Baptisms rebound, but overall negative trend continues in Southern Baptist churches

“Combined with the 26% increase in 2021, Southern Baptists have seen a 46% increase over the past two years emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite those recent jumps, the numbers are still part of a negative trend since the early 2000s.” - Lifeway

Discussion

Many churches claim increases in baptisms, but some of these churches (Baptist, Nondenominational) preach such a weak gospel that we should question the legitimacy of these baptisms. For example, one large nondenominational church in our town emphasizes the gospel as "giving Jesus your burdens, frustrations" etc with minimal stress on personal sin. They mention Jesus dying on the cross but do not clearly explain why He died on the cross.

Wally Morris
Huntington, IN