[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 13/Apr/2025]
The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
Matthew 9 v37-38 [NLT]
I was encouraged to read a recent study commissioned by the Bible Society showing that church attendance in England and Wales has increased by 50% over the past five years![1] One of the standout findings is a significant rise in the number of young adults – especially young men – attending church. While it’s true that the UK Church isn’t out of the woods just yet, and some mainstream denominations remain on life support, this is a powerful glimmer of hope for the Christian faith in our nation.
I’m delighted to say we’re witnessing something similar in our own church family. More young men are exploring faith, and families are either returning to church or coming along for the first time to find out more. That’s why we’ve worked so hard in recent years to build a community and Sunday experience that’s vibrant, welcoming, and accessible—especially for those to whom church and Christianity still feel unfamiliar. Since moving to two services, our average attendance has grown by more than 40%, and some who have joined us have responded to the good news of Jesus and will be baptised this Easter Sunday!
There is so much to thank God for – and yet we’re only just getting started. There are fresh initiatives to explore, new ground to cover, and people still waiting to hear the hope of the gospel. At a time when spiritual curiosity is rising – particularly among young people -here’s a simple but powerful question:
Who could you invite to church next Sunday?
Resources:
[1] The Quiet Revival Report: www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival
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Last Sunday’s reflection: Why Are People Not Interested? by Dennis Ginter
Contributed by Martin Shorey; © Martin Shorey