This week’s Barna Minute reveals two key expectations U.S. adults hold for local Christian churches.

In Barna’s latest report, Making Space for Community, data shows that more than half of U.S. adults (52%) strongly agree “churches should be a safe place for hurting people.” Close behind, nearly half (49%) feel “churches have a responsibility to care for their community.”

U.S. adults’ expectations of local Christian churches is very clear. There is also a distinct external focus to their responses, suggesting an awareness that both churches and Christians should prioritize the care of people from their local community while also welcoming those people into the church as a place of refuge and respite.