{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Church Answers","provider_url":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com","title":"The Church Number: 55% Younger Adults Prefer Smaller Churches | Church Answers","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"tyXfLCyA4B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/the-church-number-55-younger-adults-prefer-smaller-churches\/\">The Church Number: 55% Younger Adults Prefer Smaller Churches<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/the-church-number-55-younger-adults-prefer-smaller-churches\/embed\/#?secret=tyXfLCyA4B\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;The Church Number: 55% Younger Adults Prefer Smaller Churches&#8221; &#8212; Church Answers\" data-secret=\"tyXfLCyA4B\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Young-adults-in-a-small-group.png","thumbnail_width":1200,"thumbnail_height":628,"description":"It\u2019s a massive change that few church leaders are noticing. For decades, the conventional wisdom was simple: younger generations flocked to bigger churches with contemporary music, better tech, and full-service programming. That assumption may now be outdated. According to a groundbreaking 2023 national study of churchgoers, a majority of 18- to 34-year-olds\u2014exactly 55%\u2014say they prefer smaller churches. And this isn\u2019t just some internet poll or denominational one-off. The finding comes from This Place Means Everything to Me: Key Findings from a National Survey of Church Attenders in Post-Pandemic United States, published by PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute) and the New York-based nonprofit organization, Faith Communities Today (FACT).The survey is large, recent, and credible. Conducted in late 2023, it offers one of the most detailed snapshots of what church life looks like post-pandemic, with a nationally representative sample across regions, ethnicities, and denominations. The phrase \u201csmaller churches\u201d was clearly defined as those with fewer than 250 attendees. For many churches in the U.S.\u2014especially those under 100 in attendance\u2014this number may feel aspirational. But within the broader church landscape, 250 still signals intimacy, relationship, and visibility. And \u201cfewer than 250\u201d does not mean 250. It could mean 50, 85, or 126.In short, the 55% number is more than a stat. It\u2019s a directional signal. If you're in a smaller church, this may be the most hopeful news you've heard in years. And if you're leading a larger church, it\u2019s still good news\u2014it just means you'll need to work harder to create small environments inside your big one. Let\u2019s take a closer look at what this number means\u2014and why it\u2019s a wake-up call."}