81% of Protestants See Christian Movies as Evangelism Goldmine—But Most Won’t Share Them with Non-Christians, Survey Finds

A striking new survey conducted by Lifeway Research has brought to light the powerful potential of Christian movies as tools for evangelism, even as a significant number of Protestant churchgoers hesitate to share these films with non-Christian friends. The report, based on responses from 1,008 American Protestant churchgoers collected in September 2023, offers a deep dive into the attitudes and behaviors surrounding Christian media, particularly films and books.

81% of Protestant Churchgoers Believe in the Power of Christian Films

The survey’s findings are unequivocal: an overwhelming 81% of respondents believe that Christian movies serve as effective tools for evangelism. Breaking down this figure, 33% of respondents “strongly agree,” while 48% “somewhat agree” with the idea that these films can spread the Gospel effectively. However, a small percentage remain skeptical—10% “somewhat disagree” and 2% “strongly disagree” that Christian movies are effective evangelism tools.

This consensus about the potential of Christian films to convey the Gospel is underpinned by actual viewing habits. The survey reveals that 72% of respondents intentionally seek out movies with Christian messages, with 30% strongly agreeing that they do so and 42% somewhat agreeing. Despite this inclination, a smaller percentage actively engage in discussions about these films, particularly with non-Christian audiences.

Hesitation Among Churchgoers to Share Christian Movies with Non-Christians

One of the most revealing aspects of the survey is the hesitance among churchgoers to share Christian movies with non-Christians. While 68% of respondents watched a Christian movie in the past year, only 12% invited a non-Christian friend to watch with them. This reluctance extends to discussing Christian themes in secular movies, with just 21% reporting that they had such conversations with non-Christians.

Denominational differences further underscore this trend. Non-denominational Christians, who are the most likely to have watched both Christian (77%) and secular (60%) movies in the past year, are also the most likely to engage non-Christians with these films. Even so, just 15% of them invited a non-Christian to watch a Christian movie, and 28% discussed Christian themes in secular films with a non-Christian. These numbers decline among other denominations, with only 10% of Presbyterians and 12% of Lutherans discussing Christian themes from secular movies with non-Christians.

Christian Books: A Resource Overlooked by Many

While Christian films capture attention, Christian books appear to be a less common resource among churchgoers. According to the survey, 65% of respondents reported reading at least one Christian book in the past year, but 31% did not read any. This trend was particularly notable among Lutherans, where half of the respondents had not read a single Christian book in the past year.

Despite the low engagement with Christian books, their potential impact is significant. Christian film producer Stephen Kendrick emphasizes the importance of these resources, noting how books like “The Love Dare” and “The Resolution for Men” have reinforced the messages of films like Fireproof and Courageous. Kendrick’s call for Christians to “dive into a resource that will help them be transformed by the renewing of their minds” suggests a deeper engagement with Christian media beyond the emotional experience of a movie.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

The Lifeway Research survey paints a picture of Protestant churchgoers who see the value in Christian movies as evangelism tools but are hesitant to share them outside their faith community. The challenge moving forward lies in overcoming this reluctance and recognizing the broader potential of these films to reach those who might not yet know the Gospel. As Kendrick aptly puts it, “Movies can be great tools to reach people where they are and share biblical truth in the context of an emotional and memorial story.” The statistics are clear: the tools are available, but the willingness to use them to their full potential remains a work in progress.