covid-19

Leaders of the online Genesis II Church of Health and Healing have been brought to trial for allegedly selling a bleach solution as a miracle cure for COVID-19.

During the SBC Annual Meeting, IMB president Paul Chitwood was asked by an SBC messenger if he’d like to apologize for mandating SBC missionaries get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Over the last few years, African American congregations have provided outsized action on getting people tested and vaccinated.

In the midst of the pandemic, religious leaders worried that lockdowns and the move to online services would accelerate already declining church attendance and usher in what some called a “religion recession.”

In 2020, most churches rushed not only to be online but also to create as much of an online presence as possible and encourage online engagement. Sadly, many churches curtailed these efforts after reopening.

Nearly three years since the onset of COVID-19 left pews empty, churches across the globe have largely returned to normal operations, while also finding new avenues to reach their post-pandemic-minded congregations. 

I realize that COVID has led to changes in churches—including increased usage of online services—and I’m not opposed to these changes. Nevertheless, I’ve increasingly realized why in-person attendance matters for me.

A recently released study found that the long-term effect of the pandemic on worship attendance among American churches was real, but minimal.