For the first time in 15 years, Americans are saying religion is gaining influence in public life. Here's what this cultural shift means for your ministry strategy.

Something's shifting in American culture, and the data just confirmed it. In February 2024, just 18% of U.S. adults said religion was gaining influence in American life—the lowest level in more than two decades. One year later, that number jumped to 31%, the highest figure in 15 years.

This isn't just about perception. The share of Americans who say religion's role is declining dropped sharply from 80% in 2024 to 68% in 2025. People are noticing what many pastors have been sensing: the tide is turning. The shift appears across demographic groups, with gains of at least 10 percentage points among Democrats and Republicans.

But here's the tension you're likely feeling: Over half (58%) of U.S. adults now say there's conflict between their religious beliefs and mainstream culture—up 10 percentage points from 2024 and 16 points from 2020. Religion is both more visible and more contested.

Here's what this means for your church: You're ministering in a moment when spiritual conversations are back on the cultural radar, but the path forward requires wisdom, not just enthusiasm. The growing awareness of religion's influence creates openness, but the increasing sense of cultural conflict demands authenticity and clarity about what following Jesus actually means.

Three ways to steward this cultural moment:

1) Lean into the conversation without weaponizing it. The fact that more Americans are thinking about religion's role in society means spiritual discussions are happening at work, online, and around kitchen tables. Equip your congregation to engage these conversations with grace and confidence. 

2) Address the culture clash pastorally, not politically. White evangelicals (80%) are most likely to report tension between their beliefs and the culture, with slightly more than half of Catholics (55%) indicating some level of conflict. Your people feel this friction. Preach into it. Help them develop a theology of faithful presence that neither retreats from culture nor capitulates to it. 

3) Double down on what makes your church different. As religion gains cultural attention, people will be watching what makes churches worth joining. This isn't the time for weak theology, shallow community, or cultural mimicry. Lean into robust discipleship, authentic relationships, and countercultural generosity.

The cultural winds are shifting in ways that favor faithful churches. The question is whether you'll build something worth noticing.

Mitchell East challenges a widespread assumption: that technology is neutral and just waiting for ministry to use it well. His counterargument? Some technologies may be intrinsically problematic and can't be redeemed by good intentions alone.Rather than rushing to ask "How can we use AI?" East argues we should pause and ask: "Should we use this technology at all?"

This week: Before your next tech adoption, ask one hard question: Does this serve spiritual formation or just convenience?

Gen Z church attendance is rising. Reality check: Their expectations for digital experiences are sky-high. Denise Craig reports that traditional metrics like attendance and giving no longer tell the full story. Instead, measure spiritual growth, digital engagement, and relational connection. Craig notes that AI-powered scheduling, chatbots, tailored analytics, and communication pipelines are already here—the question is whether churches will adapt or get left behind.

Quick application: Review your dashboards this week. Are you tracking real spiritual and relational impact, or just Sunday morning headcounts?

What would you like to see more of? Hit reply and let us know.

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