The Silent Crisis Shrinking Churches;Across the country, churches are facing the same challenge: families are disengaging, and faith is not being passed down to the next generation. The numbers tell a stark story:

 

View this email in a browser This email is sent on behalf of our sponsor Communio The Silent Crisis Shrinking Churches Maybe you’ve seen declining numbers at your church. Maybe you’ve struggled to engage families or reach your community—despite your best efforts. You’re not alone. Across the country, churches are facing the same challenge: families are disengaging, and faith is not being passed down to the next generation. The numbers tell a stark story: Marriage rates have declined by 65% since 1970. 31% fewer people get married each year compared to 2000. 85% of churches invest nothing in marriage ministry. But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. Not long ago, a husband and wife were on the brink of divorce. Both had already hired lawyers. She was a school teacher, and they had school-age children. They were waiting until after the holidays to finalize everything. Then, something unexpected happened. The school where she worked was part of a Communio-supported church. That church had just launched its first facilitator-led, evidence-based marriage retreat. The couple, out of desperation, decided to attend. Their pastor called us after the weekend. Everything changed. The retreat transformed their perspective, their communication, and their hope for their marriage. They stopped their divorce proceedings and decided to fight for their family. Their church’s investment in marriage ministry didn’t just save their relationship—it helped preserve their children’s faith and kept them engaged in the Church. How Churches Are Growing Through Relationship Discipleship  This is not just one story—it is happening across the country. In Jacksonville, Florida, 93 churches integrated relationship discipleship into their ministries. In just three years:  58,912 people engaged in marriage and relationship-building programs.  Divorce rates dropped by 24%.  Sunday attendance grew by 23%.  Pastor Ronny Marriott, President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, described this shift as a ‘metanoia moment’ for his church.  "Through our partnership with Communio, we began to understand the connection between building healthy marriages and growing healthier as a church family."  A Practical Next Step  Your church can experience the same renewal.  To help apply this strategy, we’ve prepared a free report outlining the research, data, and practical steps to integrate marriage and relationship discipleship into your ministry. If you're interested in learning how your church can strengthen marriages and increase engagement, we invite you to download this resource today.  Stronger Marriages, Stronger Churches—Start Here. If you’re looking for a way to engage families, strengthen marriages, and grow your church, we would love to help. Disclaimer: This message does not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post. Opinions expressed are solely those of the sponsor. The Christian Post 6200 2nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, United States