Pandemic Alters U.S. Churchgoers’ Discipleship Practices by Aaron Earls for Christian News Journal
Fewer churchgoers filled pews and Bible studies during the pandemic, but many still continued personal discipleship habits throughout 2020.
A study by Nashville-based Lifeway Research found U.S. churchgoers were less likely to be involved in small groups during the pandemic, but many added some digital and individual activities to their discipleship routines.
“Some have defined discipleship as a journey of following Christ in fellowship with other believers,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “COVID-19 appears to have had both positive and negative impacts on discipleship. Pre-pandemic churchgoers largely have shown more resolve in following Christ over the following year while altering how they engage with other believers.”
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Scattered small groups
In January 2020, prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, around 3 in 5 U.S. churchgoers say they participated in a church small group. Slightly more than half (52%) say they were a participant in such a group, while 7% say they served as a group leader. Another 41% of churchgoers say they were not involved in such a group prior to the pandemic.
Young adults aged 18 to 29 are the most likely to say they were participants in a small group before COVID (68%), while churchgoers 65 and older are the most likely to say they didn’t participate in groups at all (57%). African Americans (62%) are also more likely to say they were participants in a small group in January 2020 than white churchgoers (48%).
A year later, fewer U.S. churchgoers overall say they were involved in any type of church small groups. A third (33%) say they were participants in January 2021, and 4% say they served as a leader. More than 3 in 5 did not participate, including 29%, because their church didn’t offer any small groups, and 34%, even though their church did offer some.
Among those who say their church offered small groups in January 2021, around half (52%) say they were involved either as a leader (5%) or a participant (47%). Slightly less than half of those who had the option of small group participation (48%) chose to not be involved.
“Our research has shown that Christians involved in in-person small group Bible studies and Sunday School classes are more likely to exemplify Christlike behaviors of serving those outside the church, sharing the gospel, volunteering within the church, giving, and investing in spiritual disciplines,” said McConnell. “During the pandemic, far fewer churchgoers benefited from these Bible-focused, relational meetings, and only a portion took advantage of online options.”
