The findings are from the fourth in a series of studies Grey Matter Research, based in Phoenix, Ariz., and Infinity Concepts in Export, Pa., are conducting in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on evangelical churches. Conducted in July 2021, the study included a demographically representative sample of 1,017 evangelicals found via online access panels.
“Given the areas both companies specialize in, we wanted to make sure to explore topics that would be relevant to ministries, denominations, and churches,” Sellers said. “We had the belief that COVID and online church had the ability to significantly change the church landscape, and wanted to explore topics related to this. The more someone wishes their church could be different, the more they may cast around for different options, and online makes that especially easy today.”
Other studies in the series include “The Ripple Effect,” focusing on the impact of COVID on churches; “The Jewish Connection,” surveying evangelicals’ relationship with Israel, and “The Generosity Factor” on giving.
The study defines evangelical Protestants as those agreeing that the Bible is the highest authority for their beliefs, those who say it’s important to encourage non-Christians to accept Jesus as their Savior, those believing Jesus’ death on the cross is the only sacrifice for sin, and those who trust in Jesus along for salvation. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Catholics and the Orthodox were excluded.
The two companies have conducted research together or separately for several groups including the National Association of Evangelicals, the Evangelical Press Association, World Vision, Moody Global Ministries, Prison Fellowship, the Holocaust Remembrance Association and Focus on the Family.
The Congregational Scorecard and other resources are available at infinityconcepts.com and greymatterresearch.com.
This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.
