New Course Launched to Address Loneliness Within Church Communities

Author and broadcaster Sheridan Voysey has launched 'Friendship Lab for Churches,' a six-session course aimed at helping congregations foster deeper relationships. During the online launch, Voysey described a 'friendship recession' and warned that churches can no longer assume that social connections will form naturally among members. He cited research suggesting that one in five churchgoers experiences loneliness, a figure that rises to approximately one-third among ministers and church leaders.

Participants at the launch, including Alan Hirsch, Mark Sayers, and Phil Knox, discussed the necessity of prioritizing friendship as a core component of Christian discipleship. Drawing on John 15, where Jesus refers to his disciples as friends, Hirsch argued that mission should flow from shared life rather than organized activities alone. Sayers noted that modern individualism and digital technology have disrupted traditional social habits, making it more difficult for people to connect. The course seeks to equip church leaders to overcome barriers such as busyness, fear of rejection, and declining trust to build stronger, more intentional communities.