Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
On The Rise: Does weekly church attendance matter anymore (New Data)?
Published 2 days ago • 3 min read
Welcome to the On The Rise newsletter, where I feature fascinating, helpful, and sometimes curious content that caught my attention this week.
Today, some really curious new data from Lifeway on how pastors view weekly church attendance compared to how Christians do, plus a different way to view it (from me).
Also, the 30 best fiction books of the last 30 years, a book I have actually read and loved, and why we call a dollar a buck.
How Regular Should Church Attendance Be? (New Data, Wrong Question)
First, Christians have a stricter definition than most pastors do of how often you should attend church to be considered a regular church attender.
It seems like pastors have realized for years that weekly church attendance is dying, but Christians still hold it up as the gold standard (even if they don’t practice it).
Curiously, the research also shows a growing number of people believe that using weekly attendance as a marker of health is a declining or downward trend. In other words, it matters, but yeah, it’s not happening. It’s old school.
Confusing? Of course.
Which is maybe one more reason that focusing on engagement, not attendance, matters more these days. Church leaders who focus on attendance often see declining attendance. But church leaders who focus on engagement often see attendance rise.
Why? Engage people in the Gospel, and they attend. Let people drift in their faith and disengage, and they don’t. I’ve got more on that here.
Tickets to The Art of Leadership Live Are Running Out
You can still join at the best price available and save $200!
In September, I’ll be in Dallas with ~200 high-capacity leaders for The Art of Leadership Live.
What surprised me most about last year’s conference was who was in the room. It was filled with leaders who are shaping the future of the church, driving innovation, and leading at a remarkably high level—including former podcast guests, pastors leading churches of 20,000+, and familiar faces from The Academy.
And they weren’t just on stage.
They were at the tables, in the conversations, and part of the experience for all three days.
So, when I say that this isn’t a conference where you sit through 8+ hours of back-to-back keynotes, I mean it. You’ll process what you’re learning with other leaders, build relationships, and walk away with insights you’ll actually use.
If you want to join this year, now is the time to act. The clock is ticking, and the tickets are running out.
A list for fiction readers and non-fiction readers (like me).
I read next to no fiction, which many have pointed out is not a great habit. The way I think about it, I read non-fiction and watch fiction (movies, TV shows, etc).
If you’re tempted, it's not a bad place to start. FYI, I haven’t read a single book on the list (yet.)
Focus on Ministry Not Logistics
Automate these tasks.
Want to deepen engagement in your church without adding more to your plate? With Workflows in Gloo, you can! Automatically follow up after events, send devotionals, remind parents about VBS, and more—all without lifting a finger during your busiest weeks. These simple, powerful automation tools keep your church connected and cared for.
Well, here’s a book I actually read. I love reading historical biographies. Benjamin Franklin was such a curious, interesting, brilliant, eclectic, and bizarre human at times, which likely makes him such a prominent figure of his age.
And, because it’s written by Walter Isaacson, this bio is amazing.
Why do we call a dolla’ bill a buck y’all? Apparently, this is why.
Cheering for you,
Weekend Watching
Amy Anderson
This week, The Unstuck Group's Amy Anderson discusses how to know if your church is overstaffed (it probably is), the key differences between growing and declining churches, and leading a company after its founder dies.
Leadership Is Better Shared. Invite Your Friends!
Know someone who would benefit from The Art of Leadership Academy? Invite them to join by visiting your Invitation Hub.
Carey Nieuwhof Communications, PO Box 160, Oro Medonte, Ontario L0L 2X0
Carey Nieuwhof
Where 100,000+ leaders get top insights to thrive in life and leadership.
Don’t settle for an impact smaller than you’re called to make. It's time to unlock your potential and lead confidently into a future filled with growth — for yourself, your church, and your mission. Get access to some of my best leadership content, only published in my newsletters.
