Author: Shalem John

Churchgoers between the ages of 18 and 28 attend church more frequently than their older siblings, parents, or grandparents. A new study, part of the State of the Church research initiative from Barna Group and Gloo, found a post-pandemic surge among Gen Z churchgoers over the age of 18. Today, when people born between 1997 and 2007 go to church, they attend, on average, about 23 services per year. Churchgoing Gen Xers, in contrast, make it to about 19 out of 52 Sundays, while Boomer and Elder churchgoers average just under 17, Barna found.  Millennial churchgoers, born between 1981 and…

Papua New Guinea is officially a Christian country. The preamble to its constitution has been amended to “acknowledge and declare God, the Father; Jesus Christ, the Son; and Holy Spirit, as our Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe and the source of our powers and authorities, delegated to the people and all persons within the geographical jurisdiction of Papua New Guinea.” Prime Minister James Marape, a Seventh-day Adventist, said Christianity is an essential anchor for the country’s national identity. Some Christian leaders there have expressed hope that the change will help bring national harmony and advance efforts to end…

Izuchukwu Ezidimma attends regular Anglican church services in Nigeria. He has never gone to a political rally. But he has experienced a church service that was both.  Ezidimma recalls the vicar inviting Onyeka Ibezim, deputy governor of the southeastern state of Anambra, to the pulpit. Ibezim greeted the congregation, promoted the governor and his political party, and then donated millions of naira to the church. (One million naira is about $650 USD.) “This happens often. But I never made any efforts to speak up. I kept my disappointments private,” Ezidimma said. But the head of the Anglican church in Nigeria…