Author: Administrador

NASHVILLE Tenn. — While the U.S. economy shows signs of experiencing a “jobless recovery,” the country’s 10 percent unemployment rate is keeping church budgets in a bind, a new study by Lifeway Research found. Yet in spite of the financial difficulty, many churches are launching new ministries to help families in need. A full 35 percent … Continue reading “Churches Not Yet Enjoying Economic Rebound”

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — He has preached the gospel to more than 200 million people in 185 lands and, at 91, still maintains that his one purpose in life is “to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.” Billy Graham, whose crusade in Los Angeles in 1949 vaulted … Continue reading “Protestant Pastors Name Graham Most Influential Living Preacher”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Protestant pastors put high value on their seminary education and regularly integrate their learning into the way they lead and serve their congregations, newly released information from Lifeway Research shows. The telephone survey of more than 1,000 Protestant pastors shows two-thirds have obtained at least a Master’s degree, and 71 percent strongly agree … Continue reading “Pastors Continue to Value, Use Seminary Education”

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A North American Mission Board (NAMB)/Lifeway Research study found that while ministries across North America are reaching out to a significant portion of first-generation immigrants, much work remains to be done. Still, while evangelistic growth among these groups has been slow, the potential is promising, with immigrants from most countries considered somewhat … Continue reading “Outreach to First-Generation Immigrants Succeeding, Needs Improvement”

ORLANDO, Fla. — A newly released Lifeway Research survey of 1,004 Protestant pastors found only 3 percent of their churches served as the primary sponsor of a church plant (new congregation) during the previous 12 months, and only 14 percent gave financial support in partnership with other churches to help start new congregations. However, a second … Continue reading “Church Openings Outpace Closings, but Support For Church Plants Lacking”

By Staff Protestant pastors in the U.S. have a negative view of Islam and more than half agree with Franklin Graham’s statement that Islam is an “evil” religion, according to a just-released study by Lifeway Research. More than 4 in 10 agree that Islam is dangerous and promotes violence. Graham, son of Billy Graham, stirred … Continue reading “Protestant Pastors View Islam with Suspicion”

  Nashville, Tenn. — Two-thirds of American “Millennials” – those born between 1980 and 1991 – call themselves Christian, but far fewer pray or read the Bible daily, attend weekly worship services, or hold to historical positions on the Bible and its teachings. These are the findings from a wide-ranging August 2009 Lifeway Research study of … Continue reading “American ‘Millennials’ are Spiritually Diverse”

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When asked what’s important in life, most American “Millennials” – those born between 1980 and 1991 – say family comes first, ahead of friends, education, careers and even religion. That’s the finding of Lifeway Research based on a wide-ranging August 2009 survey of 1,200 Millennials in the United States. The study forms … Continue reading “American ‘Millennials’ Value Family Above All Else”

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors is rising slightly faster than inflation, but the mounting cost of benefits is forcing churches to provide fewer pastors with medical insurance. These and other findings are part of the SBC Church Compensation Study, a survey of 11,674 staff positions in Southern Baptist churches. Lifeway Research conducted the … Continue reading “Compensation for Pastors Keeping Pace with Inflation”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Six in 10 American “Millennials” – those born between 1980 and 1991 – see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married. But men, African-Americans and Southerners are least comfortable among their peers with same-sex marriage, and for the most part Christian Millennials oppose it. These are the findings from … Continue reading “American ‘Millennials’ Divided Over Same-Sex Marriage”