News

Go Figure

Recent numbers on mainline and the megachurch, secular Jews, church background checks, and pastors who don’t see themselves as such.

Other Religions

35% American Jews who identify as nonreligious or secular.

20% American Jews who said this 19 years ago.

6% Americans in general who say this.

Source: The Washington Times

Mainline

29% Megachurch pastors who were brought up in a mainline church.

13% Megachurch pastors who lead a mainline church.

Source: Leadership Network

Crime

1 in 8 Of 5,000 church background checks on volunteers or prospective employees, those that found a criminal history that might have kept a person from serving.

Source: Lifeway Christian Resources

Church life

How megachurch pastors describe their job:

81%: Preacher-teacher

51%: Directional leader

33% Visionary

16% Pastor

Source: Leadership Network

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Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from September 2009, August 2009, July 2009, June 2009, May 2009, April 2009, March 2009, February 2009, January 2009, December 2008, November 2008, October 2008, September 2008, August 2008, July 2008, June 2008, May 2008, April 2008, March 2008, February 2008, January 2008, December 2007,November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, and earlier issues.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

Agentic AI Isn’t Laborsaving If You Don’t Know How to Sabbath

A. Trevor Sutton

New tech promises to do our work for us. But it can’t replace our need for rest in God.

The Russell Moore Show

8 Things I’ve Learned About How to Make a Major Life Decision

Russell shares his 8 tips for making major decisions.

Sin Is a Tyrant

Kyle Wells

The Bible’s view of sin frees us from seeing ourselves as autonomous choosers or victims of our circumstances.

The Bulletin

No Iran Deal, Russell Brand Reads the Bible, and Ben Sasse’s Public Dying

Clarissa Moll, Russell Moore

Trump insists on nuclear deal with Iran, Brand’s viral Bible faux pas, and Senator Sasse shares his dying and his faith.

The Algorithm Is Changing How We Speak—and Strive

Griffin Gooch

“Algospeak” capitalizes on our desire for attention and status. We should turn to God for both.

Review

When Faith Feels Cloudy

Three books for the doubting Christian.

News

The Christian Migrants Feeding the Displaced in Lebanon

Ghinwa Akiki and Hunter Williamson in Beirut, Lebanon

The war left many domestic workers jobless and homeless. Some Christians see a chance to serve their community.

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