PARAGOULD, Ark. (KAIT) - A new study shows religion is gaining more influence in American life across the country, according to new data that shows a significant increase in adults who say religion’s role is growing.

According to a study from the Pew Research Center , in 2024, 18% of U.S. adults said that religion was gaining influence in American life, the lowest level in more than two decades.

Only a year later, in 2025, new data showed that 31% of adults said religion was gaining influence, the highest in 15 years.

Blake Ligon, teaching pastor at Central Baptist Church in Paragould, said he witnessed the trend locally before seeing the national data.

“I saw it before I heard it because we were seeing the Lord do some really awesome things in our own church,” Ligon said. “You take

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