Churches across the country are starting to feel the impact of the slowdown in the economy. I’m not talking about giving. I’m talking about attendance. It appears that the sluggish economy may be leading to increased attendance. Rev. A.R. Bernard, the senior pastor of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York explained:
“It’s a wonderful time, a great evangelistic opportunity for us. When people are shaken to the core, it can open doors.”
Bernard was quoted in today’s New York Times which also includes accounts from Mars Hill Church and Willow Creek. Check out the rest of the story that suggests “bad times draw bigger crowds to churches.”
What about your church? Do you think the economic situation is leading to higher attendance?
I read this article in the NYT this morning too! Our church has seen a slight increase in attendance lately… but I'm not so sure it's because of the economy. I think people have been home for the Christmas season. I not so sure that my church is ready for a boat load of people to start pouring through the doors. That's not to say that we don't want that… because we do! But I'm not sure that we have the tools in place to effectively communicate the good news to that many newcomers. It'll be interesting to see how we handle 3,000 people on Christmas Eve.