Results: Length of Church Service/Experience

The results are in!

Out of everyone who responded, the average church service/experience time is 78.74 minutes. With an average range from range from 65 minutes (NV/PA) to 150 minutes (AK/Brazil/FL).

The shortest service/experience time was 55 minutes in MO with a three-way tie for the longest in AK, FL, and Brazil at 150 minutes.

Click on the graphic below to see how each state’s average compares!

What do you think? Any surprises?

Tags: church, I'm curious, Results

3 comments

How Does Economic Uncertainty Affect the Church?

I’ve heard many different perspectives on this topic from pastors and church leaders:

POSITIVE

• People return to the church during challenging economic times because they are more aware of their dependence on God during those times. This results in an overall increase in church attendance.
• People tend to give more when there is economic uncertainty because:
  • they’re drawing closer to God and, as such, are more obedient.
  • they want God to bless them financially.
  • more wealthy people tend to liquidate their investments and consequently have more cash.

NEGATIVE

• People don’t attend church as regularly because they’re having to work more to make ends meet.
• People don’t attend church as regularly because they can’t afford the gas to get there.
• People stop giving, or they give less, either because they’re struggling to pay their bills or they’re trying to save more money for fear that they might lose their job.

We have only been a church for 12 years, and we have seen just a few periods of economic uncertainty during that time. Also, the areas where most of our congregation lives have been more modestly affected than other regions of the US and parts of the world. We have continued to grow in just about every area during those times, so I would say that if there has been an impact…it has been neutral to relatively positive.

How about you? What has your experience been? What are some other perspectives that you have (positive or negative)?

Tags: church, Economy, Finances

23 comments

I’m Curious: Length of Church Service/Experience?

I’m curious…how many minutes long (on average) is your regular church service/experience? I’m also curious how it might vary by region, so include your state/country.

Thanks!

Tags: church, I'm curious, preaching, Worship

153 comments