This week’s Barna Minute reveals the top things that both churched and unchurched metro residents say the local church is well suited to address.

In Barna’s report, Inside the Urban Church, we find what top issues that both churchgoing and non-churchgoing urban residents believe religious organizations could address. Churched metro residents name racism and homelessness (10% each), as well as community building and hunger (9% each). As some of their top concerns. For unchurched residents, we see hunger (4%), poverty and racism (3%) and community building (2%) emerge. The gap in belief of what churches can help with is clear.

One standout issue that both groups believe the local church can tackle, however, is loneliness. This finding is notable, both for highlighting the top issue locals entrust to churches and as a sign of common ground in perceptions among churched (28%) and unchurched (17%) metro residents.