People ARE Volunteering—Churches Need to be Better at Inviting!

According to Nonprofit Source, “Religious volunteering is the top volunteering type, with 34% reporting they volunteer for their church or religious organization.”[i]  Barna and Gloo released attendance and volunteering data that echoes that. Brad Hill, chief solutions officer at Gloo said: “These latest [church engagement] findings reinforce the critical role that churches play in helping people and communities flourish. We’re seeing some hopeful insights that can help leaders better meet people where they are and provide church as a place for deep connection with God and one another.”[ii]

 

Key highlights: [with my own emphasis]

  1. Most U.S. adults (65%) believe church remains relevant in today’s world.

  2. Early 2025 data shows church attendance in the U.S. has increased to an estimated 32%, marking an uptick after declining from 48% in 2009 to 28% in 2024.

  3. This preliminary 2025 data also shows weekly church volunteering rising to an estimated 24% (versus 15% in 2024), with Gen Z (21%) and Millennials (19%) significantly outpacing Boomers (9%), Gen X (11%) and Elders (12%).

  4. Today’s churchgoers actively seek connection at church, with at least half engaging with a pastor (57%), other attendees (53%) or church staff (50%) before, during or after service.

  5. U.S. adult Christians overwhelmingly prioritize spiritual encounters at church, with 73% saying “connecting to God” is very important to a meaningful church experience, followed by the “presence of the Holy Spirit” (68%) and “growing closer to Jesus” (67%).[iii]

 

Given this encouraging news—faith motivating volunteering…more people than last year…more stepping into serving roles…more seeking connection and spiritual encounters—how are we, as church leaders,

 

·         Ensuring that our church culture is welcoming?

·         Getting to know our people well enough that we can intentionally ASK each person to connect and serve in ways that are consistent with how they are passionate, gifted, and called?

·         Being a place where those who serve are seen, heard, valued, utilized well, and flourish?

·         Making space for people to serve in significant ways—beyond the usual church volunteer scenario?

·         Helping everyone connect their involvement with the bigger vision of the church, Christ’s Body?

·         Continuously exhorting and equipping?

·         Utilizing all the potential sitting in the pews?

 

As leaders, our mandate is “to equip the saints” for ministry and toward growth in Christlike maturity (Ephesians 4:11-13). Let’s do that and help our people BE the Church of Jesus Christ.

 

 

Important resources:

 

 

Shirley Giles Davis, author of God's Affirmations For You: A Book of Encouragement—A 12-Week Devotional Practice, the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

 

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis. 

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Additionally, the contents of these blog posts may not be used to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies without the author's express permission.

 


[i] https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-blog/church-statistics#:~:text=Volunteering%20continues%20to%20drop%2C%20with,expected%20to%20decrease%20in%202023.

[ii] https://religionnews.com/2025/03/13/new-shifts-in-church-engagement-trends/

[iii] https://religionnews.com/2025/03/13/new-shifts-in-church-engagement-trends/

Shirley Giles Davis