US Churchgoers Report Deeper Faith Amid Growing Communities
NEW YORK — After a half-decade marked by upheaval, many Christian communities across the United States are showing signs not only of recovery but of renewed vitality, a new study released on Monday revealed.
The 27-page report, put together by the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations project, looks at a large and diverse sample of American churchgoers say their faith is stronger, their churches more vibrant and their involvement more consistent than at any point in recent memory.
Drawing on responses from more than 24,000 Christian churchgoers surveyed between September 2024 and January 2025, the EPIC Attender Survey, spearheaded by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, offers the most comprehensive portrait yet of how religious life has shifted since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The EPIC study mirrors one put out last week by Gallup, which showed that 34% of U.S. adults said they believe religion is increasing its influence in American life — up from 20% just a year ago. A majority of Americans (59%) continue to say religion is losing its influence on U.S. society, but that figure is down from 75% a year ago. A Pew Research Center report from this past February also showed that the decline in Christianity had stabilized following a two-decade decline.
Overall, these recent shifts represent a departure from the trend over the past 15 years that has generally seen larger percentages of Americans saying religious influence is decreasing rather than increasing. While many congregations struggled during the peak of the pandemic, this new data suggests that for many, COVID-19 became a crucible — refining faith, reshaping commitments and redrawing the boundaries of community.
While national headlines in recent years have often focused on religious decline, the EPIC survey offers a more nuanced and hopeful story. It’s not that the pandemic reversed the broader trend of declining church membership. It did, however, spark a reshuffling, bringing in new participants, inspiring longtime believers and expanding the definition for Christians of what it means to “attend” church.
The pandemic fundamentally altered the way Americans experience religion. In the early months of 2020, churches were forced to close their doors, shift services online and scramble to maintain connection amid lockdowns. But now, five years later, the report shows that for many attendees, these disruptions may have ultimately deepened their spiritual lives.
Among the findings: Twice as many survey respondents said their congregation had become stronger and more vital over the past few years compared to those who said it had weakened. A majority (64%) said they attend worship services at least weekly — most in person — and 21% reported that their attendance had increased since before the pandemic. Volunteering, financial giving and a sense of spiritual growth also rose.
Who’s in the pews?
Unlike earlier EPIC surveys that relied on clergy responses to provide a closer look into congregational life, this latest survey centers the voices of those who sit in the pews — or, increasingly, on their couches watching livestreams.
The report offers a rich demographic snapshot of U.S. Christians. The median respondent was 52 years old. Women made up 60% of participants, men the other 40%. About 73% were White, 12% Black, 8% Asian and 4% Hispanic. Roughly 1 in 10 was born outside the U.S., and over a quarter had at least one foreign-born parent.
Politically, just over half (51%) of attenders said they leaned Republican, while 34% leaned Democrat. A large majority (87%) said their faith is “very important” to them. Geographically, respondents came from across the country, with the South (34%) and north central (27%) regions accounting for the largest shares. Nearly one-third (31%) live with children under 18, and 19% live alone.
The results were revealing. The report noted that “a sizable” 38% of people “began attending their current church within the past five years — that is, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In our previous congregational level research,” it continued, ¡we estimated that the average congregation gains about 5% of new attendees per year — amounting to 25% over five years. The fact that 38% of attenders joined their congregation in the past five years suggests a higher-than-average rate of new people joining congregations — whether through switching, returning or conversion.”
These newer participants tend to be younger and more likely to engage with their churches in hybrid or online formats. And while longtime members are still the most likely to volunteer or give, newer members report increasing their attendance more than any other group.
“These new members include switchers, returners and first-time participants, many of whom bring more energy and higher optimism about their church’s future,” the report added.
Shift in church culture
Beyond the numbers, the survey surfaces changing cultural patterns in U.S. religious life. One example is the embrace of digital worship as a long-term feature of congregational life and not just a necessity that grew out of the pandemic. While online attenders tend to be less involved in volunteering and have fewer close friends within the congregation, they remain deeply engaged spiritually.
The rise in online participation is one of the biggest trends to emerge from the study. Currently, nearly 85% of churches represented in the survey offer online worship options. Despite this accessibility, most participants (74%) still prefer in-person services. Only 7% participate primarily online.
Yet, online options have made it easier for churchgoers to attend multiple congregations. In fact, 46% say they engage regularly with more than one church. This fluid model of attendance, which would have been unusual a decade ago, is now surprisingly common.
One respondent wrote: “What supports me is that I can come to a place where I can help and understand people. To truly give back and knowing I am helping someone.”
Interestingly, Black churchgoers and those in churches that never closed during the pandemic are more likely to be newer participants. Evangelical churches also appear to have drawn more new members since 2020, while Catholic and Orthodox churches have seen more stability, but overall lower weekly attendance rates.
Another significant shift, the survey found, is that 10% of respondents attend a church led by a woman, predominantly in mainline Protestant denominations. Nearly 20% are members of a multiracial congregation, reflecting continuing progress toward racial diversity in church communities.
Despite theological shifts and demographic changes, the American church is far from fading. In fact, it may be transforming in ways that make it stronger than before. If these survey results are any indication, that vision may be shared by millions more across the country — and it’s one that has only grown clearer in the wake of crisis.
As another participant put it, “Becoming a Christian has done nothing but vastly improve my life.”
Clemente Lisi is the executive editor of Religion Unplugged.