by Alan Langstaff

I want to share a few insights into some trends that are happening in the Pentecostal and Evangelical world today. This is not meant to be a thorough examination of what is happening, simply some observations. Here they are.

RISE OF NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES

When I grew up, many years ago, denominational churches were still strong. The most powerful denominations in the 1950s were the mainline churches, such as Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc. In the 1970’s only less than 5% of Protestants were non-denominational.

“By 2010, the percentage of Protestants who were non-denominational would rise to about 20% and they were about 10% of all Americans. In the most recent survey, which was collected in 2022 — one in three Protestants did not identify with a denomination like Southern Baptists or Evangelical Lutherans. That was a twelve-point increase from just a few years earlier. Nearly 15% of all American adults identify as non-denominational now. For comparison, about 22% of the sample said they were Roman Catholic.”

“Ryan Burge writes at Graphs About Religion about the rise in non-denominationalism in the U.S. Against the backdrop of the constant refrain of the decline of religious observance in this country, Burge explains how the rise in non-denominational Christians is a factor that we can’t ignore.

“In more recent years, the “mainline” denominations, so called because they were the churches along the main roads in towns, have opted for theological and political liberalism (and downright heresy) and have seen a resulting decline. Denominations still loom large on the landscape of American Christianity, but their influence is on the downslope, according to some new research.”

(Chris Queen, PJMedia, January 2025)

President Donald Trump was brought up as a Presbyterian but now calls himself non-denominational.

NOW WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

“Beyond the rise of Christians who aren’t part of a denomination, what’s the takeaway? Burge makes an interesting parallel between this move within evangelical Christianity and the shift in political conservatism…

Just stick with me here, but I think that there’s a direct parallel between what has happened in American politics and American religion over the last couple of decades. For hundreds of years, the United States was a country where most of the movement came from the top down. The political parties had a tremendous amount of say in who the nominees were going to be for elections at every level, including President of the United States. That was also true of American religion. The most powerful denominations in the 1950s were the mainline, which had incredibly strong hierarchies. It took lots of education and certification for someone to become eligible for the role of clergy.

Think about how much things have changed in just the last fifteen years. In the world of politics, one party has been taken over by a complete political outsider – Donald Trump. The party actively tried to sabotage his ascendance in 2016. Party bosses wanted Cruz or Rubio. Not a businessman who had never held elective office. Yet, he won and has transformed the GOP in his own image.

As someone who has spent most of his life in the non-denominational sphere — growing up in the quasi-denominational Christian Church and as a member of a truly independent church — I can understand this mindset. As a congregation, we’re not beholden to any denominational leader or committee to tell us what to preach or study or what missions to support. We have trusted elders, pastors, staff, and volunteer leaders who guide our congregation from within our community. Leadership that’s on the ground with your people is the best kind.

Burge hits the nail on the head when he ties the rise in non-denominational believers and churches to the rise in conservatives’ distrust of elites. I’m not directly comparing denominational leaders to cosseted political elites, but I do think that conservative Christians are concluding that the best leaders in every sphere of life are the ones who care about them the most.”

(Chris Queen, PJMedia, January 2025)

RISE OF PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES IN USA

Joseph Mattera, a respected leader in the East Coast has written an article entitled “10 Reasons Why the Pentecostal Church is Growing in the US.” He starts by writing:

“In a time when many Christian denominations in the United States are experiencing rapid decline, Pentecostal and charismatic churches are defying the trend and continuing to grow. Denominations such as the Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist Convention, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have seen a significant drop in membership, while Pentecostal movements remain vibrant and expanding. This begs the question: Why is the Pentecostal church growing while others are struggling?”

He then gives 10 reasons as to why Pentecostal churches are growing in the US. Let me summarize the 10 reasons that Mattera gives for this increase. The original article is published by The Christian Post.

1) Young people desire an experience, not just a doctrine

“One of the key reasons for the growth of Pentecostalism is its appeal to young people who are seeking more than intellectual knowledge or traditional doctrine.”

2) Embracing the power of the Spirit for witness

“Pentecostals believe that the empowerment of the Spirit is essential not just for personal transformation but for being an effective witness for the Gospel.”

3) Belief in supernatural intervention

“Pentecostals hold firm to the belief that God still moves supernaturally in today’s world” (such as healing and prophetic words).

4) Intense corporate prayer strategies for breakthrough

“Corporate prayer is a major component of Pentecostal worship, and it is often carried out with intensity and urgency.”

5) Spirit-empowered people overcome the flesh

Pentecostalism emphasizes “the power of the Holy Spirit to help believers overcome their sinful nature, or ‘the flesh.’”

6) Equipped to cast out demons and break oppression

“They take seriously the biblical mandate to cast out demons and break spiritual oppression.”

7) Powerful experiential worship

“Worship in Pentecostal churches is more than just a ritual; it is an experience that engages the heart, mind, body, and spirit.”

8) Historical engagement with the urban people

“Historically, Pentecostalism has been closely associated with outreach to the urban poor.”

9) Unity across ethnic and socioeconomic lines

“The Azusa Street Revival, which is widely considered the birth of modern Pentecostalism, was a diverse gathering of black, white, Hispanic, and Asian believers.”

10) A commitment to the supernatural truth of the Bible

“Pentecostals embrace them wholeheartedly. They believe … that the miracles, signs, and wonders described in Scripture are still possible — and even expected — today.”

Joseph Mattera has some closing comments:

“While many traditional denominations are struggling to maintain their numbers, the Pentecostal and charismatic churches in the United States are experiencing continued growth. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including a focus on personal experience, the power of the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to supernatural truth. Pentecostal churches offer people not just a set of doctrines, but a vibrant, Spirit-filled faith that empowers them to live transformed lives and see the Kingdom of God manifested in their midst. As long as Pentecostal churches continue to emphasize these core values, they will likely remain a powerful force for spiritual renewal and growth in the coming years.”

(Joseph Mattera, The Christian Post, February 2025)

ONE ADDITIONAL THOUGHT

Many people do not realize that there is something happening in colleges today. An article published by CBN.com describes it this way:

“There is a bittersweet irony ready to unfold in America. A most wonderful happening is ready to burst forth on the screen of our nation. When it does, it will probably be unlike anything that has been seen at least in the last 75 years.

We are already beginning to detect precursors of this great event. Widespread anecdotal evidence is popping up even in some of the most unexpected places. The settings are certainly not the usual suspects for such events. But yet, at Asbury University, Auburn University, Lee University in Cleveland, Ohio State University, Clemson University, and Florida State University, along with more minor snippets in college towns all across the country, the authentication is there. You ask what these episodic phenomena might be. They are nothing more than the almost spontaneous outbreaks of Holy Spirit-filled evangelical Christian revivals. Nearly 2,000 Students Choose Christ in 1 Night at Ohio State: ‘God Is Moving in This Generation’”

(Judge Phil Ginn, CBN.com, February 2025)

May this revival spread out across the nation and turn the hearts of people to their God.