The Rise of the ‘Umms’

According to our data, born-again unchurched people are most likely to return to church through a discussion in their home with a trusted church leader; by attending a high-quality concert or seminar sponsored by the church; or in response to a pastor’s sermon(s) on CD or podcast heard prior to visiting a church. They are most likely to consider a

In July, researchers at Barna, a group dedicated to studying faith and culture, found church attendance in America had dropped significantly during the pandemic. I’m not surprised. I, too, have gone through periods where I couldn’t stomach a Zoom service. Instead, we open our Book of Common Prayer and worship as a family.

There is a social on-ramp of experiencing loneliness, making new friends, or having a spouse who wants to go. • There is the church on-ramp of missing church or finding a good church or pastor. • There is the God on-ramp of hearing from God or lamenting distance from him. • There is the philosophy of ministry on-ramp of finding a church that takes