Why People Are Leaving (But Not Losing Faith)

Across the country, church attendance is dropping. Sanctuaries are quieter. Programs aren’t as full. Some call it a crisis of faith — but what if it’s not?

What if people aren’t walking away from Jesus, but from forms of church that no longer connect with where they are in their spiritual journey?

I’ve seen it again and again. People stepping back, not because they’ve given up on God, but because the environment they were in felt rigid, disconnected, or even unsafe. They still hunger for depth, meaning, and connection — they just can’t find it in the places they used to. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).

This isn’t apathy; it’s an awakening.

At Reframe Community, we honor these longings. We gather in everyday spaces — bars, coffee shops, restaurants — not to be trendy or controversial, but because these are familiar, comfortable places where real life happens. We’re not trying to compete with institutional churches; we’re creating open doors for those who feel they can’t walk through those doors anymore.

Call to Action: If you’ve stepped away but still long for God, take a risk. Come back — not to the old forms, but to a fresh encounter with Jesus.