>>> AS COVID LINGERS FOR A
SECOND EASTER SUNDAY, MANY OF
YOU WILL BE DRESSING UP AND
ATTENDING SERVICES IN FRONT OF
YOUR LAPTOP.
CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD ARE
CELEBRATING WITH REDUCED
CAPACITY INSIDE OR BY
BROADCASTING ONLINE.
A PANDEMIC COMING AT A TIME OF
DECLINING CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN
AMERICA TO BEGIN WITH HAS FORCED
HOUSES OF WORSHIP TO ADAPT.
SOME TO THRIVE.
ANNE THOMPSON HAS OUR SUNDAY
SPOTLIGHT.
>> Reporter: WEEKENDS DURING THE
PANDEMIC OFFER AMERICANS A
UNIQUE TEST OF FAITH.
LIKE MANY, CHRIS IS STILL
PHYSICALLY ABSENT FROM HER HOUSE
OF WORSHIP.
>> YOU CAN UNMUTE IF YOU WOULD
LIKE.
>> Reporter: COMMUNITY
CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF
CHRIST IN OHIO.
>> HI.
>> Reporter: HOW MUCH HAVE YOU
MISSED GOING TO CHURCH?
>> WE MISS THAT TRADITIONAL
FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION.
>> Reporter: CHRIS AND HER
HUSBAND FORM GROUPS WITH CHURCH
FRIENDS, A BOOK CLUB OVER ZOOM
AND HIKES FOR FAMILIES.
>> IT ALMOST IS MORE MEANINGFUL
BECAUSE WE'RE INTENTIONALLY
MAKING THAT TIME.
>> ALL OF YOU IN THE ZOOM ROOM,
I SEE YOU.
>> Reporter: IN DALLAS, THIS
REVEREND IS STILL PREACHING TO A
CAMERA.
>> I CAN'T SAY I HAVE GOTTEN
USED TO IT.
I HAVE ADJUSTED.
MY SOUL SHOUTS.
>> Reporter: ACHING FOR THE
RESPONSE THAT ENERGIZED
FRIENDSHIP WEST BAPTIST CHURCH.
REVELING IN THE CHANGE.
>> THERE'S BEEN AN
INNOVATIVENESS THAT HAS
CHARACTERIZED OUR MINISTRY.
>> Reporter: MEETING THE
ECONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF
THE CONGREGATION.
>> WE TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF
FUNERALS THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE.
>> Reporter: A YEAR OF RACIAL
UNREST.
>> COVID HAS FORCED US TO DO
WHAT JESUS TOLD US TO DO.
THAT IS TO GO INTO ALL THE
WORLD.
BECAUSE NOW VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, WE
LITERALLY ARE ABLE TO REACH
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
>> Reporter: SERVICES THAT ONCE
ATTRACTED UP TO 5,000 PEOPLE IN
PERSON NOW GET AS MANY AS 25,000
ONLINE.
STILL FEWER AMERICANS ARE
MEMBERS OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP.
A SURVEY SAYS FOR THE FIRST
TIME, IT IS LESS THAN 50%.
>> THE INSTITUTIONS MIGHT HAVE
REACHED A TIPPING POINT.
RELIGION WILL BE WITH US.
>> Reporter: THIS MAN SAYS THE
PANDEMIC HAS ACCELERATED
AMERICA'S SEARCH FOR FAITH IN
NON-TRADITIONAL WAYS.
WHERE ARE THEY LOOKING?
>> FITNESS CLASSES AND GYMS, IN
CREATIVE GROUPS LIKE MAKEUP
SPACES OR ART GROUPS.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR RELIGION
BUT IT'S IN VERY DIFFERENT
PLACES.
>> Reporter: PARTICULARLY
YOUNGER AMERICANS.
>> 40% OF MY GENERATION NOW
IDENTIFY AS NON-RELIGIOUS.
BUT THEY GO LAYING TAROT CARDS
AND VOLUNTEERING.
>> Reporter: IS THIS FAITH?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
BECAUSE WHAT IS FAITH?
EVEN IF YOU ARE CATHOLIC OR JEW
OR BUDDHIST, THAT'S ARE
DIFFERENT ANSWERS.
>> Reporter: FAITH SHOULD NEVER
BE CONFINED TIE BUILDING.
CHRIS QUOTES HER PASTOR.
>> HE SAYS, WHY ARE WE TALKING
ABOUT OPENING THE CHURCH?
THE CHURCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPEN.
THE CHURCH, IT ISN'T THE
BUILDING.
THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WORK.
>> Reporter: ON THIS EASTER
SUNDAY, MANY PRAYING FOR A
RESET, BUILDING ON LESSONS FROM
A MOST DIFFICULT YEAR.