Church Growth Archives - Pushpay Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:26:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://pushpay.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-Pushpay_Logo-400x400.png Church Growth Archives - Pushpay 32 32 How to Maintain Group Cohesion Across a Rapidly Growing Congregation https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-maintain-group-cohesion-across-a-rapidly-growing-congregation https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-maintain-group-cohesion-across-a-rapidly-growing-congregation#respond Fri, 13 Sep 2024 15:26:11 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=15500

The blessing of rapid growth in a congregation brings with it many joys—more people encountering Christ, new opportunities for ministry, and a broader impact in the community. But with that growth comes real challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining the sense of family that smaller churches naturally cultivate.

As attendance rises and new faces become regulars, the connections that once defined your congregation can feel distant and, in some cases, lost entirely.

Yet, as the body of Christ, we are called not only to grow in numbers but to grow together. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” We, as Christians, are called to be one body, made up of many parts, unified in Christ.

That unity doesn’t come automatically, especially in seasons of expansion. It takes intentional effort to nurture relationships, new and old, in the midst of a congregation that is rapidly changing. Without that intentionality, people may begin to feel disconnected or overlooked, even as your numbers rise.

So how do we make sure that as our churches grow, they grow stronger together, not further apart? This is a crucial question that demands thoughtful leadership and a Christ-centered approach. Let’s explore some key principles for maintaining group cohesion as your congregation expands.

The Challenges of Growth and Group Cohesion

As churches experience rapid growth, new challenges inevitably arise. It’s easy to assume that growth is purely a sign of success, but it can also strain the relational fabric that once held a smaller congregation together.

While more people are being reached, it’s critical that the church leadership doesn’t lose sight of the deeper needs of the body—fellowship, unity, and real, personal relationships remain so important. Let’s examine a few of the primary challenges that come with balancing growth and group cohesion.

Identifying the Beginning of the Disconnect

In a smaller church, personal relationships often develop organically. Congregants know each other by name, share life experiences… They create a sense of family. As the church grows, however, this familiarity can begin to fade.

New faces appear each week, and the once tight-knit community can feel increasingly disconnected. People who were accustomed to meaningful conversations before or after service might now feel like strangers in their own church.

The flip side of this experience is that new people coming into your church might not know where to find community. Especially if the more tight knit community (this is usually made up of the folks that have been at the church the longest) is not intentional about inviting new faces into their small groups.

Navigating Needs and Understanding Preferences

Growth brings diversity. As new members join, they bring with them different backgrounds, needs, and preferences. While this diversity is an awesome reflection of the Kingdom of God, it can also create friction if not handled well.

Long-time members might have certain expectations for things like ministry programs and small group sizes, while new members may be expecting something entirely different.

Church leaders must be attuned to these diverse needs and preferences without losing focus on the mission of the church. Striking a balance between honoring the heritage of the congregation and embracing new ideas can be difficult. But by prioritizing open communication with your congregants and seeking wisdom from your church leaders, it is possible to create a space where every member feels valued and heard, while the church remains united in purpose.

Potential for Fragmentation

As a congregation expands, the risk of fragmentation increases. Larger churches can sometimes fall into the trap of cliques or sub-groups that form based on age, interest, or social status. While it’s natural for people to gravitate toward those they share commonalities with, this can lead to divisions that weaken the overall unity of the church.

When smaller groups become insular, it becomes harder for new members to integrate, and long-time members can feel isolated.

Creating a Culture of Connection

To maintain group cohesion in a rapidly growing congregation, leaders must take intentional steps to develop a culture where connection thrives. This means creating an environment where every person—whether new or long-standing—feels like a vital part of the church community. It’s easy for relationships to become fragmented or for individuals to feel isolated as numbers increase, but with the right strategies in place, growth can become a catalyst for even deeper unity. Here are two essential strategies for cultivating that culture of connection.

Emphasizing Core Values and Mission

In seasons of rapid growth, it’s crucial for the church to anchor itself in its core values and mission. These are the bedrock of the congregation’s identity, and they serve as a unifying factor when the church begins to expand. When members are reminded of why they gather and what they’re striving toward together, it strengthens their sense of belonging.

The leadership should regularly revisit and articulate the mission and values of the church, not only from the pulpit but through small groups, ministry teams, and individual conversations. This way, even in the midst of change, everyone remains focused on a common purpose—whether it’s spreading the gospel, serving the community, or creating discipleship relationships within your local neighborhood. When the church’s mission is kept front and center, members are more likely to set aside personal preferences and unite around the greater cause.

Additionally, involving the congregation in the church’s vision helps them feel a deep sense of ownership. When people understand how their unique gifts and contributions are essential to the mission, it builds cohesion, even as the church grows in diversity and size.

Regular Communication and Transparency

A rapidly growing church can quickly feel disconnected if clear and consistent communication isn’t a priority. Members may feel out of the loop or uncertain about changes, which can lead to feelings of disillusionment or disengagement. To combat this, church leaders must establish regular communication channels that keep the congregation informed and provide a sense of stability amid change.

This means creating opportunities for transparent dialogue between the leadership and the congregation. Whether through weekly newsletters, social media updates, or town hall-style meetings, leaders must be open about both the challenges and victories the church is facing. When people know what’s happening behind the scenes and can see that their leaders are actively addressing growth-related challenges, it builds trust and reinforces their commitment to the community.

Clear communication also extends to providing pathways for involvement. Rapid growth often brings new ministry needs, and people are eager to know how they can plug in and serve. By clearly articulating those opportunities and making it easy for members to get involved, you help maintain an engaged and connected congregation.

Small Groups as a Foundation for Cohesion

One of the most effective ways to maintain group cohesion within a growing church is through small groups. As the congregation expands, it can become difficult for individuals to feel known and valued within the larger church body. Small groups provide an essential structure for building close, authentic relationships in a more intimate setting, and helps to create an environment in which no one feels overlooked or disconnected. In a sense, small groups serve as the relational backbone of the church, creating environments where people can experience deeper fellowship, discipleship, and support.

Encouraging Small Group Participation

The beauty of small groups is that they allow people to move beyond surface-level interactions and develop real, genuine connections. When members gather in smaller circles, they have the space to share their lives, struggles, and faith journeys with one another. This kind of personal interaction is vital for spiritual growth and creates a sense of belonging that can be difficult to achieve in a large congregation.

For this reason, church leadership must actively encourage participation in small groups. It’s important to communicate the value of these gatherings not just as another church program, but as a critical way for members to build meaningful relationships and find community. When people are plugged into a small group, they are far less likely to feel lost or disconnected, even as the church grows in size.

Pastors and leaders can encourage small group participation by regularly promoting groups from the pulpit, offering easy sign-up opportunities, and celebrating the stories of life change that emerge from small group involvement. By making small groups a priority, the church can create strong relational bonds that will withstand the challenges of rapid growth.

Creating Diverse Group Options

To maximize the impact of small groups, it’s important to offer a variety of group options that cater to the diverse needs and interests within the congregation. Not every person is at the same stage of life, and their spiritual and relational needs may vary. Offering different types of small groups gives everyone in the church the opportunity to find a place where they feel comfortable and connected.

Interest-based groups, such as those centered around hobbies, activities, or service opportunities, can help people connect over shared passions. Demographic-specific groups, such as those for young families, singles, or retirees, allow members to build relationships with others who are in similar life stages. Additionally, study-focused groups that dive deeper into the Bible or Christian literature provide spaces for more in-depth spiritual growth and reflection.

Using Technology to Bridge the Gap

As churches experience rapid growth, technology can play a critical role in helping maintain connection and cohesion among members. While traditional methods of communication and engagement are still important, modern tools provide opportunities to reach and nurture relationships on a larger scale. By embracing these resources, churches can ensure that both in-person and remote congregants remain engaged and feel like part of the community.

Utilizing Church Management Software

One of the most effective ways to track engagement and manage relationships within a growing church is through Church Management Software (ChMS). This software allows church leaders to keep track of member involvement, attendance, and communication in ways that were once impossible with manual systems. As the congregation grows, it becomes harder to notice when individuals are slipping through the cracks, missing services, or feeling disconnected—but ChMS tools make it easier to see those trends and respond quickly.

With the right ChMS, leaders can also maintain up-to-date records of important details like birthdays, anniversaries, and spiritual milestones, making personal connections more manageable, even with a larger congregation. This personal touch reinforces that every member is seen by church leadership.

Live Streaming and Online Engagement

For many churches, live streaming services and digital platforms have become essential for keeping members connected, especially in an era when not everyone can attend in person. Offering live-streamed services allows people to engage with the church wherever they are, providing a valuable lifeline for those who may be traveling, ill, or otherwise unable to attend physically.

Live streaming also opens the door for outreach to individuals who are exploring the church for the first time. Online engagement can serve as an entry point, allowing people to get to know the church’s teaching, worship style, and community atmosphere before deciding to attend in person. For members who live far away or have health limitations, live streaming ensures they can still participate in the life of the church and feel connected, even if they are not physically present.

Alongside live streaming, churches can offer digital discussion groups, online prayer sessions, and virtual small groups to ensure that community building happens beyond Sunday services. These digital platforms provide additional touchpoints for engagement and create a sense of belonging for remote members.

Digital Communication Tools

In a rapidly growing church, effective communication is essential to keep everyone informed and engaged. Digital communication tools such as social media, email newsletters, and church apps are invaluable in giving church leadership the means to reach the entire congregation in real time.

Social media platforms allow the church to share announcements, celebrate events, and engage with the community through comments, messages, and shared content. These platforms are particularly effective in creating a sense of immediacy and involvement, making the church’s ministry feel accessible and interactive throughout the week.

Email newsletters provide an easy way to keep members updated on upcoming events, sermon series, and volunteer opportunities. Regular, consistent communication through email can help reinforce the church’s mission and vision, giving everyone the opportunity to be on the same page, even if they can’t attend every Sunday.

Church apps take communication a step further by offering a centralized platform where members can access sermon archives, give financially, sign up for small groups, and engage in prayer requests or announcements. By making information and resources readily available, church apps help build a deeper connection to the life of the church and empower members to stay involved in meaningful ways.

When churches leverage these digital tools effectively, they can bridge the gap between physical and digital spaces.

Developing Strong Leadership Within the Congregation

As a church grows, the demand for strong, capable leadership becomes more pressing. The pastoral team can no longer meet the needs of every individual or oversee every ministry personally. To make sure that the church remains connected, engaged, and well-supported, it is vital to cultivate and empower lay leaders within the congregation. By developing a robust leadership structure, churches can maintain the sense of community and spiritual care that smaller congregations naturally enjoy, even as they expand.

Training and Empowering Leaders

One of the most effective ways to maintain group cohesion in a growing church is through the intentional development of lay leaders. Whether within small groups, ministry teams, or other areas of service, having trained leaders who can shepherd and support smaller segments of the congregation is essential. These leaders act as extensions of the pastoral team, providing spiritual guidance, relational care, and organizational leadership within their spheres of influence.

It’s important to offer comprehensive training that equips potential leaders with the skills and theological understanding necessary to serve effectively. This training might include discipleship programs, leadership workshops, and ongoing mentorship from senior leaders. The goal is to empower these individuals to lead with confidence, compassion, and alignment with the church’s mission.

By investing in leadership development, the church creates a network of support and care that extends throughout the congregation.

Delegating Responsibilities

As a church grows, it’s easy for senior leaders to become overwhelmed by the increasing demands of ministry. Without a strategy for delegation, the senior leadership can quickly face burnout, and the church’s organizational cohesion may suffer. One of the most important steps a growing church can take is to delegate responsibilities to trusted leaders who can share the load.

Delegating doesn’t mean giving up control; it means empowering others to take ownership of certain aspects of ministry. By entrusting lay leaders with specific tasks—whether it’s overseeing a small group, managing volunteer teams, or coordinating outreach efforts—the senior leadership frees up space to focus on vision casting, preaching, and strategic decision-making.

Effective delegation also models a healthy, sustainable approach to ministry for the congregation. It shows that the church values shared leadership and encourages a community-driven approach to fulfilling the mission. When responsibilities are shared among capable leaders, the entire congregation benefits from increased support and the avoidance of leadership bottlenecks.

By empowering others to lead, senior church leaders can create a structure in which the church’s growth is met with strong, consistent leadership at every level. This not only helps prevent burnout among the staff but also builds a culture of shared responsibility and collective ownership of the church’s mission and vision.

Intentional Community-Building Events

In a rapidly growing congregation, it’s crucial to create spaces where people can connect beyond the Sunday service. Intentional community-building events offer opportunities for relationships to flourish and provide a relaxed, welcoming environment for members to get to know each other on a personal level. These events are not just social gatherings; they are essential for deepening relationships, reinforcing unity, and building an environment in which the church community remains strong, even as it expands.

Hosting Regular Social and Fellowship Events

One of the most effective ways to develop a cohesive community is by organizing regular social events that prioritize fellowship and connection. Events like church picnics, potlucks, game nights, and retreats provide natural settings for congregants to engage with one another outside the structured worship service environment. These gatherings create opportunities for people to form new friendships, deepen existing relationships, and share life together in meaningful ways.

Social events are especially important for integrating new members into the life of the church. While Sunday services are vital for spiritual nourishment, they often don’t allow for the kind of in-depth conversations that build relationships. By offering consistent fellowship opportunities, churches can bridge that gap and help newer attendees feel like they belong.

Retreats are another powerful way to deepen community bonds. Whether it’s a weekend getaway for families, men’s or women’s retreats, or a youth-focused event, retreats offer extended time for members to build relationships through shared experiences, worship, and reflection. These experiences often lead to lasting connections that strengthen the overall unity of the church.

Cross-Group Gatherings and Collaborations

While small groups and ministry teams provide essential spaces for close-knit relationships, it’s also important to bring different groups together for larger cross-group gatherings. Events that encourage collaboration between various ministries or small groups help break down silos and create a broader sense of unity within the congregation.

Cross-group events could include church-wide service projects, collaborative worship nights, or combined small group dinners. These gatherings provide opportunities for people from different backgrounds, interests, and life stages to interact with one another. This is especially beneficial in larger churches where certain groups might otherwise remain isolated from the wider body. When people come together in these settings, they are reminded that they are part of a larger church family, bound by a common faith and mission.

By creating opportunities for collaboration and interaction between groups, churches can avoid the risks of fragmentation or cliques forming. Instead, they build a culture of unity that transcends individual ministries and reinforces the church’s overall identity as one body in Christ.

Intentional, community-building events are key to maintaining connection and cohesion as your congregation grows. They remind people that they are not just attending church—they are part of a living, breathing community, called to love and support one another in Christ.

Tracking Engagement and Feedback

In a rapidly growing congregation, maintaining a pulse on the health of the community is critical. While spiritual growth and relational depth can be challenging to quantify, certain metrics and feedback mechanisms can provide valuable insights into how well the church is maintaining connection, engagement, and cohesion. By tracking engagement and listening to the concerns and ideas of the congregation, church leaders can make informed decisions that develop unity and address challenges as they arise.

Using Metrics to Measure Engagement

One of the most effective ways to assess the health of a growing church is by tracking key engagement metrics. These metrics provide a tangible way to monitor how well the congregation is staying connected and involved in the life of the church. Some metrics that can be particularly useful include:

Attendance tracking: Monitoring both in-person and online attendance can give leaders a clear picture of participation trends. Are new members consistently attending, or are long-time members starting to drop off? Tracking attendance helps identify shifts that may signal disconnection or disengagement.

Small group participation: Small groups are often the backbone of church cohesion, and monitoring participation rates in these groups is crucial. How many people are actively involved in small groups? Are there groups that are consistently growing, or others that are declining? These trends can help determine whether the church is successfully nurturing personal connections.

Volunteer engagement: Another key indicator of cohesion is how involved members are in serving the church and community. Tracking volunteer numbers can reveal how invested people are in the mission of the church and provide insights into how well the congregation feels supported and connected.

By using these metrics, church leaders can proactively identify areas where engagement may be waning and take steps to address those concerns before they become bigger issues. Additionally, these metrics provide a helpful way to celebrate growth and success, reinforcing the church’s commitment to community-building.

Gathering and Acting on Feedback

In addition to tracking engagement metrics, regularly gathering feedback from congregants is essential for keeping leadership informed on whether or not the church is meeting the needs of its people during a season of growth. This feedback provides invaluable insight into how individuals are experiencing the church’s expansion and can help leaders address concerns, fine-tune programs, and better serve the congregation as a whole.

Church leaders should establish clear channels for gathering feedback, whether through surveys, suggestion boxes, or open forums. It’s important that members feel comfortable sharing both positive and constructive feedback, knowing that their voices will be heard. Questions might include:

– How connected do you feel to the church community?

– What challenges, if any, have you experienced as the church grows?

– Are there any ministry or program areas you think could be improved or expanded?

Once feedback is gathered, it’s crucial for leaders to act on it. Transparency is key—communicate the feedback that’s been received and explain the steps the church will take to address any concerns. Whether it’s adding new small groups, adjusting communication strategies, or addressing logistical challenges, acting on congregational feedback shows that the church is actively working to build unity during the growth process.

Conclusion

As a church experiences growth, it’s easy for the sense of community to weaken, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Maintaining group cohesion amid expansion requires intentionality, clear communication, and the creation of meaningful opportunities for connection. By emphasizing core values, developing strong leadership, investing in personal relationships, and leveraging technology, churches can grow in size without losing the relational depth that defines a healthy, unified congregation.

Growth should strengthen community ties, not weaken them, and with a focus on building authentic relationships, any church can navigate these exciting seasons of expansion with grace.

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-maintain-group-cohesion-across-a-rapidly-growing-congregation/feed/ 0
How to Track Church Attendance to Gauge Growth https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-track-church-attendance-to-gauge-growth/ https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-track-church-attendance-to-gauge-growth/#respond Fri, 10 May 2024 17:38:08 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=14789

There is no one formula for understanding the dynamics of church growth. Different practices work for different organizations. However, one of the primary measures of church growth is as straightforward as can be: tracking church attendance.

Church attendance tracking methods have shifted over time. They’ve evolved from traditional handwritten registries to the sophisticated digital platforms of today that offer real-time engagement analytics.

The Significance of Tracking Church Attendance

When you take a proactive approach to monitoring attendance, you can uncover not only the quantitative aspects of our gatherings but also the qualitative. Accurate church attendance tracking reveals the events that your congregation is truly passionate about. It’s in these insights that you find the data needed to tailor your ministries and outreach efforts to meet the evolving needs of your community.

Indicators of Church Health

Attendance figures stand out because, to many, they are the most objective measure to gauge church health. A church leader will generally see steady or increasing church service attendance as an indicator that the organization is doing things correctly. Conversely, a decline may signal to church leadership that they need to reevaluate the way they meet the needs of the congregation and the community.

Church attendance is not the sole indicator of church health, but tracking attendance patterns over time can paint a picture of how successfully your church is reaching new people in your community.

Informing Strategic Decisions

Using attendance data to identify what your church has done well (in this case, has seen a high attendance number!) informs the planning and execution of church programs, services, and outreach efforts.

For instance, noticing an uptick in attendance during certain seasons or events can inspire churches to develop similar initiatives. Alternatively, understanding patterns of decline allows churches to introspect, innovate, and ensure that their ministry remains relevant.

Limitations of Manual Attendance Tracking

The process of recording attendance for each congregant by hand is not only time-consuming, but it’s also prone to inaccuracies—be it from human error, illegible handwriting, or the loss of physical records.

The ability to analyze paper-based methods is also inherently limited. Traditional records don’t offer the flexibility needed for deep looks into attendance trends over time or across different segments of the congregation. This limitation hinders your ability to understand patterns, such as the effectiveness of specific ministries or particular engagement events.

Modern Approaches to Attendance Tracking

Digital Check-Ins

Digital check-in systems offer a user-friendly way congregants can inform the church of their attendance. This method streamlines the check-in process and significantly reduces the potential for human error. Digital check-ins are most commonly used in church’s children’s ministries, but most systems can be used beyond that particular use case.

Mobile App Solutions

Custom church apps allow congregation members to register their attendance with just a few taps on their smartphone. An easy way your church can set up reminders for the congregation to check in on their phones is to create a slide that displays on the screen before the beginning of your worship service.

Beyond check-ins, a custom church app provides access to sermons, online giving, church event schedules, volunteer opportunities, links to your church website and more.

Integrating Attendance Tracking with Church Management Software

Seamless Integration

Pushpay uses church management software (ChMS) to track attendance. This integration allows for the automatic synchronization of attendance data with a central database, which ensures that every member’s participation is accurately recorded and reflected in real-time. Such systems enable church leaders to focus more on ministry and less on manual record-keeping.

From donor engagement to volunteer coordination, by consolidating attendance tracking with these elements, churches can improve their record keeping by using an integrated platform.

Data Analysis and Reporting

The combination of attendance tracking with church management software offers powerful capabilities in data analysis and reporting. Pushpay Insights is designed to equip church leaders with the analytical tools needed to better understand the data they receive through giving and ChMS. Insights enables church leaders to distill vast amounts of data into actionable takeaways.

The ability to visualize data through graphs, charts, and dashboards transforms abstract numbers into narratives of progress, challenges, and potential, guiding the church’s efforts to fulfill its mission effectively.

Online Streaming and Virtual Attendance

Tracking attendance for online or streaming services has become just as important as in-person attendance tracking. Tools such as Resi’s real-time analytics can monitor viewer counts and engagement metrics.

It’s easy to discount the congregants that join churches online, but tracking virtual attendance is a reminder that there is a real person joining your worship service.

Engaging the Congregation in Attendance Tracking

It might be a hassle at first, but it is well worth the payoff to educate your congregation on the benefits and simplicity of digital check-ins. Determine the best way to engage your church members. Maybe all that’s needed is a video walkthrough from a church admin, or maybe you need to take five minutes at the start of your worship service to show what the check in process looks like. Educating each church member equips them to participate in attendance tracking.

Conclusion

The adoption of church attendance software through a church management system gives you a baseline to measure your church growth. By integrating software solutions, such as Pushpay, and embracing the concept of tracking virtual attendance, you are making it easier, and more reliable, to track church attendance.

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-track-church-attendance-to-gauge-growth/feed/ 0
How to Measure Church Growth & Success Strategically https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-measure-church-growth-success-strategically/ https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-measure-church-growth-success-strategically/#respond Thu, 02 May 2024 12:50:19 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=14660

The reality is that, when evaluating how to measure church growth, the number of people that walk into your church on Sunday morning only represents a piece of the pie. Pursuing numerical growth starts with a desire to develop a vibrant community that is dedicated to the mission and vision of your church and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

This approach to measuring growth and success goes beyond quantifiable metrics. It invites each church leader to consider more than weekly church attendance. It invites you to consider the more qualitative aspects of ministry—the personal transformations, the strengthened faith, and every church member feeling known and cared for.

Understanding Church Growth

Defining Church Growth

When we talk about church growth, it’s easy to just focus on the numbers. Sure, seeing more people join is a clear sign of growth, but it isn’t just about the headcount.

Having the best sound system, most dynamic worship team, or most engaging speaker can certainly contribute to bodies in the building. But when churches are able to communicate a vision that people resonate with and a mission that people buy into, real growth happens.

Myths vs. Realities

Myth 1: Attendance numbers are the sole indicator of success.

Reality: A church’s influence is not solely defined by its size. Any local church can be a thriving church. Success is more accurately measured by engagement and individuals experiencing growth in their faith in Jesus Christ.

Myth 2: Growth happens overnight.

Reality: Authentic growth is a gradual process. It requires patience. It means laying down one stone at a time, building a foundation strong enough to support not just a larger congregation, but a more spiritually engaged and community-focused one.

Myth 3: Only certain churches can grow.

Reality: The reality is that only healthy churches grow. Healthy churches understand and leverage their unique strengths, understand community needs, and respond with a tailored strategy. Growth does not happen by copying a particular formula. It happens when churchgoers resonate with the vision of the church leader.

Key Metrics for Measuring Church Growth

Having a church growth strategy is a valuable thing, but it’s so important to remember that you, as a pastor, frame these metrics properly as you evaluate how to measure church growth.

Attendance and Membership Numbers

Tracking attendance and membership trends form the baseline of understanding church growth from a quantitative perspective. Attendance and membership counts serve as tangible indicators of your congregation’s engagement levels. To effectively gauge this growth, it’s important to monitor not just the overall numbers but also the patterns and shifts within them. For instance, an increase in new attendees and memberships signifies fresh interest and is an indicator that your congregation is effectively reaching the community, while consistent attendance highlights a congregation that is committed to their local church body.

By analyzing trends over time, you can discern the ebb and flow of engagement. Periods of high involvement may correlate with specific initiatives or events. This insight enables you to tailor your church calendar to focus on what truly resonates with your community.

Financial Health

The financial health of your church plays a critical role in assessing both growth and stability. Financial metrics offer a lens through which you can view your capability to sustain and expand your mission. Explore financial benchmarks for your church.

In this context, tithes and offerings are more than contributions; they affirm the mission and vision of the church. Monitoring these financial streams, along with expenditures and allocations, helps ensure that resources are being utilized effectively and in alignment with your goals. It’s essential to maintain transparency as you manage your congregation’s donations. Stewarding those resources well builds trust with your congregants, which in turn improves your reputation in the community.

Beyond Numbers: Qualitative Measures of Success

Keep in mind as you evaluate these church metrics, success transcends the tangible. The intangible aspect of growth necessitates a nuanced approach to measurement, one that considers the impacts of intentional discipleship and community involvement.

Spiritual Maturity and Discipleship

One method to measure spiritual growth is through engagement in small group settings or discipleship programs. Additionally, increased participation in ministry activities or a willingness to take on leadership roles within church life can all serve as indicators of growing spiritual maturity.

Personal testimonials and stories that display the Lord’s work in individual lives offer powerful looks into the spiritual health of your community. These stories not only highlight individual growth but also inspire others, creating a ripple effect that encourages other members of the local church to step up and serve the church body and community.

Community Impact and Engagement

This can be assessed through the scope and success of outreach programs, such as food drives, clothing collections, or missions trips. The number of community projects undertaken, the diversity of initiatives, and the level of participation from church members offer tangible metrics of your reach.

However, the true measure of engagement lies in the stories of change—how the Church has carried out the Great Commission in the community. Feedback from community leaders and beneficiaries of your outreach provides feedback on effectiveness and areas for growth.

Leveraging Technology for Effective Measurement

By using church technology that helps you better know your people, you ensure that every member feels  like a part of the larger body of believers in your church.

Church Management Software

Among the myriad of tools available, Church Management Software (ChMS) is built to help pastors in tracking and analyzing church data. Platforms like Pushpay offer a comprehensive suite of features designed to facilitate management of attendance records, financial contributions, member engagement, and much more. By integrating such software into your operations, you gain access to real-time insights that drive informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Feedback and Surveys

Gathering congregational feedback through surveys and other feedback mechanisms offers a critical, rounded view of your church’s health and efficacy. These insights allow you to hear directly from your community.

Feedback and surveys invite your congregation into a dialogue which reinforces the notion that their voices are not only heard but are instrumental in shaping the future of your church. This process creates a sense of ownership among members and ensures that your efforts are truly aligned with the needs and values of those you serve.

Challenges in Measuring Church Growth

Avoiding the Numbers Trap

One significant challenge lies in avoiding the “numbers trap”—the allure of equating a growing church solely with more heads at your worship service. This perspective can distract church leadership, diverting attention from the worship of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of the Great Commission toward a superficial hunt for higher attendance or increased donations.

Dealing with Plateaus and Declines

Encountering plateaus or declines in your attendance numbers can be disheartening, but they also offer opportunities for introspection and renewal. Rather than viewing these moments as setbacks, interpret them as an opportunity to reevaluate your strategies and realign your actions with your core values.

Conclusion

The growth of your church is not merely quantified by numbers. Church growth should also be qualitatively measured by a church body that is growing in their faith, connecting with one another, and serving Jesus Christ and the community they’re in.

Want to learn more about how Pushpay can help your church? Schedule a demo with our team to see how we can work for you.

SCHEDULE A DEMO

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/how-to-measure-church-growth-success-strategically/feed/ 0
Five Easter Ideas for Church Growth and Giving https://pushpay.com/blog/easter-church-activities https://pushpay.com/blog/easter-church-activities#respond Fri, 17 Mar 2023 14:36:21 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=10415

Celebrating Easter and Christ’s Resurrection is the cornerstone of your church and your ministry. It’s what you stand for and how your worshipers define their personal commitment to God. No wonder Easter is one of the most attended worship services of the year!

Most of your congregation will gather together on April 9th to celebrate God’s miracle. A quarter of first-time church visitors will seek you out specifically on Easter Sunday. Easter church attendance is one of the most impactful holidays that can open doors for new church growth and giving. 

So, what’s the best way to harness that faithful energy and engage your congregation all year long? 

The key is creating special events that extend beyond Easter by using modern tools to connect with your church family easily and quickly.

Here are five innovative Easter ideas for church that will engage your fellowship throughout the Easter season and keep them returning all year long.

1. Reimagine Sunday Church Dinner

Church services and Easter egg hunts are mainstays, but how about hosting Easter dinner to share with your larger community? Churches have figured out how to do this at Thanksgiving. Why not Easter Sunday? It’s a perfect opportunity to bring Jesus’ teachings to those who need them most. Same great message, at a new date and time.

Make volunteer scheduling easy.

Manage food and volunteer sign ups easily with church volunteer scheduling. Many church members probably have favorite family recipes they’d be proud to share. From the Easter menu planning to leading children’s craft activities, keeping track of it all online will ensure a smooth event. Plus, noting members’ special skills helps you engage them in your next service project. (An online cookbook, perhaps?)

Mobile giving makes donating fast and simple.

Not everyone in your congregation is a seasoned chef. Make it easy for kitchen-challenged members to contribute to the cause with mobile payments through apps for churches. Donation management software helps you identify these donors when you’re looking to fund your next special project!

Make it a recurring event.

Continue hosting Sunday Church Dinners monthly or quarterly to keep spreading God’s Word. Church leaders can use this great opportunity to engage younger members in direct service to marginalized populations. They can help serve food or visit with guests. Be sure to use your church apps to spread the word about #SundayChurchDinner on social media.

2. Create a religious experience through art

Are there a few hidden Michelangelos among your flock? Start a new church tradition showcasing artistic creations by your congregation. From textiles to watercolors and woodworking, there are many modern interpretations of the Resurrection. Display them in your foyer or sanctuary.

Spotlight members, build community.

Use church volunteer scheduling to call for entries and organize volunteers to lead the event. It’s a great way to recognize and keep track of talented artists when it’s time for holiday decorating and the church bazaar.

Text, tag and spread the word.

Share the art collection on social media and your website. Rotate the art and host a monthly ‘gallery opening’. You can use church management software to text details about the event creating a sense of excitement and urgency within the broader community.

Explore new ways to engage.

At the event, set up a QR code through your apps for churches so visitors can sign a virtual guest book. Add these contacts to your database for marketing and outreach about future events. This also helps you chart visitors as they begin their unique spiritual journey at your church.

Mobile apps are simple and intuitive. They’re also a great way to include your Millennial and Gen Z members. These young tech savvy generations will love feeling ‘in the know’ as they set this up for you!

3. Re-enact the Easter story, God’s greatest miracle  

You don’t need a lot of props or preparation to deliver this defining moment of Christianity. The beauty and retelling of this story never gets old.  

Make participation easy and fun.

Some churches host a ‘no-rehearsal performance’ with on-the-spot volunteers stepping up to improvise and share Jesus’s story. It’s a great opportunity for families! 

You can find short scripts online and share copies with your actors. The imperfect efforts to read and act out the parts will endear your audience. The whole sanctuary will connect in this authentic moment. 

Go viral with video.

Be sure to make a video recording of the event. Use apps for churches to post on social media. Tag church and community influencers and use #Easter related hashtags to increase organic traffic. Social media sharing is a great way to engage your Gen Z and Millennial members, while also scoring on church marketing

Refresh your website content.

Drive traffic to your website by uploading the video to your homepage. Or write  about creating the performance in your newsletter or blog.  You’ll be amazed at the uptick in views when people can watch friends in their community. Use your church management software to subscribe website visitors to your newsletter. Include an opt-in for text messages. Texting is great for sending short reminders about upcoming services, too.

4. Connect through service

Acts of service are a fabulous way to connect new members or worshipers returning after a gap. Kick off a new service project with an announcement during your Easter worship service. It’s your largest audience and a great way to share about the purpose, goal and timelines in person.

Choices boost participation.

Direct members to your church volunteer scheduling to gather volunteer contact info and share upcoming service projects dates on your church calendar. There are many ways to serve God and your community. Offer a variety of projects that focus on underserved populations such as the elderly or food deprived, local environmental initiatives or education. Joining a group of people with similar skills and passions creates a sense of belonging. And feeling like you belong in an active church group is what keeps members coming back.

Feedback matters.

Create quick church surveys and gain valuable feedback. Learn what worked and what didn’t. You’ll discover new ideas and service projects that interest members. When you share those results with your community, they’ll feel seen and heard by church leaders. Collecting input can drive positive change and help worshipers rediscover their sense of purpose.

Celebrate a job well done.

Share a meal and memories of completed acts of service. Ask volunteers to upload photos to use for future outreach and church milestones. Their shared experiences will create lasting bonds in your community. Encourage volunteers to bring a friend to learn about the projects and your church.

5. Share His songs in a concert

There are just so many inspirational songs, including them all on Easter would create one very long worship service! So rejoice together at a special time.

Group singing uplifts us all.

Like group prayer, the power of our collective voices transforms us. We feel God’s support and love through song. Recent blockbuster movies about gospel concerts may inspire your congregation.

Celebrate talent in your church community.

Invite musicians in your congregation to perform. It’s a great way to discover fresh voices and original new music. Welcome area musicians to perform, too.

Spread His Word.

Definitely record this event and use it on your social channels. Encourage members to share it on their social stories. Add new music to your church set to keep current with trends of the younger generations of worshipers.

Easter is the most important celebration of your faith. This worship service in your church is the perfect platform to share in God’s love and welcome new visitors. But the power of this miracle transcends this special Sunday. Your ministry shares his Word all year long. We encourage you to explore all the modern avenues to engage your community on Easter and throughout the year.

Discover our resources like The State of Church Technology report, designed to help you understand the technological landscape. Pushpay’s dedicated support team is ready to help you plan and achieve your church goals with a suite of tools that are easy to use. Contact us to learn more.

GET STARTED

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/easter-church-activities/feed/ 0
5 Ways to Combat Church Attendance Decline https://pushpay.com/blog/5-ways-to-combat-church-attendance-decline/ https://pushpay.com/blog/5-ways-to-combat-church-attendance-decline/#respond Mon, 30 Jan 2023 18:33:32 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=10231 Why Has There Been a Decline in Church Attendance?

There has been a lot of discussion about why people attend church less often. From thought leaders like Carey Nieuwhof to mass media like NPR and the Washington Post, everyone is talking about weekly church attendance and sharing their thoughts on why there’s been a prominent church decline

learn how to beat church decline

What is causing declining church attendance?

The short answer is a shift in our culture. Digital connection is everywhere, and online is the preferred platform. 

  • Cash and checks are a thing of the past. Now apps and mobile giving are the preferred methods. 
  • Anyone can find an answer to anything with a quick google search, whether it’s finding a restaurant or diving into religious research. 
  • People can experience a church service through websites and livestreams, instead of walking through the front door or becoming dedicated church members.

There are other reasons for a decline in church attendance besides the demand for digital. Gallup polls people’s religious attitudes, practices, and overall identification with a religious group. The primary reason for the decline in church attendance seems to be that more and more people in the United States are expressing a lack of religious affiliation or preference. Over 20 years of Gallup polls, the percentage of Americans who don’t identify with any religion has steadily increased, from 8% in 1998–2000 to 21% in the past three years. 

And even for those who still identify as religious, declining attendance persists. More and more people feel too busy to be able to attend church on Sunday. They may find Sunday is the only day to get onto important housework, be traveling for their kids’ sports, or just head out of town to visit a friend’s place for the weekend. People who are out of town tend to not be in church. 

Another cause for declining church attendance is church shopping. The back of the head you counted last week may not be the same head next week. Church “shoppers” find a church the same way they shop for a new pair of jeanslooking around at all the options, choosing one that checks all their boxes, “buying” it, and then throwing it away when it no longer suits them. 

When cultural shifts like these happen, churches can choose how to react—either with fear and blame or with optimism and reform.

What Has Been The Recent Trend Now?

The world has been through a lot of change in the last five years. So what do the most recent reports say about the decline in church attendance?

We’ll start by diving deeper into some Gallup polls. In 1937—the year the poll began—seven out of 10 Americans said they attended church. In 1999 the number held steady, staying at 70%. But that number has been trending downward since 2000. By 2018, it had dropped down to 50%. And in 2020, that number dipped to 47%, officially falling below the majority for the first time in nearly 90 years of the poll’s history. 

Since the pandemic, most churches have been meeting back in person. But many have made the shift to offering weekly online worship services. And with good reason. 

A 2022 study by Pew Research found that one in five churchgoers participated in virtual church once a month. However, that study also found that 12% of self-described regular attendees said they hadn’t attended church in person or watched a religious service virtually in the last month.

Barna Group found that 22% of Boomers and 21% of Millennials attend church primarily online. In contrast, the majority of Boomers (65%) primarily attend in person. Only 45% of Millennials are in-person churchgoers.

Help grow your ministry

5 Tips to Increase Church Attendance

The good news is that churches can combat the decline in attendance through simple tweaks to how they approach their ministry. If you want create a thriving church where people are eager to attend, here are five ideas you can use:

  • Cater to different generations

Is there a generation you’re not currently reaching that you could try to engage? Working to connect with specific generations—millennials, Gen Z, Gen Alpha—is essential in ensuring your church community’s future and helping it to grow into a welcoming environment for different types of people in church. Catering to these generations could look like hosting family-friendly events for the Gen Alpha kids, or offering face-to-face interactions in a small group for millennials, who have been dubbed one of the loneliest generations.

  • Offer more options

Sunday mornings aren’t sacred in our culture anymore. This is because so many things compete for people’s time and attention on weekends: work, sports, leisure time, and household chores. So when thousands of other things are fighting for your attendee’s attention, it’s time to offer more flexible options for your congregation and casual churchgoers.

We’ve shifted to an on-demand mindset in every other area of our culture. If we want to reverse the decline in attendance, it’s time for the church to do the same. Churches could add weeknight service options, a weekly podcast, or virtual services to offer flexibility. Your church should consider the impact on ministry, with a large portion of their congregations regularly tuning in via livestream. What does that mean for evangelism, ministry tools, video content, and your website?

  • Prioritize a discipleship path

Like we just covered, people are busy. Their lives and calendars are already full. So the last thing people need is to decide which event to attend at church. Competing church programs will only amplify attendance challenges on Sunday mornings.

Instead of inviting people to dozens of different events, encourage people to take steps on a discipleship path. With a discipleship path, you can focus more on who you want people to become in Christ rather than what you want them to do. People are always looking for something bigger than themselves. So when you offer a path to joining a community that helps them grow personally and give back to their community, they’ll be inspired to make the extra effort to have regular church attendance.

  • Follow up with those who fade away

You might miss people slowly fading out of the church if you only check attendance numbers. Many people are gradually leaving the church by attending less often, and decreasing attendance frequency is one of the biggest reasons churches decline.

Fortunately, there are also great tools that make it easier for church leaders to keep track of and follow up with visitors. Pushpay offers a Church Management System with features that can help you know, grow, and keep your people. Some of those features include:

  • Group Management that helps you connect people to groups and other congregants.
  • Process Queues to automate the steps in your connection process so no one falls through the cracks.
  • Metric Dashboards that allow you to view the engagement of every individual.
  • Stay connected with social media

Is social media the perfect answer to this attendance problem? Of course not. But can social media help? Yes. Social media allows churches to connect with their members and those who may not attend church. Facebook, Instagram, and all the other social media platforms were created to help people stay connected with friends and family, build relationships, and improve communications. 

Why Improving Church Growth is Important

Church growth is important because it’s an indicator that the work you’re doing is not stagnant.  In his book Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren wrote, “….since the church is a living organism, it is natural for it to grow if it is healthy…If a church is not growing it is dying…” 

Can we share a secret? Tracking attendance may not be the best metric for tracking your church’s growth or health. Here’s why: If overall church attendance is the metric you value the most, you could overlook what’s happening below the surface in your community. There could be an underlying issue in your ministry, but you could miss the warning signs if your attendance numbers are going up, and that’s the only metric you check.

Growth can take many forms, depending on the ministries and mission of your church. Some other metrics to track for church growth instead of attendance are:

  • Members
  • First time donors
  • Registrations for events
  • Baptisms
  • Volunteers
  • Submitted prayer requests 
  • Small groups attendees
  • Church App users
  • Email subscribers
  • Social media followers

What Are the Benefits?

The benefits of church growth and increased membership are obvious. A growing and healthy church has more people to form a community, more ears that hear the gospel, and more lives influenced and changed. With more people being reached, a growing church has more resources to love and serve their community. 

Improve Church Growth with ChurchStaq

We know churches have unique needs for adapting and growing in a changing culture. Together, we can make an impact in your community. Pushpay’s church management software  helps simplify communication, processes, and workflows without sacrificing personal connection. This integrated suite of tools will also help your staff, leaders, and volunteers do their best work.

Move From Surviving to Thriving In Ministry

Whether you are a new or established church, growth is crucial for you to thrive and survive. With all the changes we experienced over the last few years, it’s also necessary to try new growth strategies and utilize technology. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVESTREAMING WITH RESI

Sources

https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/03/22/more-houses-of-worship-are-returning-to-normal-operations-but-in-person-attendance-is-unchanged-since-fall/

https://www.barna.com/research/church-attendance-2022/ 

 

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/5-ways-to-combat-church-attendance-decline/feed/ 0
10 Christmas Eve Service Ideas to Get Return Visitors https://pushpay.com/blog/christmas-eve-services https://pushpay.com/blog/christmas-eve-services#respond Thu, 15 Dec 2022 21:44:58 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=10116 The Christmas season is so much more than a time for winter weather, hot cocoa, and jingle bells. It’s one of the greatest seasons of opportunity for the Church. Christmas is one of the days when people of all backgrounds flock to houses of worship, regardless of their church attendance. That’s because Christmas is so deeply embedded in our culture. No matter someone’s experience or background, odds are they’ll attend church on Christmas even if they haven’t attended church all year long. With the opportunity to welcome new faces and change lives, Christmas Eve is a big deal. Not to mention it’s when the Church celebrates the birth of the Savior!

With that in mind, here are 10 ideas to make this your most memorable and impactful Christmas Eve yet!

Christmas Eve Service Ideas for a Memorable Worship

As you prepare to make a memorable Christmas Eve service, it’s easy to get tangled up in Christmas lights, comparison games, and others’ expectations. So here are 10 ideas to make the Christmas season (also known as Christmastide) memorable without sacrificing the peace and joy of the season.

1. Deck the halls of the church

Decorating the church—from wreaths on the front door to poinsettias around the pulpit—will make your Christmas Eve services feel welcoming and cozy and help your congregation get into the Christmas spirit. Dedicate a weekend to decorating your church. Ask for volunteers or get the youth ministry to help hang all the garlands, and offer cocoa and Christmas cookies as a thank-you. You’ll get the church all decked out quickly, and you’ll have helped people in your community build relationships at the same time!

 2. Create a winter wonderland on stage

A decorated stage will make your time singing Christmas songs more engaging and memorable. But it doesn’t have to be hard to set the scene.

Consider getting a bunch of real trees, putting them on your stage, and covering them with lights and fake snow. A stage filled with trees will help bring the classic feeling—and smell—of Christmas to your church.

Or bring winter to your Christmas Eve service by adding frosty windows, fake snow, and large snowflakes on the stage. You can also add fake snow falling down from the ceiling to amplify the winter wonderland feeling.

3. Bring the Christmas story to life

One of the most traditional ways to celebrate Christmas is to reenact the nativity scene. A live nativity scene is a spectacular event that engages both church members and your entire community. Whether it’s a play or you bring live animals to your campus, a live version of the nativity is a beautiful celebration to share what Christmas is about.

4. Light up the night with candlelight services

As the warm glow of candlelight illuminates the sanctuary and a classic Christmas carol plays in the background, a candlelight service creates a memorable moment during your Christmas Eve service. The candlelight service reminds attendees of the true focus of Christmas: the birth of Jesus, the light of the world.

As you plan your candlelight service, you might need alternatives for candles for families and little ones! Kids can use glow sticks, LED candles, or flashlights to join in on the fun.

 

Help grow your ministry

 

5. Use tech to keep people connected

Unfortunately, many churches struggle with getting guests to return, especially after Christmas. You’ve spent so much time researching, planning, and creating an incredible experience at your church, hoping to inspire those guests to keep coming back, but sometimes that isn’t enough. That’s where church tech can help! 

Texting provides a way to personally greet new guests and begin a low-pressure conversation. This strategy can help nudge people into more regular involvement in the church. With Pushpay’s church texting service, you can keep new visitors connected and deepen relationships.

After all the hard work put in for your Christmas Eve service, you can share those Christmas messages to engage your congregation with church visual media. From live streaming to interactive fill-in-the-blank sermon notes, when you share your media in your custom church app, your community will never miss a beat.

6. Focus on families

Christmas is such a special time of the year for families. Parents are looking for opportunities to make memories with their kids. Kids are excited about special Christmas events and festivities. Attending your worship service on Christmas Eve can become part of families’ traditions as long as your service is family-friendly and memorable.

Families have busy schedules on Christmas Eve, so don’t make it hard for them to attend by having a long traditional service or a service in the middle of dinner time. Lifeway Research reports that Christmas Eve services are typically 30 to 45 minutes long, and there are three popular times for the service: “later afternoon (typically for families with young children and for older adults); early evening (the more traditional time); and late evening (for empty nesters and families with teenage or grown children).”

Once families have arrived at your church, create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. For example, you could hand out hot cocoa, candy canes, or goodie bags for kids with crayons and coloring pages to help them engage in the service.

And as people gather around at the beginning and end of the service, they can document this Christmas tradition with pictures! Set up a decorated spot in the lobby for taking pictures, whether you hang a cozy fireplace backdrop or create a forest of Christmas trees in a corner.

7. Sing classic Christmas carols

The timeless Christmas carols like Joy To The World and Silent Night have been sung for generations, and we’re still singing them today at the top of our lungs. This is the time of year when everyone involved enjoys tradition and singing old songs in a new way. A worship planning software can help you breathe new life into old favorites.

Even though most of us haven’t roasted chestnuts on an open fire, the classic song brings to mind our personal Christmas memories. So when you embrace familiar carols during your Christmas Eve service, everyone will join together to sing—believers and non-believers alike!

The Pushpay team did a little digging into our ChMS, and the top 5 Christmas songs churches are adding to the Lyric and Chord Chart Editor are:

  • O Holy Night
  • O Come All Ye Faithful
  • Silent Night
  • The First Noel
  • Joy To The World

8. Give to those in need

We’ve always been taught that it’s better to give than receive, and Christmas often reminds us of how important it is to give back. There are so many ways your church can be the Church and give back during the holidays.

  • Host a toy drive and deliver Christmas gifts to families who are struggling financially
  • Collect winter coats and cold-weather garments like hats, scarves, and mittens to give to local shelters
  • Organize a group of volunteers to cook and serve a meal at a nearby shelter. With colder weather setting in, people need a place to warm up and have a hot meal. 
  • Donate your Christmas Eve service offering to a local organization or a cause close to your church’s heart. Read how Hosanna Church donated their entire Easter offering and ignited a giving explosion.

9. Share the thrill of hope

When it seems like all you hear is bad news, people crave something good. So take inspiration from the classic Christmas carol, O Holy Night: “The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.”

For so many people, Christmas isn’t a season of joy. Instead, it’s a season that brings more stress and concern. Sometimes it’s a burden people just want to get through and be done with, or ignore altogether.

As the Church, you have hope and a reason for joy this holiday season! Focus your Christmas message on hope, and give your congregation something to hold onto, regardless of whatever is happening in their lives.

10. Create a clear next step

Sometimes we get so caught up in planning the Christmas Eve service that we forget everything that follows. Everyone gets excited as the big day approaches; you organize all the events, manage volunteers, sing carols, light a candle, and then poof! It’s over. It’s the next Sunday, and things are the same as always. 

Don’t let that happen. Keep the momentum of Christmas going! People who don’t usually attend your church will visit on Christmas Eve, and it’s up to you to help them take the next step. 

Taking the next step after Christmas Eve could be:

  • Inviting them back next week for a new sermon series
  • Talking with someone at the welcome desk to share their contact info and receive a small gift
  • Giving to your Christmas offering

Whatever next step makes sense for your ministry, give your attendees a direct call-to-action to get more involved with your church. Whether it’s through Christmas tithes and offerings, volunteer work, or creating charitable opportunities for the ministry, Christmas time is the best time to nurture your community.

Churchstaq Is Scalable As Your Congregation Grows

As your church grows this Christmas and through the next year, it’s crucial to have the structure and software in place for support. At Pushpay, we’ve created church management software specifically to help churches grow and sustain that new growth without worrying about church finances. Automatically follow up with first-time guests, thank donors, nurture people on their membership journey, and organize volunteers. 

take a self guided tour

Merry Christmas from Pushpay

We hope these ideas for your Christmas Eve service will help you make a lasting impact this Christmas, and that this Christmas is full of joy and abundance for you and your ministry!

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/christmas-eve-services/feed/ 0
5 Tips for Attracting Millennials to Church https://pushpay.com/blog/attracting-millennials-to-church https://pushpay.com/blog/attracting-millennials-to-church#respond Tue, 29 Nov 2022 20:15:28 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=9965 Millennials, Gen Y, The Me Me Me Generation, The Peter Pan Generation, Avocado Toast Generation—the people born between 1980 and 1996 go by many names. This younger generation is quickly taking over and becoming one of the largest and most powerful generations of all time. But here’s the problem: many millennials have left the church, or just aren’t interested in religion anymore. 

In 2022, only 21% of Millennials report weekly church attendance. As millennials move into adulthood, the Church has a new opportunity to reach this group of young people and impact their lives. We’ll go through 5 ways to attract millennials to church and transform them into active church members.

1. Embrace Change

No one can adapt to changes better than millennials. Change is hard for most, but it’s second nature for the first generation that grew up in the Internet age. For millennials, change is not a bad word. They had to become adaptable and learn to go with the flow because the world around them was in flux.

So how can your church leaders embrace change to attract millennials?

Incorporate Technology

This tech-savvy generation is always up on the trends, be it the newest iPhone, social media, or computer code. But, when they look at their church experience—outdated or disconnected—it doesn’t fit every other aspect of their connected lives. So they disconnect. 

They get modern, fast-paced, and customized experiences in every other part of their life. Why should their experiences with your parish be different? Incorporate technology to create innovative, immersive, engaging, and customized online experiences for millennials and the rest of your congregation.

Mobile Matters

Millennials are on their phones almost all day, averaging 7.5 hours online daily. And when people are on their phones, they spend 90 percent of their time on mobile apps. Seize these mobile moments to attract millennials and ultimately further the gospel. With ParishStaq, Pushpay’s Catholic church management software, you can engage all parishioners on one platform that syncs mobile apps, giving, and Catholic church management software.

nurture your catholic community

Share The Why Behind Traditions

Millennials and tradition are not mutually exclusive. In fact, you should share them with millennials!

But be prepared. Millennial members will want to know and understand the ‘why’ behind the Church’s  traditions and why it’s better if it isn’t changed. “Just because” or “because it’s always been done this way” aren’t the answers. Show them the meaning and purpose behind your traditions.

Sacraments are a rich part of Catholic tradition, and they serve as visible signs of God’s goodness and grace. Learn more about sacramental preparation and how to track each young adult’s progress throughout their spiritual journey.

2. Create A Community

We know the Church is one of the best places to belong, but “the church” isn’t just a building. It’s people. Millennials may come for the free coffee after Mass, but they’ll stay for the community. 

Pursue Unity

A parish of many generations, backgrounds, and ethnicities is a gift! There is a collection of wisdom and experience from the variety of people gathered together. 

It’s not always easy to be perfectly united. And it won’t be perfect because we’re all fallen, sinful people. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-3 that the church body must work diligently to keep the spirit of peace that holds the church together. 

Unity needs us to work to love and understand each other. 

It requires people to set aside their wants and focus on God.

It means members think less of themselves and more of the gospel. 

It means churches must live the gospel and not just sing, talk, and read about it.

Pursuing unity within your parish will create an atmosphere of peace, love, and hope, attracting millennials to your church. 

Eliminate Judgment

Often described negatively—selfish, lazy, and indecisive— it’s not hard to believe that millennials feel judged. When the people within the church judge millennials—the cold stares or whispers of gossip—it distracts from the message of love and salvation coming from the pulpit.

Matthew 7:1–3 says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged…. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” 

Any judgment in your congregation needs to be stopped. If you want to attract millennials, your ministry needs to embrace people where they are and show them the love of Jesus Christ. Then, once you’ve developed a relationship, you can disciple them and encourage deeper spiritual growth as they assimilate into church life.

Develop Relationships

A study published by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) revealed that there are more young adult Catholics regularly participating in faith-related groups outside of the parish than going to Mass at their parish. These are typically a group of friends who meet to pray, socialize, read and discuss scripture, and share their faith. Older generations holding too much influence in the parish, and the lack of roles available for women were the top reasons that these young adults said they separated themselves from parish life. But they still value their faith!

Millennials want to connect beyond Sunday Mass. So to attract millennials to your parish, offer them something more—a relationship. They’re looking for mentors who are invested in their lives and future. They’re looking for friendships that go deeper than a follower on Instagram. They want real people who actually care. You can be that solution by facilitating small groups or intentionally connecting them with older members as mentors. 

3. Focus on Authenticity

Millennials, more than any other generation, care about authenticity. 90 percent of millennials say authenticity is important in determining which organizations they like and support. 

Millennials are looking for a safe place to be open, honest, and even vulnerable. You can provide that by:

  • Being present
  • Mourning with those who mourn
  • Rejoicing with those who rejoice
  • Truly listening to the person who is talking to you
  • Joining others in their mess of life because we’re all a bit messy

Integrity, honesty, and authenticity cost nothing financially. So if you’re worrying you aren’t attracting millennials because of your budget, think again. Some authenticity and honesty from your church leadership can go a long way in reaching younger generations.

4. Communicate Intentionally

One of the major themes of the millennial generation is stories. They’ve been marketed to their whole lives, so to grab their attention, you need captivating stories and intentionality in communication. Use your words to weave interesting narratives, and communicate with millennials. After all, they are the leaders of tomorrow.

Speak Their Language

Have you heard someone call something “groovy” lately? Probably not, unless it had some irony sprinkled in. The way you speak to millennials needs to feel like their language. Yes, technically we’re all speaking English, but each generation has their own nuances and phrases. Millennials have a language and a style of their own, and replicating that will make it easier for them to hear your message.

Once you’ve figured out the words that will resonate with Millennials, there’s another kind of language you’ll need to figure out: channels.The digital world we’re in is overwhelmingly big, but each generation finds their own little corner or channel. So as you communicate with millennials you’ll want to engage them on the channels and platforms where they use— podcasts, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, for starters. 

Share Your Story

How do you create connections between people? Tell a good story, of course.

Millennials, especially, are drawn in by stories. They’re searching for something bigger than themselves to be a part of. They’re looking for a purpose. Your story could be what they want to join.

Each parish has a unique story to tell about their history or the work they choose to do in the community.  Whatever your story is, tell it. Tell it loud, proud, and often. When you tell your story, you’re inviting people to be a part of that story and let them have a stake in writing the next chapter.

Relevant & Relatable Teachings

Beyond your story, you have another story to tell: the Bible. When preparing homilies, remember that Millennials (and everyone) need relevant and relatable messages. We’re not saying you should preach a watered-down, surface-level version of the Bible. To attract millennials and younger generations, teachings need to cover topics like financial literacy, social justice, relationships, mental health, and stress, as well as the Gospel.

Millennials were raised in the age of the Internet and are ready to whip out their phone to Google answers to their questions. So for homilies, they want the facts at lightning speed. They want to know why these verses matter and how it affects them. Help them dig deeper into the text or explain a controversial verse. Just don’t regurgitate already well-known information.

5. Involve + Engage Millennials

Millennials are more likely than any other generation to participate in activities that give back to their communities. 84% of millennial employees gave to charity, and 70% donated more than an hour to a charitable cause. They care deeply about giving back and making a difference. Bring millennials into your church by empowering them to make a difference.

Involve Them In Community Outreach

Millennials are anything but selfish. They are actually extremely generous with their time and resources when it comes to helping others. This generation cares highly about causes that matter and is more intentional in how they spend their time and money.‍ Ultimately, they want to be part of a parish that gives back to its community.

How is your parish giving back? How are you serving your community? 

With an outreach ministry team, a special volunteer-driven event, or a partnership with a local nonprofit, your parish can show millennials you care about your community. 

Get Input On Church Activities

When Millennials set their mind to something, their passion is undefeatable. If you want to attract millennials to your church, offer them opportunities to help shape the Church, You’ll most likely find they’re enthusiastic participants. They’ll also want to serve in other capacities, becoming door greeters, parking lot attendants, or daycare volunteers. 

Millennials are searching for purpose. Your parish can be an avenue for that missional connection. Involve them in your activities, and you’ll see them connect more with your community and shape the future of the Church as a whole.

Start Reaching Millennials Today

Millennials are looking for hope and they crave truth. Your parish has the opportunity to reach this generation with the love and hope they desperately need. As you build your ministry to intentionally engage Millennials, we’re here to help. From online giving for parishes and dioceses, to church management software, custom apps and more, Pushpay is dedicated to providing the tools that parishes like yours need to stay enthusiastic, motivated, and passionate about accomplishing the Church’s good work.

Reach out to one of our Pushpay experts today, and let’s explore how we can work together to attract and engage the next generation of the Catholic Church. 

Sources:

https://www.barna.com/research/church-attendance-2022/ 

http://flurrymobile.tumblr.com/post/127638842745/seven-years-into-the-mobile-revolution-content-is 

https://www.nosto.com/blog/why-authenticity-matters/#:~:text=Authenticity%20Matters,-Since%20consumers%20are&text=Our%20consumer%20content%20report%20found,90%25%20saying%20authenticity%20is%20important 

https://casefoundation.org/resource/millennial-impact-report-2015/ 

https://www.youcaring.com/blog/2016/millennials-cause-generation 

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/attracting-millennials-to-church/feed/ 0
11 Fresh Ideas for Church Growth in 2024 https://pushpay.com/blog/fresh-ideas-for-church-growth https://pushpay.com/blog/fresh-ideas-for-church-growth#respond Thu, 10 Nov 2022 13:42:32 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=9890

Have you seen the stats about church attendance?

  • Less than half (47%) of Americans say they belong to a church.
  • 66% of students leave the church when they go to college.
  • 60% of Protestant churches have reported plateaued or declining attendance.

It can be discouraging to see the declining church attendance stats—and honestly, you probably don’t need another article full of statistics to confirm what you’re seeing with your own eyes every Sunday.

So we promise no more scary or frustrating stats starting now

Instead, let’s dive into practical strategies and fresh ideas to help your church grow and thrive in a season of stagnation and prevent this church crisis. It’s time to try out some new ideas. As Carey Niewhof said, “Our approach to church growth needs to change because our culture has changed.” While not every church wants to grow to be a mega-church, no church’s mission is to see less people in the Kingdom. So, whether your church growth has plateaued, is declining, or you’re taking preventive measures to protect church growth, we have 11 fresh ideas for church growth

Create A Plan For Church Growth

1. Clarify your mission statement

A mission statement gives your community something easy to remember, understand, and rally around. So when you clarify your mission statement to reflect your priority for church health and growth, it will inspire your community and your team to bring that goal into reality.

Growth-focused mission statements might sound like “We exist to make Heaven more crowded” and “know Jesus and make Jesus known.” With a clear and consistent mission statement, you’ll be able to make quick decisions. Does this program support your mission of making Heaven more crowded? Does this event help you make Jesus known? If it does, great! You’re on the right track. And if not, it’s easier to cut that program or event so you can focus on your mission.

2. Set SMART Goals

As a church looking to grow, goals are crucial. They give you a sense of direction. They push you further. They set your ministry up for success. Do your ministry leaders have clearly defined goals for your church finances and growth? More specifically, does your church have SMART goals—specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based? 

What SMART goals will your church set for the next month, quarter, or year? Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling:

  • “When someone visits the church or ministry for the first time, our staff will reach out to them within 48 hours. We’ll use digital connect cards and contact them through the information they share. We hope to increase church attendance by 10% with consistent follow-up.”
  • “Increase the number of volunteers at the church by 5% in the next quarter. Our ministry can achieve that growth by highlighting one of the volunteer teams during the Sunday morning announcements and giving a small gift to the person chosen as ‘volunteer of the month.’”
  • “As a church, we’ll plan three fundraisers or church programs in the next six months. The goal is to raise $1,000 in that timeframe from the events.”
  • “Increase family engagement in one year by sending a monthly student ministry newsletter to parent emails and hosting a quarterly parent discussion group. The goal is to have a 50% open rate of the newsletter and at least 20 parents attending the discussion group.”

3. Remember, It’s A Marathon, Not A Sprint

Church growth requires a bit of grit. It takes discipline, consistency, effort, and movement in the same direction. But that hard work is easier when you’ve got your eye on the prize.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The metaphor of “running the race” is woven throughout the Bible:

  • “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7
  • “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race” 2 Timothy 4:7
  • “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1

Spend time both as a church leader and as a team talking about your end goal, and why church growth matters to you. With your eyes on the prize, it’s easier to run the race, do the work, and reach the finish line.

Grow From The Inside Out

4. Work On Your Welcome

First impressions matter, from the cleanliness of your building to the greeting guests get when they walk in. What visitors experience when they come into your church sets the tone for your relationship with them! Start strong with friendly greeters directing traffic in the parking lot, and reserve spaces up front for first-time guests. 

Once your guests get inside, what will they see? Recruit church members with the gift of hospitality to greet them with a big smile and a hearty hello. You can make your church feel cozier by offering coffee, hot chocolate, donuts, or other early-morning treats.

Create a welcoming culture within your staff and congregation—we know, easier said than done. But encourage your community to go above and beyond to make newbies feel welcome. If guests are by themselves, offer to sit with them or introduce them to others!

5. Invest In The Next Generation

Church is where everyone can grow in faith together, no matter their age. The kids coloring and singing songs in your youth ministry today will be the ones leading, teaching, and volunteering in a few short years. So investing in the next generation with children’s ministry is essential. 

Make sure you have a solid curriculum for your children, youth, student, and young adult ministry. Add in a stellar team of church leaders devoted to teaching students about Jesus Christ, and you’re ready to go! 

Great things happen when you pour into students. The young families in your community will thrive. Parents who want a place for their kids to belong will come visit. And hopefully, your focus on the next generation will change the trajectory of your church for years to come. 

Engage Your Community

6. Mobilize Your Church Members

For most of your congregation, it’s easier to greet new people once they arrive rather than offering the invite themselves. These days, it can feel pretty intimidating to directly invite people to church. Your existing congregation might need a little extra encouragement to take that bold step and extend a personal invitation to someone, so we have a few tips to help get them ready.

Here are some easy ways you support your members in inviting friends:

  • Print invite cards with QR codes for them to hand out.
  • Create shareable graphics for people to use on social media.
  • Preach about the importance of evangelism, inviting, and outreach.

7. Deepen Relationships With Small Groups

Transformation happens through community, but it needs to go deeper than what we experience on a Sunday morning. That’s what makes small groups so powerful. 

A good small group is a collection of people committed to learning, growing, and being involved in each other’s lives. So when you focus on deepening relationships in small groups, you’re creating a community that others (including first-time guests) want to join. Promote them on your website or in Sunday morning announcements. Pray that God will motivate people and use the groups to grow his Kingdom.

8. Host Bridge Events

A tried and true way to grow your church is with events. But have you heard of bridge events? Bridge events bridge the gap between people in your community and your church. They act as an on-ramp into your church, where you can introduce people to your church without barriers. Often these events don’t center around a sermon, and some even happen off-site, reducing pressure on guests.

Bridge events for your community could be:

  • A community trunk or treat in your church parking lot
  • An easter egg hunt in a local park
  • A community play day
  • An outdoor concert in the summer
  • A car or craft show

Remember, whatever you choose, have some fun! Get inspired for more events with our blog, 7 Events That Can Help Your Church Grow.

Hosting events is a great way to help your church grow. But planning and organizing a church event can be stressful and even overwhelming. Church event management software can help you create great experiences without the stress! With Pushpay, you can coordinate events, streamline registration, and easily invite and follow up with guests.

Leverage Existing Tech + Tools

9. Create An Engaging Hybrid Worship Service

A church’s worship experience used to mean an hour spent with others in the community listening, singing, and praising the Lord. Now, church attendees are searching for that experience beyond the church walls. The Internet is the new church building. 

By developing or improving your hybrid ministry, you aren’t constrained by the size of your building. You can use tools like livestreaming software and a mobile app, to help people connect when and how it fits best with their lives. 

If a connection point only exists in one form of ministry, ask yourself if there is a way to offer it across both! The end goal is for everything offered in-person to have a digital counterpart for your online community. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVESTREAMING WITH RESI

10. Embrace Digital Marketing Techniques

Don’t let the word ‘marketing’ scare you away! Digital marketing for churches is simply digital evangelism. Who do you turn to when you’re visiting a new place, want to find a fun new restaurant, or explore? You may ask a few friends, but most likely, you’re hopping online to search Google, look at pictures on Instagram, or read blogs with advice. That’s the power of the digital space! There are so many ways to share your message, increase visibility, and engage with your community digitally. 

When you’re starting out with digital church marketing, you’ll most likely start with social media. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest… the list goes on and on! Social media makes it easier to communicate and update people with the latest news.

But social media is just the start. There are infinite opportunities to grow your ministry online. Here are a few:

  • Start a podcast where you share sermons or dive deeper into Sunday’s message
  • Create an email newsletter to keep in touch with your congregation
  • Reach even more people with text messages that follow up on your emails
  • Create a free Google Business Profile so relevant information like photos, service times, and location show up when people search for your church
  • Use video call software like Zoom to host virtual prayer nights or bible studies
  • Promote your ministry events with digital ads 
  • Optimize your church website with keywords so when people are searching for “church near me” your site shows up on Google
  • Collect feedback with digital surveys

Digital platforms offer a relatively easy way to engage with more people and grow your church’s reach and impact.

11. Use Scalable Church Software

It’s not uncommon to hear about churches who grew so fast that they ended up losing people! As your church grows, if your structure and software aren’t prepared for the growth, it can be easy for people to fall through the cracks. Fortunately, there are tools specifically made to help churches grow and sustain that new growth without worrying about church finances. Tech can help you automatically follow up with first time guests, thank donors, nurture people on their membership journey, and organize volunteers. 

At Pushpay, we’ve created church management software to help you grow your ministry without sacrificing personal connection. This integrated suite of tools will also help you staff, leaders, and volunteers do their best work.

Time To Make These Church Growth Strategies Your Own

If you’re ready to grow this year, start trying out these fresh ideas for your church. Committing to a strategy that feels right for your church is the key. So use these fresh ideas as they are or as inspiration for your own extraordinary ideas for church growth.

In the end, church growth is about following and fulfilling the Great Commission. The Church gets to be a solution in a world filled to the brim with problems. By implementing these ideas for church growth—whether it’s one or all eleven—your ministry can go into the world and share the joy, peace, and love that God gives with those who need it most! 

Sources

https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx 

https://research.lifeway.com/2019/01/15/most-teenagers-drop-out-of-church-as-young-adults/ 

https://research.lifeway.com/2019/03/06/small-struggling-congregations-fill-u-s-church-landscape/

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/fresh-ideas-for-church-growth/feed/ 0
Increase Online Church Engagement With Pushpay + Resi https://pushpay.com/blog/increase-online-church-engagement-with-pushpay-resi/ https://pushpay.com/blog/increase-online-church-engagement-with-pushpay-resi/#respond Wed, 09 Nov 2022 21:27:09 +0000 https://pushpay.com/?p=9884

Video is the forerunner when it comes to digital content. 

  • People watch one billion hours of videos on YouTube every day.
  • Approximately 97.8% of 18 to 24-year-olds consider themselves active digital video viewers. 96.2% of 12 to 17-year-olds say the same. And 63.8% of seniors aged 65 and above consume video content.
  • 54% of consumers desire to see more video content from the brands and businesses they support and love. 
  • Online videos make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic—15 times higher than it was in 2017.
  • Mobile video consumption rises by 100% every year.

These statistics show one major trend: video content isn’t just the future. It’s right now. While it won’t completely replace text, video plays a crucial role in engaging communities online.

Most churches are already using videos to tell or enhance the stories told from the stage each week. 

Now churches can use videos to tell stories and drive deeper engagement with Pushpay’s custom app and Resi’s in-app media player. You can deliver your video content—messages, devotionals, worship sessions, training, and more—directly to your congregation anytime and anywhere!

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVESTREAMING WITH RESI

Expand Your Reach

A sermon on Sunday mornings can reach the hearts of the people sitting in the room. But you don’t have to be limited by the size of your building or the number of seats you have. With an in-app media player, you can stream video content straight to your congregation through your church’s own custom app wherever they are. 

Whether congregants are sick, out of town, moved away, or just not able to get out the door early Sunday morning, they can still be a part of the worship experience. Now they won’t miss a beat. Even if they’re tuning in virtually, your app can seamlessly mesh in-person church with online. 

Make Messages Immersive

There are a million things fighting for people’s attention— yours, and your congregants. So how can you captivate them? There’s no need to bust out crazy dance moves or Hollywood-level stage designs (unless you want to). The answer is much simpler than that. Just help them take notes and read along. 

People who take notes and read along not only stay engaged with a speaker, but also better process the words they’re hearing. With the new Resi media player, your app users can interact with text, write in fill-in-the-blank or user notes, look up Scripture, and read through PDFs, all while your video continues playing. 

Stay Connected Beyond Sunday

Your church app is crucial in making your ministry accessible. It’s your community’s one-stop shop to explore, engage, and share your content. Use it to create space for people to connect any day of the week. Your church app can offer:

  • Livestreamed sermons
  • Extra devotionals and messages
  • Interactive sermon notes
  • Church events
  • Photos and videos
  • Mobile giving
  • Group chats

With these features in your app, there are so many opportunities for you to keep the connection of Sunday morning going all week long. And when your ChMS is connected to your custom church app, members can send messages within their groups, create or register for events, and ask and respond to prayer requests. 

Check out this video to see how ACF Church is using Resi to connect with their congregation!

LEARN MORE ABOUT RESI

What’s Next?

Schedule a demo to see firsthand why Pushpay and Resi have the simplest solution for leaders to know, grow, and keep their people.

Stay tuned! We’re always looking to innovate and provide the tools you need to grow participation at your church—whatever that might look like.

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF PUSHPAY’S CHURCH APP

]]>
https://pushpay.com/blog/increase-online-church-engagement-with-pushpay-resi/feed/ 0
Church Growth Ideas & Strategies https://pushpay.com/blog/church-growth-strategies-for-the-new-year/ Tue, 12 Jan 2021 06:00:49 +0000 https://pushpay.com/church-growth-ideas-strategies-for-2021/

It’s a well-known fact that the Christmas season brings with it church growth and an upswing in church attendance, particularly among those who aren’t regular church-goers. But a study from Pew Research Center revealed that Google searches for “church” also spike around Christmas. These patterns mean that churches are attracting visitors—very likely those who attend church irregularly or only on holidays—that they have the opportunity to keep ministering to in the new year.

Is your church prepared with a strategy for church growth? Read on for ways to keep those Christmas visitors coming back, encourage regular attendance, and impact your community throughout the year.

Church Growth Strategy #1 Follow up with visitors

Collecting contact information from visitors will give you the means to welcome them to the church and invite them back—and an invitation is a powerful thing. A recent study from LifeWay Research about holiday-season church attendance determined that 57 percent of those who don’t attend church regularly would go if someone invited them. You might build on that tendency by encouraging congregation members who asked a friend or neighbor to church over Christmas to offer another invitation once the holiday rush is over.

Fortunately there are also great tools that make it easier for church leaders keep track of and follow up with new visitors. Pushpay offers a Church Management System with features that can help you know, grow, and keep your people. Some of those features include:

  • Group Management that helps you connect people to groups and other congregants.
  • Process Queues that automate the steps in your connection process, so no one falls through the cracks.
  • Metric Dashboards that allow you to view the engagement of every individual.

Strategy #2 Create a welcoming atmosphere

Yet, once invited, visitors aren’t likely to feel inclined to return unless they feel welcomed, noticed, and included. More than receiving a friendly greeting at the door and being handed a bulletin, a welcoming experience for visitors is ideally something that’s been built into the culture of your church.

Do visitors know where to go when they walk in? Is there a welcome center or information desk where they can ask questions? Is it easy to find the nursery or children’s areas? Do staff and church members make an effort to notice and reach out to guests? These kinds of considerations help make your congregation a more inviting place.

Strategy #3 Develop opportunities for fellowship

But it can be hard to feel welcome and comfortable in a large room of strangers. One way to prevent visitors (and even regular attendees) from getting lost in the crowd of a Sunday service is through smaller groups or gatherings, which provide an opportunity for one-on-one interaction and discipleship as congregants grow in their relationships with each other and with Christ.

Church Growth Strategy: Think Small
“Churches tend to focus on their large Sunday morning gatherings, but the seeds of church growth are often nurtured in smaller groups that help relationships go deep.”
Tom Kline

Yet Thom Rainer, President of LifeWay Christian Resources and formerly the dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism, suggests in his reflections on declining church attendance that groups may be “one of the most neglected areas of church life.” Groups of all kinds, for all ages and interests—from kids’ groups, to Bible studies for adults, to volunteer or activity groups—enable people to connect more closely on a personal level and more broadly as a community of faith. Those interested in visiting or joining your congregation will be encouraged to know that they’ll have a place where they or their children can belong and get involved.

Apart from creating fellowship opportunities, it’s also critical to make it convenient for your congregants to get connected to these opportunities. Church Community Builder’s ChMS has some great scheduling features that will help your congregants find and join a group, message group members, register for events, check-in to events, and manage their profile.

Kline, quoted earlier, offers a good reminder that sums up some of the people-first, relational approaches to church growth that we’ve collected here:

Tom Kline

As your new year begins, be sure to explore the free resource, Start Strong: Must-Have Goals For Your Best Year Yet. Download it today for free for even deeper insights on how your church can cultivate healthy, long-term growth.

GET MY COPY

Church Growth Strategy #4 Implement New Technology

With larger congregations and less frequent attendance, it’s nearly impossible to know, grow, and keep people with just a handshake from the pastor. Technology has also majorly changed the way our society functions. The church has had to adapt to these changes to reach people where they’re at – whether that be through a mobile app or a virtual church service.

The right technology should help you:

  • Grow your ministry without sacrificing personal connection.
  • Provide an effortless giving experience that increases generosity.
  • Facilitate community and connect your members.
  • Schedule and keep track of your volunteers.
  • Share service plans, worship songs, and files with teams.
  • Connect with your church community any day of the week.

By implementing technology to help you grow, you’ll be able to grow your church in a sustainable way. You won’t need to sacrifice personal connection.

If you’re looking for technology that can help you with all of these things, it can be too overwhelming. You need to focus on your mission, not on keeping up with the latest digital tools. At Pushpay, our goal is to partner with you and empower you as you further the kingdom. We have a total engagement solution that includes all the tools you need to do all the things we listed above successfully.

Our platform, ChurchStaq, includes: 

  • A complete suite of Digital Giving tools
  • Custom-branded Church Apps
  • The Donor Development Dashboard
  • Church Management Software
  • And more!

Ready to discover what a total engagement solution could do for your church? Talk to an expert to learn more!

SCHEDULE A DEMO

]]>