Christian women in the U.S. are more devout than their male counterparts, according to a recent report from Pew Research Center.

Nearly three-quarters of self-identifying Christian women (72 percent) say their faith is “very important” in their lives, while just 62 percent of Christian men say this. Roughly 8 in 10 Christian women believe in God with absolute certainty and agree that the Bible is God’s Word, compared to about 7 in 10 Christian men.

Christian women pray more than Christian men as well — with 74 percent of women talking to God daily, compared to 60 percent of men.

About three-quarters of Christian women and 60 percent of Christian men pray daily.

Men are also more likely to be religiously unaffiliated than women. More than one-quarter of men and 19 percent of women are religious “nones.” Even within the ranks of the unaffiliated, women tend to be more religions than men. Among the “nones,” one-third of women say they are absolutely certain that God exists, and one-quarter pray at least daily. By comparison, about one-quarter of unaffiliated men feel certain God exists, and 15 percent pray daily.

Such studies highlight the need for strategic outreach and discipleship ministries for men. For insights and ideas on this topic, see “Are You a Man-Friendly Church?”

Of course, it’s also imperative for congregations to reach and retain women. While women are often the most faithful church attenders and involved volunteers, leaders can’t afford to take their participation for granted. According to a 2016 Pew report, women have been leaving the church faster than men for the last three decades. For a possible explanation of this trend, see “6 Reasons Why Women May Be Leaving Your Church.”