miletwo::network

Barna group has release new statistics for 2007 tithing here.  According to Barna, not much has changed in the last few years.  Among the various sects that make up the term “Christian,” giving is down across the board.  Evangelicals still give the most, but giving is down across the board as a percentage of mean income.

For more information on managing church marketing and how the church reacts during recession, see our post titled Tough Times? Market Compassion.

In the wake of the recent slide, no… avalanche of real estate price drops I’ve begun to wonder what effect the current economy might have on church vitality, growth, and attendance. The question: “To what degree does the failing economy affect church marketing, attendance and giving, and is there anything we should be doing in response?”

Let’s look at the various factors below and see if I’m just a nut job or if there’s something here we should be thinking about.

Attendance

This one has been hard to locate any statistical data for but I wonder, when hard times hit do more people go to church or find faith? If so, it’s reasonable to assume we should be gearing up for an onslaught! I know from personal experience that there are many factors that drive people to the savior. Many times a personal awakening is triggered by unfortunate circumstances so be ready with the gauze and bandages. If you read this article and are a pastor at a church, let me know if you’ve seen attendance numbers affected by economy.