America’s birthrate has dropped to just 1.57 births per woman, a level that Christian leader J.P. De Gance says could reshape the nation’s future if the trend continues. Speaking to Fox News Digital, De Gance, founder and president of the faith‑based organization Communio, described the decline as a “major civilizational bottleneck,” noting that for every 200 people in a population, only 157 will be replaced.
National “Family and Civilization” campaign
Communio is rolling out a nationwide “Family and Civilization” campaign, urging churches to take a more active role in strengthening marriages and families. The initiative argues that churches, not government, have historically helped rebuild family life during periods of societal decline and can do so again by encouraging healthy relationships before they reach crisis.
“Our message to churches is we should be helping,” De Gance said. “Our young people know this, right? We shouldn’t be talking to our kids only about a great college or a great career. Those are good things, but they shouldn’t be spoken of in exclusion to seeking and being intentional about relationships.”
Loneliness and the unmarried
De Gance highlighted research indicating that the loneliest and unhappiest segment of the population are unmarried young adults. “The loneliest people in America right now are not the elderly or widows; it’s the unmarried in their 30s,” he said. He warned that this loneliness can translate into a shorter lifespan, citing public‑health data that suggests children of lonely parents may die up to 15 years earlier.
Parental priorities
According to De Gance, parents overwhelmingly prioritize career and financial independence over marriage and child‑rearing. “Nine out of ten parents say it’s important that their kids have a fulfilling career, but only two in ten say it’s important that their kids get married, and only one in five say it’s important that their kids have children,” he noted.
A 2023 Pew Research study echoed this sentiment, finding that nearly half of surveyed parents said marriage and having children were not very important to them. De Gance argues that this cultural shift contributes to the declining birthrate.
What churches can do
De Gance urges churches to devote resources to marriage and relationship ministries. He claims that 85 % of churches spend nothing on marriage and relationship programs, and 91 % have no dedicated ministry for singles.
He suggests pastors preach aspirationally about the beauty of Christian marriage, referencing the Apostle Paul’s description of marriage as a symbol of Christ’s sacrificial love for the church. He also encourages churches to create real‑life meeting spaces for young people, both inside and outside worship services, to foster community and potential marital connections.
Hope for a rebound
Despite the grim numbers, De Gance remains optimistic. “There’s an old saying in economics, ‘A trend that can’t go on forever, won’t,’” he said. He believes a major rebound is possible if churches help remind society of the value of marriage, leading to a renewal and revival in the West.
The campaign calls on pastors nationwide to incorporate marriage‑focused teaching into sermons, provide practical guidance for courtship, and re‑establish the local church as a hub for civic and relational life.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
