MAY 10, 2021
| SOURCE: LIFEWAY RESEARCH
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Aaron Earls / LifeWay
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The Church of Eleven22 didn’t plan to have a worship service on a different day, but the congregation met in another church’s building and outgrew all of its Sunday morning options.
“Because of other things happening at the church at the time, Thursday night was the only option available,” said Joby Martin, lead pastor of the church in the Jacksonville, Fla., area. “It was an accident, but God breathed on it like crazy.”
Having worship services at other times may provide opportunities for growth for other congregations, as 1 in 4 U.S. Protestant churchgoers with a job say they have to work on Sunday mornings at least once a month, according to Lifeway Research.
“When a local body of believers cannot all meet together, it is missing out on its purpose,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “While a traditional Sunday morning meeting time works for most, it isn’t possible for all to attend.”
The study from the evangelical research firm found most churchgoers aren’t faced with a job preventing them from gathering with their church on Sunday mornings. Two in 5 (41 percent) say their job never requires them to work on Sunday. Another 36 percent say they do not have a job.
Still, 23 percent of Protestant churchgoers at least occasionally are forced to miss Sunday morning services because of their job, including 5 percent who have to work that time each week, 6 percent twice a month or more, 4 percent once a month, 5 percent a few times a year, and 2 percent once a year or less.
Among churchgoers who have a job, 64 percent never have to work on Sunday mornings, yet more than a third (36 percent) are required to at least occasionally clock in during those hours. For 8 percent, their job requires them to work every Sunday morning. Another 10 percent work at that time twice a month or more, 7 percent say once a month, 7 percent a few times a year, and 4 percent once a year or less.
Demographic differences noted
Particular demographic groups are more likely to be working during the traditional time for a church worship service, including many that churches are struggling to reach.
Among 18- to 35-year-old employed churchgoers, 42 percent say their job requires them to work at least one Sunday morning a month. Those who are high school graduates or less (28 percent) or those with some college (29 percent) are more likely to work at least once a month on Sunday mornings than those with a bachelor’s (17 percent) or graduate degree (16 percent).
Aaron Earls / LifeWay
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The Church of Eleven22 didn’t plan to have a worship service on a different day, but the congregation met in another church’s building and outgrew all of its Sunday morning options.
“Because of other things happening at the church at the time, Thursday night was the only option available,” said Joby Martin, lead pastor of the church in the Jacksonville, Fla., area. “It was an accident, but God breathed on it like crazy.”
Having worship services at other times may provide opportunities for growth for other congregations, as 1 in 4 U.S. Protestant churchgoers with a job say they have to work on Sunday mornings at least once a month, according to Lifeway Research.
“When a local body of believers cannot all meet together, it is missing out on its purpose,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “While a traditional Sunday morning meeting time works for most, it isn’t possible for all to attend.”
The study from the evangelical research firm found most churchgoers aren’t faced with a job preventing them from gathering with their church on Sunday mornings. Two in 5 (41 percent) say their job never requires them to work on Sunday. Another 36 percent say they do not have a job.
Still, 23 percent of Protestant churchgoers at least occasionally are forced to miss Sunday morning services because of their job, including 5 percent who have to work that time each week, 6 percent twice a month or more, 4 percent once a month, 5 percent a few times a year, and 2 percent once a year or less.
Among churchgoers who have a job, 64 percent never have to work on Sunday mornings, yet more than a third (36 percent) are required to at least occasionally clock in during those hours. For 8 percent, their job requires them to work every Sunday morning. Another 10 percent work at that time twice a month or more, 7 percent say once a month, 7 percent a few times a year, and 4 percent once a year or less.
Demographic differences noted
Particular demographic groups are more likely to be working during the traditional time for a church worship service, including many that churches are struggling to reach.
Among 18- to 35-year-old employed churchgoers, 42 percent say their job requires them to work at least one Sunday morning a month. Those who are high school graduates or less (28 percent) or those with some college (29 percent) are more likely to work at least once a month on Sunday mornings than those with a bachelor’s (17 percent) or graduate degree (16 percent).
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