Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 23

AI and Church Answers: Full Disclosure

Note: This article is original. None of it is AI-generated. (You will understand why I led with this disclaimer later in the article.)

Adding to the conversation about AI (artificial intelligence) is a challenge. There is a ton of information available now. Frankly, I don’t know how much of the information about AI is AI-generated itself. You probably have read about the proliferation of generative AI, that subset of artificial intelligence that produces summarized content. Generative AI provides massive amounts of summarized content at a mind-numbing speed. For better or worse, entire books have already been written by AI.

So, for this article, I will share the position we’ve taken at Church Answers. Hundreds of thousands of readers and listeners depend on our content through our articles, blogs, books, webinars, conferences, and podcasts. It is incumbent upon us to let you know how we are using AI at Church Answers.

1. All of our content is and will continue to be original content. Church Answers has four primary content writers: Ryan Burge, Chuck Lawless, Sam Rainer, and Thom Rainer. We’ve all committed to giving you original content at Church Answers. If, at any time, we use generative AI in our content, we will disclose it. Please understand that our process is slower. We still have human writers. Though we will use AI to help us edit what we’ve written, we still use human editors for our final drafts. We realize this process will put us at a productivity disadvantage, but it is the path we’ve chosen. 

2. Church Answers will comply with and attempt to be proactive as disclosure laws become pervasive and mandated. Not all government oversight is big brother in nature. Some of it, like good copyright laws, protect those who create original content. The European Union passed the EU AI Act in late 2023. It will become the law of the land after the member states pass it. Essentially, the act mandates full disclosure and transparency when using AI. Many who follow AI trends believe something like the EU AI Act will become law in other countries like the United States.

3. Church Answers is already using AI for some of our work. As noted in this article, we use AI as our proofreader. Most of the writers have their own favorite AI proofreading program. I use AI for many of the functions an assistant used to do. For example, we can send an AI-generated response when someone asks for my availability to speak in person or virtually. We all use AI to do massive search and summarization. We often ask AI to answer specific questions. Indeed, for those tasks, AI enhances our productivity multiple times. But, like the “old-fashioned” Google search, not all the content is correct. We must fact-check AI on essential items. We also use generative AI in much of our marketing content, though we use precise prompts to communicate accurate information.

4. I will personally use original content when I speak and preach. If I use AI-generated content at any point, I will disclose it as I would any other source. As a personal note to my pastor friends, please understand the blessings and cautions inherent in using AI for your preaching. If you use AI without disclosure, you are, in essence, plagiarizing other content because AI “wrote” it; you didn’t. As a further caution, there are many AI reviewers available today. If you use AI without credit, it is easy to catch. Your sermons today can be reviewed now and many years from now.

5. We will do our best to keep up with the world of AI and make adjustments for greater transparency. Admittedly, I have trouble keeping up with the fire hose of information on AI gushing forth every day. Our team attempts to be in the know about AI, and we will do everything we can to be transparent and ethical. We will let you know if we make substantive changes in our posture toward AI.

Church Answers is paradoxically on the cutting edge and resistant to some levels of change. We are on the cutting edge because we are doing all we can to keep up with the torrent of new information about AI. However, we are resistant to change our approach to provide our readers and listeners with original content. In that regard, we will be slower and more methodical in using AI.

We believe it is the best path to serve those of you who depend on our content. We also believe it is the right thing to do.

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Just Some Thoughts about My Pastoral Heroes

As I grow older, I’ve been thinking a lot about my pastoral heroes—both those still living and those now with the Lord. Here are some thoughts that come to mind:

These men are some of the most prayerful men I know. Prayer is in their DNA. These prayerful men are also most committed to Scripture reading and memorization. The Word of God just drips from their lips.These prayerful, Scripture-saturated men are some of the godliest people I have ever met. They’re sinners, too, but never have I heard them cross lines with their words or seen them transgress boundaries with their actions. These prayerful, Scripture-saturated, godly men are deeply committed to their family. You just know that they see their family as the gift of God they are privileged to lead. Their family adores them, too. These prayerful, Scripture-saturated, godly, family-focused men are also some of the most evangelistic people I’ve ever known. It’s fun to watch, actually, how these brothers naturally and passionately move a conversation to Jesus and the gospel. These prayerful, Scripture-saturated, godly, family-focused, evangelistic men are also some of the most Great Commission-minded leaders I’ve met. These men have hearts that break over their lost neighbors and over unreached peoples. They make time to travel overseas, and they also call out the called to the nations in their pastoral ministries. These prayerful, Scripture-saturated, godly, family-focused, evangelistic, Great Commission-minded men are dedicated to discipling other young men. That is, they do not keep their lives to themselves; they instead pour their lives into the next generation. They can name the men they’re investing in. These prayerful, Scripture-saturated, godly, family-focused, evangelistic, Great Commission-minded, disciple-making men rely on the Spirit. All the men I’m thinking of today speak often of the power of the Holy Spirit. They do not hesitate to talk about and rely on God’s presence and empowerment within them. These prayerful, Scripture-saturated, godly, family-focused, evangelistic, Great Commission-minded, disciple-making, Spirit-led men also recognize the reality of spiritual warfare. It’s interesting, really, how consistent it is among them—all these men understand that a supernatural enemy wants to devour them. They don’t live in fear of the enemy, but they are ever aware of his arrows.  These prayerful, Scripture-saturated, godly, family-focused, evangelistic, Great Commission-minded, disciple-making, Spirit-led, warfare-aware men deeply want to finish well. Some already have finished well, of course, and others realize that the finish line is not getting farther away. What’s most powerful to me is their commitment to fight for godliness all the way to the end. They pray, I suspect, something similar to one of the seven prayers one of my pastoral heroes prays each day: “that I would do nothing that would give the Adversary an opportunity to mock my Lord.”

I realize I’ve just piled up the characteristics here, but I’m simply reporting what I’ve seen. My pastoral heroes follow(ed) God with all their heart, their soul, and their mind (Matt 22:37)—and every area of their lives reflects the Father. Their commitment is hardly a “hit and miss” commitment; they’re all in. 

God, help me to do the same.

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Churches Should Close the Pay Gap for Women on Staff

I’ve noticed a disturbing trend in my (almost) 20 years of ministry. At first, I didn’t do much to solve the problem. I should have done more. Now, I voice concern, and I hope I’m a helpful voice.

Women on church staff tend to make less than men for similar roles. Depending on how researchers do the math, the current pay gap for women on church staff is between twenty-four cents and seven cents on the dollar, meaning women make anywhere between seven percent and twenty-four percent less than men. The national pay gap is around eighteen cents on the dollar. The national figure applies to all jobs, from unskilled labor to executive leadership.

The church can do better. We should lead the culture in solving the pay gap with women.

There are many reasons for the current pay gap between men and women on church staff.

It’s a historic trend. The pay gap for women on church staff was forty cents in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The trend is improving nationally, but it’s still a serious problem in many individual churches.Many churches have theological convictions about the roles of men and women, especially the primary preaching position. The purpose of this post is not to break down the nuances of complementarianism and egalitarianism. I simply want to address the obvious. Ministers on church staff with similar responsibilities should be paid similarly, regardless of gender. If your church gives a particular set of responsibilities to a woman, you should pay her fairly for them.Children’s ministries tend to employ more women. One way churches justify paying women less—whether intentionally or not—is by paying children’s ministers significantly less than other similar positions. For example, the pay package gap between children’s ministers and student ministers is between $10,000 and $15,000.Women are five times more likely to work part-time at a church than men. For those of us in ministry, we know part-time applies only to the pay, not the actual hours worked.Married women with children fare the worst in churches. They make twenty-eight percent less than men.

Most churches with women on staff likely have some pay gap problems. Inevitably, a few churches will have huge leaps to make. What can you do? Consider a few points as you take action and remedy the disparities.

Be proactive. Start researching the issue if you serve on an elder board, personnel committee, or executive staff. Understand where you are today. Then, make a plan to do something about it.Be thoughtful. Someone’s salary is typically a sensitive subject. Approach this topic with care.Be honest. If the pay gap exists in your church, then be open about the issue with female employees. They likely already know. Most will be glad you are recognizing the problem.Be protective. When corrective measures are made, don’t let the women on staff take the heat from the church. Redirecting questions—or even anger—back to the women on staff is cowardly. Own the problem and defend them if the church has an issue with the move.

Churches have made progress in this area over the past three decades. As with national trends, the pay gap is closing in churches. Wouldn’t it be great if the church was the first organization to solve the problem completely? It might just get the attention of our culture.

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A Simple Strategy for Getting Your Church to Tell Their Salvation Story

More than one study has shown that few believers share the gospel with non-believers. Over the years as I have taught pastors, interviewed church members and staff, and worked with church consultations, I’ve recognized these obstacles to doing evangelism:

The grip of fear. The fears can be multiple, like a fear of rejection, a fear of not knowing answers, or even a fear of persecution in hard places around the world. Fear has a way of crippling our attempts to evangelize.  A lack of role models. If I ask my students if they can name someone who modeled an evangelistic heart for them, many of my students can’t name anyone. They’ve simply never known another believer whose heart just beats for the lost. That’s tragic.  A lack of urgency. Sometimes, I fear that lack of urgency Already a member? Log in Unlock premium content!

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Five Essential Sources for Sermon Illustrations and Why They Are Important

Preaching is a grind I welcome every week. Expositing God’s Word is one of the toughest but most rewarding aspects of being a pastor. You can’t treat preaching like a sprint, rushing to get a response on Sundays. It’s more like a marathon, a paced lope in which long strides are made over time.

Illustrations are not the most important part of a sermon. The meat is the exposition of the text. The illustrations add spice and flavor. Nobody wants to eat just spices for dinner. But then, meat without flavoring is bland. In most cases, sermons need a little flavor.

Illustrations also help the listener to understand your points, especially the more abstract or theological ones. Do you know those technical manuals that “help” you put together cheap furniture? That’s your sermon without any illustrations. They may get the job done, but nobody will enjoy them.

Where do I get my sermon illustrations? I have five primary sources.

Real life. About half of my sermons include a personal illustration, preferably a recent one. It’s good for your guests and new members to hear a little about who you are and what’s happening in your world. Additionally, your members are more likely to relate to you if you open up about your own life.

History. I utilize historical examples in about every other sermon, typically in the middle of my sermon. These illustrations help teach church history, historical theology, and local history. More importantly, history can connect generations. An example from the 1960s can unite Boomers and Gen Z. An example from the 1940s can connect Millennials and Builders. I intentionally pull from different eras of history in order to relate to different generations.

Current News. Everyone is watching it, so you have to go there. Otherwise, you’ll appear out-of-touch and detached. At times, I’ll address significant occurrences from the prior week. But be careful here. Not every news story is worthy of sermon time. In our era of 24/7 sensational news, it can be hard to discern the actual newsworthy events from selections made by media conglomerates that sell news. Everything is BREAKING NEWS, according to them.

Pop culture. Don’t dismiss this one. While the latest fad, gadget, or hit music may not appeal to you, they do apply to the younger generations. It’s popular in the culture for a reason. I’m not advocating you take on every one of the latest fashions. I certainly don’t. However, I want to remain knowledgeable about the current culture. If I can’t speak their language, why would they listen to me? If you can’t, why would they listen to you?

Biblical examples. Often, the best illustrations are found in the Bible. Biblical illustrations help your listeners connect the dots between stories in the Bible, between the Old Testament and the New Testament, between the law and the gospel, and between the many different genres of Scripture.

What about jokes? I tell them, but sparingly. I’ll let you know if I land one. Most often, mine fall flat. In reality, few pastors can pull off comedic relief in sermons. And I don’t recommend anyone ending on a joke. I’ve never heard a sermon in which it worked.

It’s one thing to tell people the truth. It’s another thing to illustrate it for them. The truth is essential, but helping people connect to the truth is also necessary. 

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The Moribund Church

We’ve done extensive research and provided a number of resources on churches that have died. The reason we’ve conducted these “autopsies” on deceased churches is to learn from them. Why did they die? What warning signs did they have? What intervention might have proved fruitful?

We have extended our research on autopsies to moribund churches. It’s likely a phrase you have not heard.

What Is a Moribund Church?

The term “moribund” is an adjective used to describe something that is at the point of death or in a state of near collapse, often used in both literal and figurative contexts. The word originates from the Latin “moribundus,” meaning “dying.” It is used in medical contexts to describe a patient who is on the verge of death and whose condition might seem irreversible.

In a broader sense, “moribund” can describe anything that is in a state of decline, stagnation, or near failure. For example, it can refer to a church that is declining and unlikely to recover. The term implies a level of deterioration or decay that is almost to the point of being irreversible.

We are confident in our research in several aspects. Two issues for which we have high confidence are that church closures will increase in number and that the number of moribund churches will increase as well. Obviously, the latter directly affects the former.

Is There Any Hope?

In a word, yes. There is hope. Even though moribund churches by definition are congregations on the precipice of closure, we believe God is not done with most of them. I wrote about these incredible miracles of God in my book, Anatomy of a Revived Church. Most of the churches we studied for that book were moribund churches.

Indeed, we know that the data can be gloomy and discouraging. We understand that our continued focus on deceased churches and moribund churches can be a downer. But we do this research for a reason. The more we learn about church death and church sickness, the more we can understand how God can use us to prevent these problems and, in the case of moribund churches, to turn them around.

New Research and New Hope

Church Answers Research will soon release our most recent research on moribund churches. In anticipation of this release, may I leave you with two thoughts?

First, be prepared for bad news. Most of you will not be surprised at the challenges we will highlight as we inform you about the increasing number of moribund churches in America.

Second, be prepared for hope. The same God who can heal the sickest person and resurrect the dead can give new life to moribund churches. I say that in the confidence of the power of God. I say that because we continue to see powerful examples of very sick churches that are now congregations of vitality.

We believe that research on moribund churches is thus warranted. And we believe that this research can lead us to discover how God has revived incredibly sick churches.

Stay tuned. You will hear a lot more about moribund churches.

P. S. Sam Rainer and I will lead a free webinar on “Autopsy of Deceased Churches (with New Information on Moribund Churches)” on February 22.  For those of you familiar with our webinars, it will last for an hour like our other webinars. However, I am going to stay on live for an extended period for questions for any who want to stay. You can register here.

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A Surprising First Step, Pastors, toward Strengthening Your Evangelism

Over more than forty years of ministry, I’ve learned that not many Christians share their faith on a regular basis. In fact, I know few pastors who evangelize, either. So, I agree with Thom Rainer that “evangelism is dead or dying in most American churches.” I also strongly affirm Thom’s statement that “an evangelistic church must have an evangelistic pastor.” 

I doubt, though, that any of us writing blog posts will automatically produce pastors and leaders doing more evangelism. Instead, I suspect the first steps are more basic than that. To illustrate my thinking, I want to take you to two scenarios that have heavily influenced my life. 

First, I was in an international setting some years ago talking with followers of another faith. Behind them, I could see their “gods” on a shelf—gods some human being had fashioned with his or her hands. Likely another human being had transported those gods to the shelf, and somebody else kept them dusted. In this case, I could see the faces of the gods—faces that had eyes that could not see, mouths that could not speak, and ears that could not hear. These gods neither communicated with nor related to the people worshiping them. 

Later that year as I considered my Bible reading plan for the next year, I decided to highlight anything in the Scriptures that indicated God’s communicating with His people. I watched for verses like, “The Lord said,” “the Word of the Lord came to,” “God spoke,” and “declares the Lord.” Each time I found such a verse, I highlighted it. I did not count the number of times such a phrase occurs, but suffice to say that I depleted several purple highlighters by the time I finished my Bible reading for that year. From “then God said” (Gen 1:3) to “Yes, I am coming soon” (Rev 22:20), the Scriptures show us that God relates to and speaks to His people. 

The more often I pulled out my highlighter that year, the more I could do only one thing: praise the Lord for speaking to us through His Word. Day after day after day, I highlighted words and offered praise. Our God does not sit on a shelf. 

My second life-changing experience was also in an international context—this time with Christ-followers in a risky part of the world who had only portions of the Bible in their language. In fact, this particular group of believers had only one copy of the portion they did have. What amazed me was just how much these folks devoured what they had, distributing it among themselves, reading verses aloud, and quietly meditating on what they had read and heard. Their gratitude was obvious, but so was their longing for more. Almost like John in Revelation 5 who wept when he could first find no one to open the scroll, these believers deeply desired to have the rest of the story opened in their language. Their hearts cried out for more. 

I came back to the States after that trip, and I began to notice just how many copies of the Bible I have in my house. Like many of us, I suspect, I have far more Bibles in my house than we have human beings. I have the entirety of God’s Word in my language and in my hands, and I can open any copy freely without threat to my life. I’m privileged to have God’s Word, to be able to read God’s Word, and to proclaim God’s Word. I continue these days to realize just how blessed I am—quite undeservedly so—to be a child of God who called me to Himself and who speaks to me through His Word. 

God has called me—all of us, actually—to talk about Him to our neighbors and the nations. That means we must tell the good news. Perhaps, then, a first step for pastors to start evangelizing with more fervor and regularity is to be amazed again by the fact that our God communicates—and He has chosen, solely by His grace, to communicate with us. 

That’s an amazing God! Indeed, He’s worth talking about.

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More on the Graying of the Church: Find Ways for Your Congregation to Become Younger

Our team member, Ryan Burge, wrote a fascinating article about which denominations are graying the most. You can see his article in our premier content at Church Answers on February 1. I continue the theme of the graying of the church today to address how congregations can become younger.

Senior adults are a blessing in most churches. They often offer wisdom, experience, and stability in a congregation. I am not biased against older adults. Heck, I am a senior adult myself.

But there is a rightful concern in many churches today about the relative age composition of active church members. In fact, one of the most frequent consultation requests we receive at Church Answers is “help my church get younger.”

Why Does the Concern Exist?

Should the graying of churches be a concern? Shouldn’t we celebrate any aged person who attends our churches? The answer to both questions is “yes.” Yes, we should celebrate all ages who attend, and yes, we should be concerned if our congregations are getting older. 

In fact, it is usually an older pastor or an older layperson who contacts us for help. Here are the realities they say they are facing:

The church is declining in size because older adults who die or those who are no longer able to attend are not replaced by younger people. In fact, they are not usually replaced at all.Older adults are key to the financial support of the church. As they go, so do the funds necessary to carry on ministries and support of the church. Many churches with older congregants also have the burden of deferred maintenance.It is common for some older adults to be limited physically. They can’t do the work for the church that younger members can do.Older adults are often resistant to the necessary changes the church needs to do to reach younger people.Even if younger adults visit the church, they often do not return. The younger adults seek commonalities for themselves and opportunities for their children.What Does the Data Say?

The statistical and demographic data overwhelmingly confirm that the American church is graying. Look at some of these stark realities:

The proportion of senior adults ages 65 and older in churches is double the proportion of those same ages in the general U. S. population. Those senior adults account for 16.8% of the general population, but they account for 32.9% of active church members (U. S. Census, FACT2020).We have significant anecdotal evidence that smaller churches are much older than the median of larger churches. This reality means that the smaller churches will decline and die sooner (Church Answers Research).The graying trend will not slow down. Around 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 every day. The nation is getting grayer. From a simple demographic perspective, the age of active church members will increase every year (U.S. Census, birth rate by year).The median age of a pastor is approaching 60. It was 57 in 2020, and it will likely cross the age 60 threshold next year (FACT2020).Can Our Churches Get Younger?

Those leaders who are concerned about the graying of their churches are not as interested in data as they are in solutions. We suggest to church leaders that they take their members through five key questions.

Do you realize your church is getting older? This question is simply one of awareness. Frankly, we have conducted surveys in churches that have obviously aged, but most of the members are not aware of it. We encourage all churches to get a demographic study of their community to see the ages of residents in the community as well as other key data.Do members in your church have a “we built it, so they should come” mentality? Is their attitude one of waiting for guests to show up? If so, the church will continue to decline.What level of change will church members be willing to make to get younger? Obviously, you cannot keep doing things the way you’ve always done them. Many of the members indicate that they are open to change as long as it does not affect them.Are you willing to bring on younger staff? This question is typically met with a response of “we can’t afford it.” But graying churches must think outside the box. Bring young interns onto the staff. Find younger people in the community who are willing to work part time. Offer stipends to young people for one year.Are you willing to go into the community to reach younger people? Many graying church members assume that they don’t have the resources or the ability to reach younger people. Or they assume younger people will not come to the church even if they were reached by the older church members. I love to point to a church where graying church ladies took unchurched single moms under their wing. Eventually, those single moms came to church. And the single moms, of course, brought their children into the church.

The graying of the church is a demographic challenge, but it is not a fait accompli that a church will decline or die. That sad conclusion only comes when the Great Commission is either ignored or disobeyed. 

Or both.

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Where Gen Z Gets It Right And What We Should Learn From Them

I’ve recently taken on the role of teaching a cultural theology and biblical worldview class for high school juniors at a private school in my new hometown. Surprisingly, I’ve found that I’m learning just as much from them during our discussions, whether in class sessions or through our private conversations. 

When it comes to discussing generations, it’s tempting to use broad strokes and adopt a discouraging tone. As a millennial, I vividly remember headlines branding my generation with labels of entitlement and laziness. Reflecting on this, it serves as a reminder of the importance of discerning where God is actively working and mobilizing different generations in innovative and impactful ways. 

As church leaders mobilizing people of all ages, we must recognize and appreciate the unique qualities of each generation. In today’s ever-evolving landscape, Generation Z, born roughly between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, is making its mark on society, and we can learn a lot from them.

Embracing Diversity

Gen Z stands out as the most diverse generation, appreciating the richness of various cultural backgrounds and communities. Whether they’re spending weekends at the mall or sitting in classrooms alongside second-generation immigrant classmates, their daily interactions naturally expose them to a wide array of stories and experiences, fostering a culture of inclusivity. Unfortunately, our churches can lag behind in engaging different cultures, leading to a gap between what our students experience all week long in their daily interactions compared to what is experienced within the church walls. We can learn from this by fostering an environment that embraces diversity, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and valued within the church community. It’s also crucial to take intentional steps in our mission both to our neighborhoods and around the world, aligning with how God has called us to reach all people groups with the gospel.

Digital Engagement

Cell phones, laptops, TikTok, and more are buzzing through their fingers throughout the day. Growing up in the age of technology, Gen Z seamlessly moves between a world of digital content to face-to-face interactions. In a matter of seconds, they can be pushed to purchase the newest makeup item or watch highlights of their most admired athletes and heroes. They know how to create engaging, fun, and interactive content for your church and ministry. Allow them to help bridge the gap for you with digital resources to connect with the congregation. Embracing technology facilitates better communication, community building, and outreach efforts.

Empathy Matters

Gen Z has a keen sense of empathy and values transparency. Many of the conversations I’m having about the Church and the gospel hinge on the idea that our orthopraxy has swallowed our orthodoxy. How we speak the truth in love matters deeply and can often be the very thing that turns them against what we have to say. In our class, we’ve been exploring the concept of engaging with culture, delving into the significance of our approach and how our posture during these interactions serves as the initial platform for our gospel witness. Humility to show where we don’t have it all figured out, met with grace and truth, fosters trust and connection. Share personal stories, struggles, and triumphs to demonstrate that faith isn’t easy and that we don’t always get it right. Sharing that God is faithful and good helps model a faith journey alongside them that they too can resonate with and follow.

What Gen Z Needs From Us:Authentic Relationships

Gen Z is longing for men and women like you and me to commit to the long, steady work of a relationship. They aren’t looking for quick fixes and right answers as much as they want someone to be able to ask the hard questions and wrestle through their doubts and frustrations. A key statement from the 3 Questions Curriculum at Fuller Youth Institute stated that students were frustrated that we were giving answers to questions that they weren’t asking. Steady, faithful, patient relationships with parents, coaches, ministry leaders, and teachers give safety, trust, and confidence in a chaotic world.

Grace-filled Guidance

In a world where information bombards young minds from every angle—thanks to influencers, media, and peers—it’s no surprise they end up with a mishmash of beliefs. To cut through the noise, we need to communicate clearly about what a biblical worldview is and how it relates to the current issues. Offering this guidance with grace becomes crucial in helping them navigate through the clutter and form a solid understanding of their faith and values. It should also be noted that it can be intimidating to approach hard topics with a fear of not knowing what to say or having the ‘right’ answer, but some of the most treasured moments come from simply saying “I don’t know, let’s search the Bible together.”

Community & Kingdom Impact

Driven by empathy and a desire for social justice, Gen Z wants to make a difference. When we are able to connect them with the mission of the gospel, we are inviting them to connect their heart for engagement with the heart of the gospel. Weekend trips to a homeless shelter to give a meal, packing Operation Christmas Boxes, or serving in your church’s nursery on Sunday mornings are easy and approachable ways to connect them with the mission of God and their heart for others.

In navigating the ever-changing landscape of ministry, church leaders and ministry workers need to appreciate and champion the strengths and presence of each generation. Gen Z brings valuable perspectives that can enrich and reawaken the church community. By embracing diversity, prioritizing authenticity and relationships, and navigating hard issues with grace and consistency, church leaders can create a more inclusive and dynamic ministry environment.

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Which Denominations Are the Grayest? (The Youngest Will Surprise You)

Demographics is destiny. And when it comes to American Protestant Christianity, the future looks a lot grayer.

Over the last few years, I’ve been invited to speak and present data about American religion to various religious organizations and churches across the United States. It’s always enjoyable to see how different church buildings are laid out and examine the configuration of worship spaces. However, I don’t just observe the physical building when I enter one of these spaces; I also take a look at the people attending the events. You can learn a lot by watching a group of people for a few minutes. You can quickly discern whether the area is blue-collar or white-collar, predominantly white or more racially diverse, and oftentimes, the political leanings of the individuals in the pews.

I have two easily identifiable characteristics that I look for above all else now, though. It’s pretty simple—gray hair

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