News

Go Figure

Stats on the Last Supper’s growth, how much megachurches spend on short-term missions, and more.

Media

0.8%

Total news coverage in 2009 devoted to religion, down from 1% in 2008.

1.1%

Total news coverage in 2009 devoted to the death of Michael Jackson.

Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism

Church Life

American congregations who say they can’t find enough people to serve on committees and taskforces, by number of committees and taskforces they have:

17%: Three or less

10%: 4-9

7%: 10 or more

Faith Communities Today

Evangelism

According to a survey of 74 ministries, receptivity to the gospel—on a five-point scale—among first-generation immigrants from

4.2: Ecuador and Guatemala

4.1: Liberia

2.3: Japan

2.2: Iraq and Iran

North American Mission Board/LifeWay Research

Theology

71%

Americans who believe that “when good or bad things happen, they are simply part of God’s plan for me.”

32%

Americans who agree that “there is no sense planning a lot—ultimately my fate is in God’s hands.”

LiveScience/

Sociology of Religion

Art

69%

Growth in the size of the main courses depicted in the paintings of the Last Supper between the years 1000 and 2000.

23%

Growth in the size of the bread.

International Journal of Obesity

Church Life

84.9%

Megachurches that have at least one church-to-church partnership with a non-U.S. congregation.

30.4%

Megachurches that have more than five such partnerships.

International Bulletin of Missionary Research

Missions

32%

Amount of megachurch spending directed abroad that goes to short-term missions trips.

3.7%

Megachurch attendees on a given weekend in 2007 who went abroad on a short-term missions trip that year.

International Bulletin of Missionary Research

Copyright © 2010 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from April 2010, March 2010, February 2010, January 2010, December 2009, November 2009, October 2009, September 2009, August 2009, July 2009, June 2009, May 2009, April 2009, March 2009, February 2009, and earlier issues.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

News

12 Christian Leaders Who Died in 2024

Remembering Tony Campolo, Jürgen Moltmann, Paul Pressler, and others.

News

20 Stories About a Vibrant Global Church

Mennonites thriving in Paraguay, architecturally stunning church buildings in China, and persistent faith amid Haiti’s pervasive gang violence.

The Bulletin’s Favorite Conversations of 2024

In a tempest-tossed political and cultural season, these episodes anchored us.

Christianity Today’s 10 Most Read Asia Stories of 2024

Tightening restrictions on Indian Christians, the testimony of a president’s daughter, and thoughts on when pastors should retire.

News

13 Stories from the Greater Middle East and Africa From 2024

Covering tragedy, controversy, and culinary signs of hope, here is a chronological survey of Christian news from the region.

CT’s Best Ideas of 2024

A selection of 15 of our most intriguing, delightful, and thought-provoking articles on theology, politics, culture, and more.

Big CT Stories of 2024

Ten of our most-read articles this year.

CT’s Most Memorable Print Pieces from 2024

We hope these articles will delight you anew—whether you thumb through your stack of CT print magazines or revisit each online.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube