An in-depth, investigative report released October 2026 states that a ‘tsunami’ of church closings is poised to remake America.
Here are excerpts:
Experts project an estimated 100,000 churches in the US will close or be repurposed over the next decade. Many churches will be unable to escape this “tsunami” of closings.
The shadow that hangs over the entire series, though, is the perilous future of the church. Christian Watchers have been warning about the decline of American churches for decades. What’s new about the PBS series is that it presents portraits of the people and congregations behind this decline, along with specific numbers and a timeframe for the expected church closings.
The filmmaker behind “Christianity at a Crossroads” agrees with that assessment.
“The tsunami is going to continue for a while,” says Martin Doblmeier, the founder and president of Journey Films, a production company specializing in movies and TV series about organized religion.
One of American church leaders’ biggest fears is that their country will become more like Western Europe — a “post-Christian” landscape filled with empty cathedrals and church buildings converted to condos.
Typical for media coverage of religion, reports seldom recognize the spiritual realities impacting the statistics, focusing rather on shallow, exterior matters such as atmosphere, programs, music, technology, buildings, location, generations, traditions, etc.
If I leave my Church, who can I fellowship with? Do what the early Christians did.
