Jennifer Lyell, a former vice president of Lifeway who accused a seminary professor of sexual abuse in 2018, died yesterday (June 7) at age 47 after a series of massive strokes.
Despite the unique pressures pastors routinely face, only 1.2% of evangelical and Black Protestant pastors leave the ministry each year, according to a 2025 Lifeway Research study.
U.S. Protestant churches are almost evenly split between those that have grown within the past two years and those that are plateaued or declining, according to an Exponential study by Lifeway Research.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending during Holy Week, Lent serves as a time of preparation for the Easter celebration in many Christian traditions. The practice often involves the spiritual discipline of fasting.
Recent data from Lifeway Research provides valuable insights into the state of groups, leading to practical steps for fostering vibrant and healthy groups.
“As we’re preaching and teaching, it would be so much better if we knew our church members were reading and studying the Word of God on their own,” said Dwayne Milioni, pastor of Open Door Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In January, around 4,000 ministry leaders and volunteers will gather in Nashville, Tennessee, Houston and Fort Worth, Texas, and Ridgecrest, North Carolina, for Lifeway’s annual Vacation Bible School Preview events.