April 25, 2024
MONROE, Ga. — When it comes to supporting Christian causes, women are “a generous force.”
That’s what the Barna Research Group reported in an article released on Wednesday.
Barna’s online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults found women are “quite open-minded” when it comes to the kinds of causes they’re willing to support.
“In fact, whether discussing financial gifts to Christian groups or to a range of other causes for charity and justice, women outpace men in saying they would consider offering financial support,” Barna wrote. “Issues such as sexual abuse, mental health, extreme poverty and women’s maternal health are among the causes women might be most interested in supporting in the future.”
Barna, a research organization that monitors cultural and religious trends in America, explored women’s approaches to finances and generosity in the latest survey, finding that women give freely of their time and talent and are eager to do more. The survey's respondents included a broad spectrum of women, not just those who regularly attend church.
“This group’s future generosity holds significant weight for charitable organizations and the church,” Barna wrote.
The research found 70% of women either have given, would give or are currently giving to a church. It shows more than 60% have given, would give or are currently giving to a Christian ministry, missionaries, or Christian education.
Lauren Sullens, president of the Georgia Baptist Women’s Missionary Union, said the findings are not surprising.
“This is the legacy I am familiar with through WMU, which started with women saving their egg money to give to support missionaries,” she said “Still today, they desire to support compassion ministries.”
Sullens, who was elected to lead one of Georgia’s largest Christian organizations for women two years ago, said women always have been vital to the work of the church.
“The feminine spiritual sensitivity that God has given women to nurture and care ‘for the least of these’ stirs them to share with the leadership in their churches about the needs in their communities and around the world,” he said. “The ladies are diligent to work, as pastors have shared with me as I've visited their churches these past two years.”
Barna said more than 50% of U.S. women also said they would give, have given or would consider giving to organizations that focus on sexual abuse causes, mental health issues, extreme poverty and women’s maternal health.
“The big-picture view of women’s financial posture is that they are primed for more — more satisfaction, more confidence, more information and more opportunities to give,” Barna wrote.
