Download the Q1 2026 Unstuck Church Report
Every quarter, our team at The Unstuck Group surveys churches across North America to get a clear read on congregational health, momentum, and overall trajectory. For the Q1 2026 report, we heard from more than 300 churches, representing weekly in-person attendance anywhere from under 100 to more than 12,000. On average, participating churches reported 944 people attending weekly, up from 778 when we started this research in 2017. And the churches in this survey reflect a wide range of traditions: 40% non-denominational, 21% Baptist, 7% Methodist, and the rest spread across Assemblies of God, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Pentecostal, and other denominations.
One of the unique findings in this quarter’s report is how the health of the churches connected with The Unstuck Group has shifted over the years. For example, in 2017, 44% of the churches that participated in our survey, were declining or flat in their growth. Today only 8% of the churches fall into that category. Likewise in 2017, only 56% of the churches were growing, today that number is 86%. So in some ways, this quarter’s report begins to reveal the trends of growing churches.
Key Findings from the Q1 2026 Unstuck Church Report
Church leaders across North America are navigating a moment that feels both encouraging and uncertain.
Attendance is rising in many places. New people are exploring faith. Year-over-year growth across churches remains in the double digits, and the churches represented in this survey have grown an average of 81% since their post-COVID attendance levels in 2021. That’s amazing!
In many ways, this is a hopeful moment for the Church.
But as we analyzed responses from more than 300 churches in the 2026 Q1 Unstuck Church Survey, another reality emerged beneath the encouraging numbers.
Momentum is real, but it is also slowing.
While most churches are growing, the rate of growth is beginning to decelerate. In 2022, churches experienced an average year-over-year growth rate of 19%. By the time of this survey in February 2026, that number had declined to 14%.
The change does not signal decline. Rather, it suggests that the post-pandemic rebound many churches experienced has normalized.
Churches that experienced rapid growth in recent years are now entering a new phase, one where growth will need to be cultivated intentionally again. The systems that help people take next steps—connecting, serving, leading, and inviting others—are becoming increasingly important.
In other words, churches that assume momentum may soon find themselves plateauing. But churches that treat this moment as an opportunity to strengthen engagement systems, and ensure a healthy invite-culture, are well positioned for the next chapter.
We organized this report around four core ministry areas: Reach, Connection, Staffing, and Finances. In each section, we’ll highlight what separates thriving churches from those that are plateaued or in decline, and we’ll close with practical implications. At the end, you’ll find a consolidated list of action steps any church can take, no matter the size or denomination.
The great news is that so many churches are experiencing significant growth right now. If that’s you, celebrate it! I hope these findings encourage you and help you identify your right next steps to steward the moment well. And if your church is not among those seeing double digit growth, I hope you, too, find some helpful ideas about ways you could lead your church towards healthy growth.
This quarter’s report was sponsored by The Church Lawyers:
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Get Your FREE Copy of The Q1 2026 Unstuck Church Report
Our goal for this report is that it spurs healthy conversations among the leaders on church teams as we take a look at:
- Ministry Reach: Trends in in-person and online attendance, decisions for Christ, worship styles, and multisite expansion.
- Ministry Connection: Insights on groups, volunteer engagement, and leadership development.
- Ministry Staffing & Structure: Staffing benchmarks, leadership models, and board/committee structures.
- Ministry Finances: Giving trends, budget allocation, cash reserves, and debt management.
- Next Steps: Practical next steps based on each area of data.
The report also highlights what sets the fastest-growing churches apart, offers practical next steps for ministry health, and features additional insights from our sponsor, The Church Lawyers, to help you navigate legal and risk management.
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