Digital discipleship grows during pandemic

A study by Lifeway Research found that while small group participation declined during the pandemic, digital and individual discipleship activities were more common than in the past.

Around three in five U.S. churchgoers say they participated in a church small group in January 2020 as either a participant or a leader.

Young adults aged 18 to 29 were more likely to say they were involved in small group ministry than were churchgoers 65 and older.

A year later, less then two in five (37%) said they were part of a small group, many because their church didn’t offer one during the pandemic. But respondents said they participated more in online worship at their own church, TV worship services and online Bible study in 2020 than in 2019.