More than five years after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted churches across America, a new national study is offering encouraging news: many of the nation’s largest Protestant churches have not only recovered—they’re thriving.
The report, Megachurch Resurgence: How Big-Attendance Churches Rebounded After the Pandemic, found that 67% of America’s megachurches now report attendance above pre-pandemic levels, while 84% say their congregations are stronger today than they were before COVID-19. Researchers also found that 86% of megachurches describe themselves as thriving and optimistic about the future.
The study, conducted by researchers Warren Bird and Scott Thumma through the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, surveyed 589 Protestant congregations averaging at least 900 weekly attendees, including 331 megachurches, as part of a 25-year longitudinal study of America’s largest churches.
Beyond attendance, researchers found several encouraging trends.
Giving has increased faster than inflation and attendance growth, suggesting stronger financial health. Churches are investing heavily in leadership development, with more than three-quarters operating ministry residency or leadership training programs. Community outreach also remains a major priority, with nearly nine out of ten churches actively serving their local communities and opening their facilities to nonprofits, schools, civic organizations, and other ministries. The study also noted increasing racial diversity, with approximately two-thirds of megachurches now qualifying as multiracial congregations.
Researchers say these findings challenge the widespread assumption that large churches would permanently lose momentum after the pandemic.
Instead, many congregations adapted by expanding online ministries during lockdowns, strengthening discipleship efforts, improving communication, and reconnecting members once in-person worship resumed. Those adjustments appear to have positioned many churches for renewed growth.
A Reason for Encouragement—And Discernment
While these findings are encouraging, Christians should also remember that numerical growth alone is not the ultimate measure of spiritual health.
Throughout Scripture, God consistently emphasizes faithfulness over popularity.
Jesus warned that large crowds do not always indicate genuine discipleship. During His earthly ministry, many followed Him for miracles or personal benefit, only to walk away when His teaching became difficult (John 6:66). Likewise, churches today should rejoice whenever people gather to hear God’s Word, but they should also continually ask whether lives are being transformed by the Gospel.
The New Testament describes a healthy church as one devoted to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayer, worship, evangelism, and spiritual maturity (Acts 2:42–47; Ephesians 4:11–16).
Attendance matters because every person represents someone made in the image of God.
But faithful preaching, biblical discipleship, holiness, and Christ-centered worship matter even more.
The Importance of Gathering Together
The pandemic reminded many believers how valuable corporate worship truly is.
While livestreams and online teaching became important tools during a difficult season, they were never intended to replace the local church. Scripture encourages believers to gather regularly, encouraging one another and stirring one another toward love and good works.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts Christians:
“Not forsaking our own assembling together… but encouraging one another.”
Healthy churches provide far more than a weekly service.
They become places where believers worship together, study God’s Word, bear one another’s burdens, disciple new Christians, pray together, and proclaim the Gospel to their communities.
As churches continue recovering from the challenges of recent years, this new research serves as a reminder that God continues building His Church.
Methods may change.
Technology may advance.
Cultures may shift.
But Jesus’ promise remains unchanged:
“I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18)
For Christians across America, that’s a truth worth celebrating—and one that should motivate every believer to remain faithfully connected to a Bible-believing local church, growing in Christ while encouraging others to finish the race faithfully.
