News

Go Figure

Stats on the Last Supper’s growth, how much megachurches spend on short-term missions, and more.

Media

0.8%

Total news coverage in 2009 devoted to religion, down from 1% in 2008.

1.1%

Total news coverage in 2009 devoted to the death of Michael Jackson.

Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism

Church Life

American congregations who say they can’t find enough people to serve on committees and taskforces, by number of committees and taskforces they have:

17%: Three or less

10%: 4-9

7%: 10 or more

Faith Communities Today

Evangelism

According to a survey of 74 ministries, receptivity to the gospel—on a five-point scale—among first-generation immigrants from

4.2: Ecuador and Guatemala

4.1: Liberia

2.3: Japan

2.2: Iraq and Iran

North American Mission Board/LifeWay Research

Theology

71%

Americans who believe that “when good or bad things happen, they are simply part of God’s plan for me.”

32%

Americans who agree that “there is no sense planning a lot—ultimately my fate is in God’s hands.”

LiveScience/

Sociology of Religion

Art

69%

Growth in the size of the main courses depicted in the paintings of the Last Supper between the years 1000 and 2000.

23%

Growth in the size of the bread.

International Journal of Obesity

Church Life

84.9%

Megachurches that have at least one church-to-church partnership with a non-U.S. congregation.

30.4%

Megachurches that have more than five such partnerships.

International Bulletin of Missionary Research

Missions

32%

Amount of megachurch spending directed abroad that goes to short-term missions trips.

3.7%

Megachurch attendees on a given weekend in 2007 who went abroad on a short-term missions trip that year.

International Bulletin of Missionary Research

Copyright © 2010 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from April 2010, March 2010, February 2010, January 2010, December 2009, November 2009, October 2009, September 2009, August 2009, July 2009, June 2009, May 2009, April 2009, March 2009, February 2009, 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

The Evangelical Roots of North Korea’s Kim Family

Q&A with Jonathan Cheng on how the Christian gospel can be twisted for political aims.

News

Churches Try Drones and Skydiving Bunnies for Easter Outreach

“We want to make it about Jesus and getting people excited about the Easter season and going to church somewhere.”

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Tony Dungy: What It Costs to Stand for Your Faith

Speaking up for the value of all life in the face of criticism.

SCOTUS Ruling on ‘Conversion Therapy’ Is a Win for Christians

This week’s Chiles v. Salazar ruling allows counselors freedom to serve their clients in the ways they see fit.

From Our Community

A Renewed Subscription and a Broadened Perspective

Hannah Glad

How one Texan lawyer found himself reading CT again and supporting the One Kingdom Campaign.

Public Theology Project

Easter Is Not a Zombie Story

Jesus joined us in death—and defeated it.

What $18 Would Get You

In 1979, CT investigated deceptive Christians, made the case for psychology, and watched Islam with concern.

The Eternal Meaning of the Cup

John Anthony Dunne

Across the church, our Communion practices reveal a broken world and anticipate the one to come.

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