Why this denomination is booming
Adobe
Churches in America are declining. Not all of them—but enough that the trend is impossible to ignore. Attendance is down, influence is shrinking, and many congregations are aging faster than they are growing.
Yet there is one notable exception.
While many denominations struggle to reverse decline, the Assemblies of God continues to grow. That reality deserves our attention—not because they've discovered a perfect formula, but because they've remained anchored to something many churches have quietly drifted from: encounter.
The Assemblies of God hasn't avoided decline by chasing trends or softening conviction. They've leaned into expectation. They believe God still moves, still speaks, still heals, still meets people where they are. And people are drawn to that.
Church growth is not ultimately about programs, branding, or strategy. Those things matter, but they are secondary. What people are longing for—often without knowing how to name it—is an encounter with the living God.
That longing hasn't gone away.
And any church, in any tradition, that creates space for genuine encounter will find that God still grows His church.
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Bob Whitesel (D.Min., Ph.D.) is a foresight coach, professor, and award-winning author of 14 books. For over 30 years, he has guided leaders and churches to pivot and engage what’s next. He holds two earned doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary and teaches on leadership foresight, church health, and organizational change. His website is www.ChurchForesight.com. Learn More » |
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