Bible Sales Bounce Back As People Looking For Hope In Troubled Times

Christian church attendance, like virtually every major social institution, has been profoundly disrupted over the last year. Some data indicates that COVID-19 restrictions could end up eliminating five percent of America's churches for the year 2020, particularly smaller congregations and those in poor, rural, or remote areas.  

Today, fewer people than ever attend church, but two-thirds of unaffiliated Americans polled by Pew still believe in God and many believe the potential for spiritual revival and renewal as a result of the challenges over the last year are possible.

Isaiah 41:10, The Most Popular Bible Verse Of 2020

The Bible-reading app YouVersion has published a report reviewing its statistics for 2020, which show that there have been more than 52 million installs and half a billion verses shared, its highest on record.

The app has also registered up to 22.4 million Bible App for Kids installs, more than 1.4 billion plan days completed, over 7.5 billion audio Bible chapters played and more than 99 million videos viewed.

"Through every hardship, people continue to seek God and turn to the Bible for strength, peace, and hope", YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald, said.

He pointed out that, "while 2020 is a year so many say they'd like to forget, we see it as a year to remember how God used the Bible App to help so many people who are searching for answers".

10 Facts About Christian Persecution Happening Now You Need To Know About

Every day, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked. Every day, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned and another five or abducted. These are the findings of Open Doors' 2021 World Watch List, a report which identifies the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. 

Whether by violent attacks from non-state actors or government regulations, Christians face severe impediments to the free practice of their faith in many places around the world. As threats to religious freedom mount, it is important to know the challenges believers face around the world.