What makes people choose a church and keep coming back? Russ Bredholt Jr. examines research on worship attendance and the factors that shape a meaningful church experience, from preaching and hospitality to community and connection. He challenges church leaders to look beyond attendance numbers and rethink how the entire worship experience can better serve their congregation.
“You’re not going to find the perfect church experience.” —Traci Rhoades
In The Sabbath Complete: And the Ascendency of First Day Worship, Terrance D. O’Hare says the importance of church attendance in Christian theology is delineated in Hebrews 10:25: “Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back is drawing near.”
In developed countries, and long before the pandemic five years ago, an increasing number of households stopped attending.
Why?
A Gallup Poll taken before Easter in 2018 revealed that sermon content could be the most important factor in how soon worshippers return. 76% of respondents noted that sermons or talks that teach about Scripture or help people connect religion to their lives were a major factor in “spurring their attendance.”
Among families, spiritual programs geared toward children and youth are a main draw for 64% of worshippers. Community outreach, volunteer opportunities, and dynamic religious leaders are also important to the majority, at 59% and 54%, respectively. A great choir, praise band, or other spiritual music was last on the list, with 38% saying it was important.
People of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds go to church, some more frequently than others. Older, educated households, those in their mid-50s and up who have college degrees, are likely to be regular attenders. According to a 2024 Household Pulse Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, education, age, and children are the three factors driving attendance.
People with a college degree are more likely to attend than those with a high school diploma. Older households are more likely than younger households. Those with children participate more frequently than those without. Professor Ryan Burge says the magic combination is clearly having a good education and being a parent—both make someone much more likely to attend church.
Gallup concludes that the primary motivation for those attending worship services is learning more about the tenets of their faith and connecting that faith to their lives. That is, taking core biblical principles and learning to apply them to everyday circumstances.
Pew says those same sermon qualities are important to about half of U.S. adults who have looked for a new church or parish at some point, most commonly because they’ve moved. They want a new house of worship where they like the preacher and the tone set by church leadership. “Fully 83% of Americans who have looked for a new place of worship say the quality of preaching played an important role in their choice of a congregation. Nearly as many say it was important to feel welcomed by clergy and lay leaders,” Pew reported. The style of worship service and the location also factored into the decision, as 85% attended services at the church being considered.
One way to define a worship service experience is any activity before, during, and after the service, whether on or off the property or online. That menu could include prayer, Bible reading, announcements, social media, signage, music, AV, invitations to worship, and follow-up. The appearance of the building and grounds should also be considered, as the exterior is the congregation’s most visible representation.
Churches frequently continue to do what works—well past the point when it no longer does. Without feedback, they don’t always realize when a program stops working. Loyalty enables churches and ministries to decline, as their members don’t always abandon them overnight. It also allows churches to repair themselves if they desire to do so.
Three of the most significant changes within a faith community are the lead pastor’s departure, the move to a new location, and a name change. In any of those situations, we recall Dr. William Bridges’ counsel that it’s not the change that gets us; it’s the transition.
A common mistake in rethinking any component of a church ministry (or anything with a public interface) is to localize the improvement rather than connecting the effort to the church as a whole. The net effect can lower the church’s overall performance. Corporate worship is indispensable within the body life of a church, but it does not stand alone. A community of faith cannot be divided into independent parts without losing its strengths. Any significant improvement or change in corporate worship will likely spill over into other areas, such as small groups, youth and children’s ministries, ushers, and greeters.
Know your strengths and lean into them. Avoid comparing your church to others. Although some decisions are irreversible, be prepared to make changes that may need adjustment. Use a trial period if appropriate. While no church can do everything, every church can do something to make a difference in someone’s life.
What does it mean to be fully present?
“Virtual services, webcasting, and online Bible studies are certainly better than no religious participation. However, none is likely a fully adequate replacement for the in-person meetings and community,” wrote Harvard professor Tyler J. VanderWeele, who studies these interactions.
Digital worship, like remote work and schooling, lessens the magnitude of a communal experience. Of course, health, job schedules, and caregiving are legitimate reasons for online worship. That format helps avoid social isolation, which may be harmful. Alternatively, in-person worship is a layer deeper than virtual worship; let’s call it presence, which is what ministry is meant to be.
Those new to a faith community don’t fully understand what it’s about; they’ll know kindness when they encounter it, which is “the early church” way of improving the worship service experience.
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This article is taken from StrategistPost.com (April 2025) and is used by permission.
Related Resources
- 50 Ways to Increase Worship Attendance, a free Lewis Center resource
- Leading Topics: Enhancing your Church’s Hospitality and Welcome
- Strategist Post, a blog by Russ Bredholt Jr.
- Bredholt & Co., a consulting group that focuses on strategic leadership development
- Congregational Attendance Profile, a video tool kit resource from the Lewis Center
