For more than a decade, the Church Ambassador Network has been building relationships with churches across Iowa and across the nation.
Through connections with nearly 2,000 evangelical churches in Iowa and more than 50,000 churches nationwide, CAN has gained a unique window into the health, challenges, and patterns emerging across the American Church. From state to state, town to town, and denomination to denomination, we are seeing something deeply encouraging.
We believe the Holy Spirit is stirring His people.
And the signs are worth paying attention to.
1. A Return to God’s Word
One of the clearest patterns we are seeing is a renewed call back to Scripture.
At church conferences across multiple denominations, pastors and leaders are emphasizing the need to preach directly from God’s Word. Seminaries are also experiencing renewed focus on equipping pastors to teach the Bible faithfully and fully.
In some cases, entire denominations have formed around the conviction that God’s Word must be taught in its entirety. The Global Methodist Church is one example of this broader movement toward biblical fidelity.
This matters because spiritual renewal does not begin with better branding, sharper programming, or cultural relevance. It begins with the Word of God.
2. A Renewed Burden for Church Planting
The second encouraging pattern is a growing emphasis on church planting.
In the last year, conferences among Global Methodist, Nazarene, Baptist, Assemblies of God, and Christian and Missionary Alliance leaders have all highlighted the need to plant churches, including right here in Iowa.
This hunger is not limited to urban centers. CAN is seeing a renewed desire to plant churches in rural communities, as well as in regions of the country that have increasingly become unreached mission fields, including the American Northeast and Pacific West.
That is a hopeful sign.
When the Church takes church planting seriously, it is not simply trying to expand institutions. It is seeking to bring the gospel to people and places in desperate need of Christ.
3. Churches Are Stepping Into Community Needs
The third pattern is a growing emphasis on churches serving their communities in practical, gospel-shaped ways.
Across denominations and associations, leaders are calling the Church to be part of the answer to the problems facing local communities, including foster care, addiction, poverty, and other areas of need.
Even more encouraging, this movement is happening as government leaders across the nation are showing new openness to partnership with the Church. CAN has seen this not only in Iowa, but also in places like California, Maine, and Oregon.
This is a shift worth noting. Leaders in both parties are increasingly recognizing that the Church is uniquely equipped to serve people in ways government programs alone cannot.
A Hopeful Moment for the Church
Pastors and denominational leaders are also reporting growth in baptisms and church membership, especially among Gen Z men and those who are hurting, searching, or downtrodden.
That should encourage us.
In a cultural moment when many assume the Church is fading, God is still at work. He is still calling people to Himself. He is still raising up pastors, planting churches, strengthening communities, and stirring His people to serve.
Stay Encouraged
Our God is timeless and unchanging. He has reached generations before us. He is working through His people now. And He will continue working tomorrow.
If we are witnessing the early signs of another reformation and awakening in the West, then this is not a time for discouragement. It is a time to be faithful.
The Church does not need to chase cultural relevance to make an impact. It needs to return to God’s Word, proclaim the gospel, plant churches, and serve communities in the name of Christ.
And by God’s grace, that is exactly what we are beginning to see.
Learn more about how the Church Ambassador Network helps pastors and public leaders build relationships for the good of communities across Iowa and the nation.
