One hopeful trend in Faith Communities Today’s 2020 survey findings is that the percentage of multiracial congregations in the U.S. has doubled over the past two decades, from 12% to 25% of all faith communities. The 2020 FACT Survey Report also reveals that congregational diversity correlates to increased growth, spiritual vitality, and a clearer sense of mission and purpose.

Do the challenges of a global pandemic and extreme polarization seem insurmountable? Retired Major General Randy Manner shares how clear vision and values help in navigating difficult terrain by engendering unity and hope.

Listen now, read transcript, or watch video.

The local church is often the first place people go for help in addressing mental health challenges. Matthew Stanford sees this as a divine opportunity and suggests ways churches can address the subject of mental illness more openly and honestly.

Robin Diangelo writes and consults about issues of racial and social justice. In sessions she leads, an exercise she uses is to ask people in clusters of three to take one minute each to answer this question:

What are some of the ways in which your race has shaped your life?

Want more Right Questions? Read Right Questions for Church Leaders.

Discovering God’s Future for Your Church is a turnkey tool kit to help your congregation discern and implement God’s vision for its future. This comprehensive resource guides your church in discovering clues to your vision in your history and culture, your current congregational strengths and weaknesses, and the needs of your surrounding community. Discovering God’s Future for Your Church includes engaging videos, leader’s guides, discussion exercises, planning tools, handouts, diagrams, worksheets, and more.

How can your congregation reach more diverse people? Rev. Dr. Joseph W. Daniels, pastor of the Emory Fellowship in Washington, D.C., shares his observations on this vital topic and describes a model used by his congregation to reach more diverse people.

Strong and growing congregations typically have a very high percentage of people who are actively involved in learning, serving, and leading. 50 Ways to Increase Active Engagement offers tips to help you lift up the ministry of volunteering in your congregation.

“True community is based on upon equality, mutuality, and reciprocity. It affirms the richness of individual diversity as well as the common human ties that bind us together.”

Pauli Murray

In this 10-session video-based adult study, Dr. Craig Hill makes eschatology —- the study of the “Last Things” — and the book of Revelation understandable to laypeople and experts alike. In God’s Time avoids the extremes of pulp fiction and high scholarly debate and instead opens up the entire Bible — encouraging Christians to take seriously the hope of God's ultimate victory.