Survey: Most Protestant Churches in U.S. Have Grown Since 2023

According to new data compiled by Lifeway Research, most Protestant churches in the U.S. are growing, the Christian Today website reports today (Sept. 7, 2026).

In a survey of Protestant pastors in the U.S., 54 percent reported growth of at least four percent in their average worship service attendance since 2023.

Almost a third (30 percent) reported no growth, while only 16 percent said their church had declined  by four percent  or more.

Churches of over 250 were the  most likely to report growth (70 percent) , followed by churches in the 100--  249 bracket (64 percent), while churches of between 50 and 99 were more likely to be declining.

What Is the Holy Land?

 The Holy Land is a religious rather than an official political name, the Christian Daily website reports today (Sept. 4, 2026).

Christians generally use it for the land connected with the biblical story and life, death,and resurrection of Jesus -- including Israel,Jerusalem, and Gaza.  

For Jews,the Holy Land is closely tied to the historical and biblical land of Israel in Christianity.It is associated with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly in Jerusalem.  

The concept of the Holy Land is deeply rooted in religious traditions and plays a central role in the beliefs and practices of these religions.

New Report: Antisemitism Is Highest in 30 Years

 According to a new report from the J7 Large Communities Task Force Against Antisemitism, "In both the number of lethl attacks and the number of casualties, 2025 was the deadliest year for Antisemitism attacks in more than 30 years, the Christian Post website reports today(August 31,2026).

The targets are random people around the world who happen to be Jewish.

Hatred of Jews has no place whatsoever for the Christian. This is more than the biblical call to love our neighbors.Jesus' Jewishness is at the center of God's plan to bless all the nations of the earth: His making a chosen people of descendants of Abraham. To hate the Jews is to scorn the most important Jew of all.

Mega Churches in U.S.Grow Bigger

 A new survey from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows megachurches have bounced back stronger than ever, after the attendance dips of the COVID--19 pandemic, the Christian Today website reports today (August 25,2026).

Smaller churches have not fully recovered.

The megachurch growth continues a trend in favor of larger churches that began well before the pandemic.

"The top 10 percent of churches have about 70 to 75% of all people," said Scott Thumma, coauthor of the new report and a retired sociology of religion professor at Hartford International University. 

Megachurch defined as 2,000 or more weekly worshipers, make up less than one percent of the nation's total Protestant churches, yet they see 17 percent of the nation's total churchgoers every week.

Smaller churches have not seen the same rebound as larger ones, with many still declining attendance, forcing them to be closed.

Report:8 Million More Americans Attend Church, but Young Men Remain a Concern

 Eight million more Ameicans attended a Christian church service at least twice in 2025 compared to two years earlier, according to new research from American Bible Society, the Christian Daily website reports today (August 21, 2026).

The findings come from the American Society's 16th annual State of the Bible report,released Aug.19.

 

The youngest adult cohort saw attendance fall from 46% to 42% over the same two--year period, making it the only generation to record a decline.

Dr. John Plake, American Bibls Society's chief innovation officer, said, "the data reveals opportunities for church leaders to reach out to specific people -- especially young men -- and guide them toward a richer relationship with God and the church through regular engagement with Scripture."

Museum of the BibleLaunching Exhibits as "The Bible and America 250"

 The Museum of the Bible is unveiling new exhibits,hosting a lecture series and presenting a theater production based on the faith of George Washington as part of "The Bible and America 250," highlighting the role of the Bible in American history as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Christian Post website reports.

The Washington,D.C.--based institution is launching special programming and exhibits based on the anniversary celebration.

The lectures will feature"well--renowned scholars  and historians from across the nation" and examine  " the biblical rhetoric of  revolution, the spiritual framing of Independence, and the spiritual foundations of early American political thought."

Anthony Schmidt, Museum of the Bible Curator, said the exhibit will show how the Bible "was used by people on both sides of the American Revolution to justify their cause, rally support,and to make claims about the political system and their observations about the politic.al climate.

The Holiness of God Is the Foundation of His Being

If someone asked you to describe God  in one word, what would you say?

Many people would answer that God is loving, merciful, gracious, or forgiving. Scripture emphasizes one attribute above all others:God is holy, the Crossmap website reports today(July 22, 2026).From Genesis to the Revelation, the Bible points us to God's holiness

God's holiness is the  blazing perfection of His character. It reveals that He is unique,  pure, righteous, and exalted above all creation. His holiness magnifies every other attribute. His love is a holy love. His justice is holy justice.  His mercy is holy mercy.