PITTSBURGH (August 18, 2026) – According to a groundbreaking study from Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research, the average evangelical gives himself or herself just a 2.42 GPA across 12 key areas of spiritual life—the equivalent of a C+.
The Spiritual Report Card: Perception vs. Practice Among Evangelicals is based on survey results from 1,000 evangelical Protestants who graded themselves on the following: prayer, Bible knowledge, Bible reading, tithing, charitable giving, volunteering, church attendance, worship, Christian relationships, evangelism, ministry, and relationship with God.
Only 12% of those surveyed assign themselves an average grade of A, while 16% average a D+ or lower, including 2% who give themselves a failing grade. Even more striking, the research found that in most cases believers’ self-assessments closely match their actual behavior.
“When some evangelicals say they are struggling spiritually, they usually are not being overly critical—they are being honest,” said Ron Sellers, president of Grey Matter Research. “What surprised us was not that Christians recognize their weaknesses—it’s that their self-evaluations so often synchronize with their behavior. But we also see that recognizing the problem is not necessarily producing meaningful change.”
Among the study’s findings:
- As an example of how behaviors and grades tend to match, those who give themselves an A for Bible reading overwhelmingly practice daily Bible reading, while those assigning themselves failing grades rarely open Scripture.
- Ninety-two percent of believers giving themselves an A for church attendance attend in-person services weekly or more, compared to just 7% of those giving themselves an F.
- Two areas where evangelicals tend to grade themselves much higher than their actions suggest they deserve are giving and Bible knowledge.
Mark Dreistadt, president and CEO of Infinity Concepts, said that while the findings contain troubling conclusions, there is also reason for encouragement: Pastors and ministry leaders can move beyond assumptions and engage people where they truly are.
“This study offers something every church leader wants but rarely has—a candid look at how believers evaluate their own spiritual health,” Dreistadt said. “The encouraging news is that most Christians recognize both their strengths and their struggles. The challenge for the Church is helping people move from honest self-awareness to intentional spiritual growth.”
About Infinity Concepts
Infinity Concepts is America’s premier Christian strategic communications agency, serving clients globally for more than 20 years. As an award-winning, full-service firm, Infinity Concepts specializes in brand strategy, public relations, fundraising, digital, media, and creative services—delivering custom solutions that amplify messages and inspire faith-based audiences to action. Infinity Concepts also has two sister companies that offer clients a competitive advantage: Inspire Media Group, a digital advertising and content network reaching tens of thousands of Christian readers, and IDEX Pro, a consent-based identification system with access to 210 million Christians, the largest consumer segment in America. These tools and talents, combined with deep expertise and a mission-driven approach, position Infinity Concepts as a uniquely equipped brand strategy, public relations, and fundraising agency with unmatched reach into the Christian marketplace. To learn more, visit
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