The Ministry Intelligence Brief.
Every issue.

The public is re-deciding whether faith does any good

A neighbor who's cooled on church asks one of your people a fair question this week: "What good does your church actually do around here?" Could they name something concrete: a family fed, a debt quietly covered, a Saturday given …

The young are showing up. The work is what comes next.

A younger family visits three Sundays running. On the fourth, they're ready for more than a good service. Do you have a next step to hand them, a name, a table, a path forward? Or just a warm goodbye in the parking lot?

What relieves pastoral burnout isn't more resources

If a capable teammate walked in tomorrow and said, "Give me three things off your plate," could you name them on the spot? Most of us can describe the tiredness in detail. The handoff list is harder.

Your people are uneasy about AI. Adopt it out loud.

If a first-time guest collected everything your church handed them this month — bulletin, kids flyer, sermon slides, Instagram — would it sound like one house speaking, or five?

Pastors affirm discipleship — but few can measure it

Southern Baptists meet in Orlando

SBC leaders name the moment

Nearly half of Protestant pastors name casting a clear vision as a current challenge

42% of U.S. Protestant churchgoers say spiritual matters don't come up in their daily conversations…

37% of Americans now say religion is gaining influence in public life, the highest share since 2002

77% of churchgoers say they've built significant relationships at their church

In-person worship attendance at the median U.S. congregation rose for the first time in decades