Barna Research

“Trust in small churches far exceeds that of megachurches on Barna’s trust index (61 vs. 36), and Christian pastors far outscore celebrity pastors (55 vs. 30).” - Barna

“Researchers found that even though practicing Christians already use AI more than their pastors, they still want their guidance on engaging with the technology. Only a minority of pastors, around 12%, feel prepared to give guidance on using AI.” - CPost

“Most pastors are already using AI in ministry—only 13 percent say they don’t use it at all…. Still, nearly three-quarters of pastors (71%) describe feeling cautious about AI, and 40 percent say they feel conflicted” - Barna Research

“Spiritual openness among Americans is at a notable high, but turning that openness into discipleship remains one of the most pressing questions…. For the first time in decades, men now outpace women in church attendance…. Nearly half of practicing Christians have already turned to AI for personal growth” - Barna

“Emotional strain among pastors has reached its lowest point in a decade—inadequacy, exhaustion, and energy have all improved….Yet vocational satisfaction tells a different story: the share of pastors who are ‘very satisfied’ with their vocation has fallen from 72 percent in 2015 to 52 percent in 2026.” - Barna Research

“New data from Barna, presented in partnership with Gloo as part of our 2026 State of the Church initiative, finds a consistent pattern across multiple rounds of research: a growing share of Americans—especially younger adults—believe a spiritual revival is coming.” - Barna

“The 2026 State of Church Technology report, titled Technology for Missional Impact, argues that digital tools are now standard in most churches. The question is no longer whether to use them, but what place they should have in worship, discipleship, and the life of the church.” - MinistryWatch

“Millennials and Gen Z outpace the 12-point increase, with reading jumping 16 points among Millennials, half of whom now read Scripture weekly. Among Gen Z, the 49 percent who read Scripture at least weekly represents a 19-point climb.” - Baptist Press

“How will churches adapt to support the growing faith engagement of young men—and the growing disengagement of women, particularly single mothers?” - C.Leaders & Barna

“Pastors ages 50+ score notably higher in overall flourishing (78) compared to their younger counterparts (74), with particularly pronounced differences in vocational satisfaction and well-being. Similarly, pastors of color report higher levels of faith flourishing and overall flourishing compared to their white colleagues.” - C.Leaders