Part of: The AmericasNorth America
Discover
The identity of the nation
The United States is a country of contrasts: one of the richest and most powerful nations in the world, built by successive waves of immigrants from every continent, and at the same time a society increasingly divided over what it means to have faith. The Christian heritage runs deep, it has shaped laws, symbols, holidays and the nation’s very identity, but today it coexists with growing secularism, especially among the young.
The American church is vast and diverse: there are congregations in practically every city, along with a huge network of seminaries, Christian publishers, radio stations and organizations that support the global church. At the same time, surveys show a steady drop in church attendance and in the number of people who call themselves Christian, a phenomenon Americans themselves call the “nones,” now nearly three in ten adults.
It is also the country that sends the most workers to the world, the fruit of more than two centuries of local churches mobilizing for the nations. That calling to send remains alive, but today it shares space with internal challenges: political polarization spilling into the church, consumerism that hollows out discipleship, and an entire generation growing up far from any community of faith.
Within the country’s own borders there is also a mission field that gets little attention: millions of immigrants and refugees from nations closed to the gospel arrive in American cities every year, alongside Indigenous peoples and immigrant communities that still have no church of their own. Reaching these people inside the United States is often the same as reaching entire nations without crossing an ocean.
Praying for the United States means praying for a church that recovers spiritual depth amid material abundance, for unity amid division, and for a new generation of Americans who keep answering the call to go and serve the nations, at home and abroad.
- 1620 English Pilgrims arrive aboard the Mayflower seeking religious freedom, one of the founding milestones of the Christian faith in the country.
- 1776 The Declaration of Independence breaks with Britain, the United States of America is born.
- 1861-1865 American Civil War, fought in part over the abolition of slavery; more than 600,000 dead.
- 19th century The Great Awakenings spread revival across the territory and spur the sending of missionaries abroad.
- 1865 Slavery ends with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
- 20th century The country becomes the world's leading economic and military power after the two world wars.
- 1960s The civil rights movement wins legal equality for Black Americans.
- Today The most ethnically diverse nation in its history, with a large but increasingly secularized church.
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Englishde facto official language, spoken by about 78% of the population at home
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Spanishsecond most spoken language, by more than 40 million people
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Chinese, French, Tagalog and othersspoken by immigrant communities in major cities
The American territory is one of the largest in the world, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, with landscapes ranging from frozen forests in the north to arid deserts in the southwest and tropical beaches in Florida and Hawaii. Fifty states, each with its own government and culture, form a mosaic of climates, accents and ways of life within a single nation.
Major cities
- New YorkThe country's largest city, a global financial and cultural hub
- Los AngelesCapital of film and the entertainment industry
- ChicagoMajor economic hub of the Midwest
- Washington, D.C.Federal capital, seat of government
- HoustonOne of the country's largest hubs of immigration and religious diversity
Climate and temperature
Hamburger
The signature dish of American cuisine, created by immigrants and popularized in the 20th century.
Barbecue
Slow-smoked meats, a strong tradition in Texas and the South.
Apple pie
Classic dessert present at nearly every family celebration.
Mac and cheese
Creamy pasta with cheese, one of the country's most beloved comfort foods.
Fried chicken
A traditional Southern dish, served at family Sunday dinners across the region.
Hot dog
A quick, popular snack at sports events and street fairs.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Individualism and personal achievement
The culture strongly values self-reliance and the pursuit of individual success.
Regional and ethnic diversity
Every state and city carries its own accents, foods and customs, the fruit of centuries of immigration.
Public, visible faith
Religious references appear in speeches, currency and oaths, even as religious practice declines.
Hospitality in local churches
Many congregations are known for warmly welcoming visitors and newcomers.
- Thinking "American" means just one way of being The country is vast and diverse; customs vary greatly between regions and cities.
- Confusing cultural Christianity with a living faith Not every Christian symbol or tradition reflects an active spiritual life.
- Bringing up politics in early conversations The topic is sensitive and can shut down dialogue before it starts.
- Overlooking immigrant communities Many nations of the world now have entire communities living within the United States.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
More and more people, especially young ones, no longer identify with any faith.
Material success is measured as a sign of personal worth, which hollows out spiritual life.
Partisan divisions spill into churches and fracture relationships and communities.
Christian symbols and traditions survive even where personal faith has already gone cold.
The pursuit of personal fulfillment sometimes weakens commitment to the community of faith.
Many people live surrounded by others yet isolated from deep relationships.
The search for loose spiritual experiences grows, without belonging to a community.
Wounds from the past still affect trust between churches of different ethnicities.
The American cultural industry shapes values and affections for the whole world, not always for good.
Religious freedom is guaranteed by law and widely respected in the United States: Christians can gather, preach, publish and send workers to the world without state restriction. The greatest challenge is not legal persecution but the growing cultural pressure against traditional Christian positions on family and ethics, which sometimes produces social hostility, particularly on college campuses and social media.
Christian communities among ethnic minorities, such as immigrants and refugees from countries closed to the gospel, sometimes face isolation or distrust within their own families of origin, even on American soil. Even so, the church remains free to preach, evangelize and raise up new leaders, a rare privilege compared to the reality of much of the world.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
The United States is home to nearly 500 people groups, a direct reflection of centuries of immigration from every continent. Most already have full access to the gospel, but nearly a fifth are still considered unreached, especially Muslim, Jewish and Asian-origin immigrant communities living within major American cities, often isolated from any local church.
- 4.2% Unreached (14.7M)
- 18.6% Unreached (93)
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Marathi-speaking Jew Frontier
Imazighen Berber Frontier
Somali Frontier
Sikh Jat Frontier
Malay Frontier
Afghan
Egyptian Arab
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
- 46% With complete Bible (163)
- 53.4% Only portions of the Bible (189)
- 0.6% With no translation at all (2)
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary.
Corsican
Kabuverdianu
Phu Thai
Maay
Laven
Blackfoot
Cajun French
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
one of the highest in the world, varies greatly by city and state
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Distances are enormous: traveling between coasts can take longer than traveling to another country.
- Have an international credit card: card payments and apps are the standard almost everywhere.
- Tipping is expected at restaurants and for services, usually between 15% and 20%.
- Respect punctuality: appointments and schedules are taken seriously.