.”
September 3, 2025
Dealing with various tensions is a reality in ministry. And experiencing tension often leads to stress and fatigue. These issues must be managed.
March 2, 2025
The fear of the Lord leads to a life of holiness and obedience, while the comfort of the Holy Spirit brings peace and strength amid trials. These two spiritual qualities enable us to be all God wants us to be as we seek to live out Jesus' mission.
December 31, 2024
We’re all interim leaders and at some point retirement is inevitable. Therefore, church elders and boards should be proactive to ensure a healthy, smooth pastoral transition.
September 1, 2024
An echo chamber is an environment where the same opinions are repeatedly voiced and promoted, so that people are not exposed to opposing views. Echo chambers also extend to online groups where people with similar opinions on any topic share their voices and validate each other.
May 1, 2024
Each year, Christian Standard collects data from hundreds of churches about their average worship attendance, number of baptisms, minister’s name, website, etc., and compiles this into charts based on church size. Columnist Kent Fillinger uses this information as the basis for several articles during the year. This data in this link, collected in early 2024, is based on statistics from 2023. DOWNLOAD THE 2023 CS CHURCH ATTENDANCE CHARTS
March 1, 2024
Reflections on the centennial issue of Christian Standard from 1966 . . .
November 1, 2023
By Kent E. Fillinger Guilty as charged! I admit I’m guilty. And maybe you are too. I’m guilty of not loving my neighbors and those in my network enough to share my faith with them as I know I should. Thomas Dewar said, “An honest confession is good for the soul, but bad for the reputation.” Regardless, maybe it’s time for more of us to confess and repent from living a Christian life that looks holy but may be hollower than it should be. Loving our family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers enough to share the good news of the gospel
July 1, 2023
By Kent E. Fillinger The number of unaffiliated, nondenominational Christian churches in the United States grew by almost 5,000 congregations and nearly 9 million people from 2010 to 2020, thus making it America’s largest Protestant “denomination,” according to the U.S. Religion Census. In 2010, unaffiliated, nondenominational Christian churches had an estimated 12,241,329 adherents in 35,496 congregations, which represented 4 percent of the overall population. By 2020, the number of people worshipping in those churches grew to 21,095,641, and their share of America’s religious population increased to 13.1 percent, representing 6.4 percent of the nation’s population. How Many Churches Do We
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
January 24, 2023
In our quest to collect comprehensive data that accurately reflects our movement, Christian Standard has extended until Feb. 1 the deadline for completing our annual church survey.
January 18, 2023
Only a few days remain to complete Christian Standard's annual survey designed for every Restoration Movement church (Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ). The deadline is Monday, Jan. 23.
April 7, 2026
John B. Penrose Jr
April 7, 2026
David Faust
March 27, 2026
Rick Cherok