When government mandates shuttered many churches during 2020, some congregations started streaming services for the first time. Others expanded their online programing to include such options as virtual kids’ services and small group meetings.

Pandemic closures are over now, but the merging of digital and sacred spaces remains.

From watching sermons on YouTube to using apps that remind them to pray, people are integrating technology into their spiritual lives. This presents both challenges and opportunities for church leaders. Following are some trends to consider.

Virtual Attenders

According to a 2023 report from Pew Research Center, 43% of all U.S. adults attend or view religious services at least monthly. Although most churchgoers are showing up in person, online worship services continue attracting audiences.

The Pew survey found 27% of Americans regularly view religious services on screens. This includes 10% who watch only online or on television and 17% attending both in person and virtually.

By comparison, 16% of respondents report attending church exclusively in person.

Convenience is the most common factor driving online attendance, with 43% of those regularly logging on citing this as a major reason for their choice. Just 25% point to COVID-19 safety concerns as a major reason for watching remotely.

Other major reasons include the ability to watch services in distant locations (34%); a desire to keep up with a former church home (25%); and an illness or disability making in-person participation difficult (16%).

Still, brick-and-mortar church is a mainstay for many Christians. In a 2023 Barna Group survey, 4 in 10 U.S. adults identifying as Christian said they would not likely attend their church if services moved exclusively online. One-third said they would be disappointed with such a change, and 27% said it would leave them feeling disconnected.

While most people regularly streaming services express satisfaction with the experience, 76% of those attending both remotely and in person prefer the latter, according to the Pew report.

Lonely Places

Despite the ease of watching worship services from the comfort of a sofa, there are tradeoffs. Among other things, community connectedness and a sense of engagement are often missing from digital church.

According to Pew, only a quarter of virtual attenders feel like active participants in the services they watch.

The problem is not necessarily a lack of effort. In fact, some report joining in congregational activities while watching virtually, such as praying, singing, kneeling, or responding aloud. But even among those who regularly engage in such ways, just 37% feel like active participants.

Adding to the sense of estrangement is the reality that streaming services is often a solitary activity. Only a quarter of remote viewers in the Pew survey typically watch with other people.

Seven percent of those living alone normally watch with others. Even among regular virtual attenders who live in households of five or more, just one-third generally view worship services with someone else.

When it comes to building relational church connections online, few Christians are optimistic. In the Barna survey, only 26% expressed strong agreement that digital church services facilitate either community formation or meaningful relationships.

Further, just 24% strongly agreed they could experience God through an online worship service, while 23% said the same about growing closer to Jesus.

Digital Disciplines

Beyond online worship services, some people are using technology in their pursuit of daily spiritual growth.

Pew found 21% of U.S. adults utilize apps or websites for Bible reading. Additionally, 20% watch online religious videos, 15% listen to religious podcasts, 14% interact with prayer-related apps or websites, and 7% participate in online prayer or Bible study groups.

The internet has permeated every
part of the human experience, and spirituality is no exception.

Among Americans with high levels of religious commitment, 52% use Bible reading apps or websites, including 29% who do so daily. And 28% use prayer apps or websites, with 18% opening them every day.

About 19% of individuals with high levels of religious commitment are part of online prayer or Bible study groups, compared to 61% attending such groups in person.

Within the highly religious demographic, younger people are most likely to utilize technology for spiritual reasons. Roughly half of those aged 18–49 interact frequently with religious apps and websites, compared to 42% of 50- to 64-year-olds and 32% of those 65 and older.

Searchers and Seekers

Americans turn to the internet for everything from recipes to health advice. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that some are looking for spiritual answers online.

According to Pew, 30% of U.S. adults have conducted online searches for religious information, with 11% doing so on a monthly basis and 9% searching at least weekly.

Of religiously unaffiliated Americans — those identifying as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular — 18% have searched online for religious information, and 6% do this monthly. (Seven percent of religiously unaffiliated respondents also said they regularly watch religious services online or on television.)

American Bible Society’s 2023 State of the Bible report reveals 71% of Americans are curious about Scripture and/or Jesus. Even among the Bible disengaged, 34% indicate they are “a little” or “somewhat” curious, and 27% are “very” or “extremely” curious.

The State of the Bible report also found some unchurched respondents open to interacting with Christian media. Twelve percent of non-churchgoers expressed a willingness to watch a worship service online or on television if a friend invited them to do so, while 9% said they would likely listen to a Christian podcast or radio program at a friend’s invitation. Eighteen percent indicated they would probably watch a movie or TV program about Jesus with a friend.

However, many Americans are reluctant to talk about faith in some places, including on social media. According to Pew, 83% of U.S. adults, and 69% of evangelical Christians, have never posted about religion on a social media platform.

People do notice religious content on social media, although they don’t always appreciate it. While only 11% of Americans post prayer requests, 42% say they have seen such requests.

Seventeen percent of all respondents in the Pew survey, and 23% of young adults aged 18–29, have taken steps to see less of someone on social media because of that person’s religious posts.

Meanwhile, 11% of Americans follow their pastor online, and 10% follow another pastor, author, or celebrity because of his or her religious posts.

Spiritual Supplements

Church leaders understandably have mixed feelings about online ministry.

Virtual worship services have the potential to reach individuals who might not otherwise hear the gospel. They can also be a lifeline for Christians who are sick or disabled, caregivers, without transportation, or working on weekends.

Of course, streaming services can also make it easier for parishioners simply to stay home, withdraw from congregational life, and slip away from the fellowship and accountability of a faith community.

There are three points to keep in mind when navigating these issues. First, online religion is here to stay. The internet has permeated every part of the human experience, and spirituality is no exception.

Second, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Great Commission reminds us to take the hope of Jesus wherever there are people. In a digital age, that certainly includes online spaces. There is vast potential for innovations leading to evangelism and discipleship.

Third, virtual worship services, devotional apps, and Christian websites can be useful, but we should encourage believers to think of them as supplements to regular, in-person church attendance, not substitutes.

Nothing can take the place of coming together as members of the body of Christ to worship, pray, serve, hear God’s Word, and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit.

As Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

This article appears in the Fall 2023 issue of Influence magazine.