The data may surprise you. Multiple studies confirm there is a positive correlation between higher education and church attendance. In other words, the more education you receive, the greater the likelihood you attend regularly in a church. Thom and Sam interview Ryan Burge to get the details about this phenomenon in American religion. The positive correlation applies to all generations, including younger ones. A sharp rise in church attendance among men exists with those who have post-graduate degrees. For women, the more significant jump is between two- and four-year degrees. Among people without a high school diploma, about 16% attend weekly. Among those with a graduate degree, it’s 29% of men and 26% of women. These findings are contrary to popular belief. Why? What might churches do with this knowledge? Resources: Tithe.ly 2023 State of Church Giving “Let’s Have a Talk About Education and Religious Attendance” by Ryan Burge “Highly Educated Men Are More Likely to be in Church Than Highly Educated Women” by Ryan Burge “Religion Has Become a Luxury Good” by Ryan Burge “Dropping Out of Everything” by Ryan Burge Ryan Burge The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Tithely provides churches around the world with software tools to help them and their ministries thrive. Nearly 40,000 churches use Tithely for online and text giving, managing their people’s information, volunteer management, child check in, church apps and websites, and communicating through email and text messaging. Made up of a team of ministry-minded people, Tithely’s heart is to see the local church empowered with the tools to fulfill their mission. You can sign up for free at Tithely.com – yes that’s right, it’s free! Tithely’s giving platform comes with no monthly fees and no contracts. Get started taking donations in just 5 minutes at Tithely.com. Also, right now Tithely is offering a free report called “2023 State of Church Giving Report.” You can access that report free by clicking on the link in the show notes. The post The Burge Report: Higher Education Leads to More Church Attendance appeared first on Church Answers.

When Gen Xers and Millennials were children, many churches shunned trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. Families were told Halloween events were evil and to be avoided. Around the same time, some churches started offering alternative events for neighborhood families. Today, churches have become the place to be on Halloween in many communities. Thom and Sam examine what happened and reminisce about their childhood. Judgment Houses paved the way in the 1970s and 1980s. Trunk or Treat: Where else can you find loads of candy with limited effort? Parents became uncomfortable with their children wandering alone on Halloween night. Many church Fall Festivals are simply more fun than going door-to-door. Should you do something on Halloween night or not? Resources: “Life Application Study Bible” “Life Application Study Bible” For All Times Tyndale House Publishers Upward Sports “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt (affiliate link) Brown Church Development Group Church Growth Services: Get your free campaign capacity analysis! Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors:         From Knowing to Living: Life Transformation with the Life Application Study Bible Experience profound transformation as you encounter God through the pages of the Life Application Study Bible. Bible engagement is not just about knowing Scripture; it’s about living it out! The Life Application Study Bible deepens your connection with God and inspires a transformed life through a growing relationship with Christ. Crafted by dedicated scholars and pastors, the Life Application Study Bible is filled with thousands of study resources that increase understanding so you can experience Scripture’s life-changing power. For readers from nine to ninety and beyond, the Life Application Study Bible is designed to help you find true heart transformation. The Life Application Study Bible moves beyond knowing the Bible to living it out. With over 10,000 notes and resources, this Bible allows you to take a deep dive into history, culture, and Christian beliefs. Yet, it doesn’t end there—it guides you to apply these insights to your daily life, transforming understanding into truth lived out. Visit LifeApplication.com   Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Consider adding sports ministry in 2025. If you have a gym, field space, or even access to a facility consider Upward Sports. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Schedule a call to learn more about launching a first-class, organized, intentional league in the new year! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/ The post How Churches Became the Go-To Spot for Halloween appeared first on Church Answers.

A time is coming when the Baby Boomer generation will no longer be present in churches. Our research writer, Ryan Burge, calls it the “Silver Tsunami.”  Thom and Sam talk about what church leaders should expect when this generational shift occurs. The average age of a churchgoer is around 60 years old. The time is coming sooner rather than later. Among weekly church attendees, Boomers account for 36% of the people present, Gen X is 24%, and Millennials are only 19%. Without drastic changes now, almost every church will be smaller. Many megachurches will struggle more than smaller churches to replace Boomers. Volunteerism will drop precipitously. Church staff positions will become harder to fill. Neighborhood churches and mid-size churches are best positioned for this demographic reality. Resources: “Life Application Study Bible” “Life Application Study Bible” For All Times Tyndale House Publishers Upward Sports “The Coming Silver Tsunami: A Volunteer Crisis in Aging Congregations” by Ryan Burge Graphs About Religion “Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link) “The Church Revitalization Checklist: A Hopeful and Practical Guide for Leading Your Congregation to a Brighter Tomorrow” by Sam Rainer (affiliate link) My Church Staff – Coming soon! Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors:         From Knowing to Living: Life Transformation with the Life Application Study Bible Experience profound transformation as you encounter God through the pages of the Life Application Study Bible. Bible engagement is not just about knowing Scripture; it’s about living it out! The Life Application Study Bible deepens your connection with God and inspires a transformed life through a growing relationship with Christ. Crafted by dedicated scholars and pastors, the Life Application Study Bible is filled with thousands of study resources that increase understanding so you can experience Scripture’s life-changing power. For readers from nine to ninety and beyond, the Life Application Study Bible is designed to help you find true heart transformation. The Life Application Study Bible moves beyond knowing the Bible to living it out. With over 10,000 notes and resources, this Bible allows you to take a deep dive into history, culture, and Christian beliefs. Yet, it doesn’t end there—it guides you to apply these insights to your daily life, transforming understanding into truth lived out. Visit LifeApplication.com   Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Consider adding sports ministry in 2025. If you have a gym, field space, or even access to a facility consider Upward Sports. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Schedule a call to learn more about launching a first-class, organized, intentional league in the new year! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/ The post What Will Happen in Churches When All the Baby Boomers Are Gone? appeared first on Church Answers.

These five financial mistakes are common in churches of every size. Thom and Sam discuss five “don’ts” of church finance. Correcting these mistakes often yields immediate and measurable results in the financial health of the congregation. Not providing multiple giving options. Not having a plan for deferred maintenance. Not having ample cash reserves. Not doing zero-based budgeting. Not making the ask of top donors. Resources: Upward Sports “Life Application Study Bible” “Life Application Study Bible” For All Times Tyndale House Publishers “Where Have All the Church Members Gone?” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link) Church Answers Platinum Membership Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Consider adding sports ministry in 2025. If you have a gym, field space, or even access to a facility consider Upward Sports. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Schedule a call to learn more about launching a first-class, organized, intentional league in the new year! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/   From Knowing to Living: Life Transformation with the Life Application Study Bible Experience profound transformation as you encounter God through the pages of the Life Application Study Bible. Bible engagement is not just about knowing Scripture; it’s about living it out! The Life Application Study Bible deepens your connection with God and inspires a transformed life through a growing relationship with Christ. Crafted by dedicated scholars and pastors, the Life Application Study Bible is filled with thousands of study resources that increase understanding so you can experience Scripture’s life-changing power. For readers from nine to ninety and beyond, the Life Application Study Bible is designed to help you find true heart transformation. The Life Application Study Bible moves beyond knowing the Bible to living it out. With over 10,000 notes and resources, this Bible allows you to take a deep dive into history, culture, and Christian beliefs. Yet, it doesn’t end there—it guides you to apply these insights to your daily life, transforming understanding into truth lived out. Visit LifeApplication.com The post Do NOT Make These Five Financial Mistakes in Your Church appeared first on Church Answers.

The multisite church movement continues to grow. Today, more small churches start new sites than larger churches. Thom Rainer talks with Jess Rainer about the very practical steps of starting a new site. Jess has started three churches himself. Resources: Upward Sports California Baptist University “How to Launch a New Church Site: Ten Questions Every Leader (and Church Member) Must Answer” by Jess Rainer (affiliate link) Craft Book Publishing Brown Church Development Group Get your FREE eBook, Deferred Maintenance Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Schedule a call to learn more about launching a first-class, organized, intentional league in the new year! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/   Does your church staff have the skills they need to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who can step into leadership? Do you have staff who would benefit from furthering their education? California Baptist University has options for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – which can be completed from anywhere in the world. One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons. This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff. Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management. You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your organization. Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership. Classes start every eight weeks, so students can start any time. Visit https://calbaptist.edu/apply/ to learn more. The post The Nuts and Bolts of Starting a New Church Site appeared first on Church Answers.

White evangelicals are among the largest voting groups in America. They tend to vote Republican. Has this tendency always been the case? And what about white evangelical Democrats? Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on an election season special to discuss evangelical voting trends. Before 1970, white evangelical Democrats outnumbered white evangelical Republicans. Since 1970, the number of white evangelical Democrats has shrunk dramatically, while the number of white evangelical Republicans has grown. In the 2020 election year, Republicans made up 78% of white evangelicals, while Democrats accounted for only 16%, and Independents were 8%. But another story emerges when you look at how people vote (and not just how they identify). White evangelicals—both Democrats and Republicans—have voted Republican since 1968. For example, in 1972, only 36% of white evangelicals were Republicans, yet 84% of them cast a ballot for Nixon. In the 1960s through the 1980s, a significant number of individuals who did not identify as Republicans were nonetheless voting for Republican candidates. Since the 1980s, however, more white evangelicals have started identifying (and voting as) Republicans. The bottom line: Partisan affiliation is a lagging indicator to another leading indicator, vote choice. White evangelical Democrats disappeared as more of them started affiliating with the Republican party over the course of several decades. Resources: Tithe.ly 2023 State of Church Giving “A Sixty Year History of White Evangelicals and Politics” by Ryan Burge Ryan Burge Know Your Community Politics The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Tithely provides churches around the world with software tools to help them and their ministries thrive. Nearly 40,000 churches use Tithely for online and text giving, managing their people’s information, volunteer management, child check in, church apps and websites, and communicating through email and text messaging. Made up of a team of ministry-minded people, Tithely’s heart is to see the local church empowered with the tools to fulfill their mission. You can sign up for free at Tithely.com – yes that’s right, it’s free! Tithely’s giving platform comes with no monthly fees and no contracts. Get started taking donations in just 5 minutes at Tithely.com. Also, right now Tithely is offering a free report called “2023 State of Church Giving Report.” You can access that report free by clicking on the link in the show notes. The post The Burge Report: What Happened to All the White Evangelical Democrats? appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom Rainer and Art Rainer share a “secret” that very few church leaders know. Acting upon this information, the church is almost certain to increase its giving by 20% more. Resources: California Baptist University Upward Sports Christian Financial Health Christian Financial Health Report 2024 My Church Staff: Interested in the Stewardship Pastor? Email info@churchanswers.com Christian Money Solutions Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Does your church staff have the skills they need to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who can step into leadership? Do you have staff who would benefit from furthering their education? California Baptist University has options for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – which can be completed from anywhere in the world. One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons. This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff. Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management. You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your organization. Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership. Classes start every eight weeks, so students can start any time. Visit https://calbaptist.edu/apply/ to learn more.   Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Schedule a call to learn more about launching a first-class, organized, intentional league in the new year! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/ The post The One Simple Move a Church Can Make to Increase Its Giving by 20% or More appeared first on Church Answers.

Most pastors and other ministers understand the tax benefits of housing and the ability to take certain deductions, but many are unaware of these three tax benefits. Thom examines all three. Getting RMD tax-free. The power of deductions on Schedule C. Certain educational expenses. Resources: Upward Sports California Baptist University “Housing Allowance for Ministers: Made Easy” by Art Rainer (affiliate link) Christian Financial Health Report 2024 My Church Staff: Interested in the Minister of Music and/or the Stewardship Pastor? Email info@churchanswers.com Church Answers University Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Schedule a call to learn more about launching a first-class, organized, intentional league in the new year! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/   Does your church staff have the skills they need to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who can step into leadership? Do you have staff who would benefit from furthering their education? California Baptist University has options for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – which can be completed from anywhere in the world. One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons. This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff. Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management. You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your organization. Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership. Classes start every eight weeks, so students can start any time. Visit https://calbaptist.edu/apply/ to learn more. The post Three Tax Benefits Ministers May Not Know appeared first on Church Answers.

Ryan Burge and others offer fascinating research about the growth of non-denominational churches, especially compared to denominational churches. Sam and special guest Matt McCraw look at five of the implications of this movement. The challenge is still conversion growth. Denominational churches have been abandoned for a variety of reasons. Networks and neo-denominations are forming. Theological distinctives could be challenged. The implications for ministry training and theological education are profound. Resources: California Baptist University Know Your Community Report Upward Sports “Leading the Jesus Way: Learning to Lead from the Master” by Matt McCraw Matt McCraw Ryan Burge Church Answers University Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Does your church staff have the skills they need to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who can step into leadership? Do you have staff who would benefit from furthering their education? California Baptist University has options for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – which can be completed from anywhere in the world. One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons. This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff. Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management. You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your organization. Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership. Classes start every eight weeks, so students can start any time. Visit https://calbaptist.edu/apply/ to learn more. Who is Upward Sports? Upward Sports is the World’s largest Christian youth sports organization, dedicated to partnering with local churches to use sports outreach to reach the community. Upward Sports offers basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball, and soccer as a league offering. When partnering with Upward Sports, your church can reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel. Upward Sports will customize your sports outreach strategy to support your church budget and community needs. We know one size does not fit all. Now is the time to consider using sports as your 2025 outreach ministry! Visit https://www.upward.org/ChurchAnswers/ to learn more. The post The Implications of the Rise of Non-Denominational Churches appeared first on Church Answers.

In this NOW series, we delve into three different ways churches can raise money effectively through unique revenue streams. For each of the streams, Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services answers three questions: What is it? How is it used in the church? How are the funds typically raised? Resources: Church Growth Services Get your FREE eBook, 5 Generosity Megatrends Grow Generosity Academy – Use code THOM for 20% off! Episode #1: 4 Ways to Increase Giving Now! Episode #2: You Can Increase Your Building Funds Now! Episode Sponsor: The post Getting Members Ready to Give at Death Now! appeared first on Church Answers.