Where is everybody?

Why are so many from our church not attending like they did before COVID-19?

Why are we having to contact them multiple times, offer food, plan special events just to get them to come in person?

We shouldn’t have to do this!

Thoughts similar to these have likely been going through your head in recent months. Few churches are back to pre-COVID attendance. In fact, the average Protestant church has in-person attendance of 73% of their pre-COVID attendance. While that’s an improvement over early in 2021 when an average of 60% of pre-COVID attendees were coming to church in person, it can still be frustrating for pastors and church leaders.

How should we process this news that so many churchgoers are missing on a typical week? What should we make of this reality?

Read it all.

The average Protestant church's in-person attendance is 73% of their pre-pandemic attendance. https://t.co/fSGtKAbDPX

— Lifeway Research (@LifewayResearch) November 13, 2021

Almighty God, whose blessed Son taught in all honesty the way of life that thou requirest: Grant that we may so live as dutiful and loyal citizens of our earthly country, that we may show ourselves to be members of that heavenly country whereof thou art sovereign Lord and King; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why do I get up so early? Overlooking the vines and pond of @AftonMountain #Afton #RockfishValley #Sunrise #Namaste pic.twitter.com/aOEnjtBEgr

— Ann Etchison (@ann1622) November 13, 2021

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

–Matthew 16:21-28

Good Morning pic.twitter.com/Q6v5fwkI5y

— philip jackson (@pajacksonartist) November 13, 2021