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ChurchInfluence.com is a FREE web tool that networks pastors with leading ministry experts to helping churches grow. The website’s algorithm analyzes church influence and reach within the community based on: (1) your survey results, (2) your local demographics and (3) leading ministry expertise combined with national church trends.

4 common church types across the nation from the 2018 State of the Church in America

Statistics collected in a 5-year period between 2013-2018 from among over 350 North American Congregations More upcoming 2018 State of the Church in America Mainline Ministry Characteristics 5 more common church types across the nation 3 financial characteristics of the average church in America College education take over church leadership 4 leading types of pastor’s …

America Is Becoming Less Christian, Less Religious

America is still a predominantly Christian nation, but it’s becoming both less Christian and less religious, according to the results of the new American Religious Identification Survey. According to the poll, which came out today, the percentage of Americans who define themselves as Christian has dropped from 86 percent in 1990 to 76 percent in 2008. In …

CONTEMPORARY TRENDS in CHURCH NAMES

Remember when you could tell two churches that split: Harmony Baptist Church and Greater Harmony Baptist Church? Those days are gone. But what has not changed is that many churches have commonalities in names. In their attempts to be different, they have become common: “Point” has become ubiquitous. LifePoint. CrossPoint. Add an “e” to be …

The Religious and Social Crises and Political Consequences

The opening long decade of the 21st century (2000-2012) has been a period of repeated and profound economic and social crises, of serial and prolonged wars and declining living standards for the vast majority of Americans. How have people responded to this crisis? No large scale, long term, socio-political movements have emerged to challenge the …

Is Religion In America in Decline?

Duke University sociologist Mark Chaves’ working title for his new book on trends in U.S. religion was “Continuity and Change in American Religion.” But the folks on the Princeton University Press marketing team suggested he could attract more attention with the bolder title: The Decline of American Religion. Chaves, director of the National Congregations Study, …

Is your church ready for GDPR?

You’ve probably heard about GDPR. The new European data protection regulation that applies practically to everyone enters in power on May 25, 2018. Especially if you operate a church or ministry website, it’s most likely that there’s already a process for getting your systems in compliance with the regulation. GDPR in effect adds to or …