Online church services fail to draw worshippers

Livestreamed church services, adopted by many churches as the best way to keep church communities intact during the coronavirus pandemic, are attracting fewer people than expected and frustrating some Christians.

Since March, when the coronavirus pandemic prompted many governors to issue stay-at-home orders and many churches to decide on moving their services online, only 28% of people have viewed livestreamed services, a study conducted by the American Enterprise Institute found. At the same time, the study found the majority of Americans have reported praying or becoming more religious as “religious coping” skyrockets worldwide.