Are we seeing the end of Christianity in America?
A new study by Lifeway Research found that more Protestant churches closed than opened in 2024.
As Lifeway noted, in 2024, 3,800 new Protestant churches opened in the United States while 4,000 closed. This follows a similar trend from 2019, when 3,000 churches were opened and 4,500 closed. The data collected by Lifeway surveyed 35 denominations, representing 58% of all Protestant churches in the nation.
Scott McConnell, the executive director of Lifeway Research noted that “Given recent declines in Americans identifying as Christians, churches show a remarkable ability to remain open, even with fewer attendees on average.”
Ed Stetzer, dean of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, highlighted the importance of church planting for Kingdom growth.
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“Simply put, without church planting, every denomination that’s growing would be shrinking, and every denomination that’s shrinking would be shrinking more,” he said. “Church planting is the most significant engine for evangelistic growth that we have in the world today.”
Something concerning that Lifeway pointed to was that: “Even among those who believe their churches have an extended future, some are concerned. Fewer than 4 in 5 (78%) strongly agree they expect their church to have at least another decade.”
The numbers may be sobering, but they should not be paralyzing. If anything, they reveal a solemn truth: cultural Christianity cannot save a nation. Buildings, branding and programs alone cannot preserve the faith. What America needs is not a better marketing strategy — it requires a church that is actually the church. A church that preaches Christ crucified. A church that is unashamed of the gospel and unwilling to silence itself to fit cultural trends. When the apostles faced opposition, they did not shrink back; they proclaimed the resurrection with greater boldness. The same call rests on us now.
The solution to declining churches is not to abandon the mission — it is to return to it.
If Christianity in America is to survive the pressures of secularism and cultural apathy, then believers must rise from complacency. The Great Commission was never meant to be passive. Jesus told us to go, to preach the gospel to all nations, to make disciples, and to baptize others in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
If America is witnessing the fading spark of Christian witness, now is the hour to fan it into flame. The church is not meant to decline when the world gets darker; we are meant to shine brighter.
It is time once again for the church to preach Christ, to love boldly, to disciple intentionally and to bring the good news to a nation that desperately needs it.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
