church attendance

Growing Strategies
What are some potential indicators that your church may have back door issues? Declining weekend worship attendance numbers; lots of new families registering in kids ministry but overall attendance staying flat; and number of giving units and/or per capita giving decreasing -- just to name a few. But what’s the root cause of the issue? Here are a few I’ve seen throughout the years, along with some suggestions for addressing them.
What are some potential indicators that your church may have back door issues? Declining weekend worship attendance numbers; lots of new families registering in kids ministry but overall attendance staying flat; and number of giving units and/or per capita giving decreasing -- just to name a few. But what’s the root cause of the issue? Here are a few I’ve seen throughout the years, along with some suggestions for addressing them.
27 Dec 2016

2 Strategies for Closing the Back Door

What are some potential indicators that your church may have back door issues? Declining weekend worship attendance numbers; lots of…
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Growing Strategies
They were ready for us. They created an experience that drew us in, and all of our lives were changed forever in the days and years going forward. Their front door, the weekend experience, was welcoming, warm and just what this tired, spiritually disconnected family needed. However, if I take a step back, what they really did right is what I believe is the biggest barrier to the front doors of our churches.
They were ready for us. They created an experience that drew us in, and all of our lives were changed forever in the days and years going forward. Their front door, the weekend experience, was welcoming, warm and just what this tired, spiritually disconnected family needed. However, if I take a step back, what they really did right is what I believe is the biggest barrier to the front doors of our churches.
26 Dec 2016

The #1 Reason Your Front Door Is Closed

They were ready for us. They created an experience that drew us in, and all of our lives were changed…
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Growing Strategies
Is it possible that in our attempts to connect with guests, we actually push people away by feeling corporate and transactional? Don't get me wrong. I'm all for following up personally with as many people as possible. But the way we go about it sets the tone for our relationships with them. Simply asking for contact info and sending some one-way scripted messages (even on a phone call) is far from making a connection.
Is it possible that in our attempts to connect with guests, we actually push people away by feeling corporate and transactional? Don't get me wrong. I'm all for following up personally with as many people as possible. But the way we go about it sets the tone for our relationships with them. Simply asking for contact info and sending some one-way scripted messages (even on a phone call) is far from making a connection.
20 Dec 2016

Beyond the Mug: Connecting with Guests Coming In Your Front Door

Is it possible that in our attempts to connect with guests, we actually push people away by feeling corporate and…
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Growing Strategies
"A big reason why we have small groups is to close the back door of the church." Most church leaders would probably agree with this statement. After all, we know that if people are not connected in the church, they will eventually drift out of the church. So, we design our groups strategy to catch them as soon as possible. It is important that people in our church get connected in community, but we're missing a critical evangelism opportunity if that's our only plan for small groups.
"A big reason why we have small groups is to close the back door of the church." Most church leaders would probably agree with this statement. After all, we know that if people are not connected in the church, they will eventually drift out of the church. So, we design our groups strategy to catch them as soon as possible. It is important that people in our church get connected in community, but we're missing a critical evangelism opportunity if that's our only plan for small groups.
20 Dec 2016

Small Groups Can Be The Front Door Of The Church

“A big reason why we have small groups is to close the back door of the church.” Most church leaders…
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Growing Strategies
It is no secret that people are attending church less frequently than ever before. Even faithful Christian families may only be there a couple weekends each month. The reason for this seems to be the same in every geographic region: Competition. Not competition with other churches but with other activities. Sunday used to be a protected day on our culture’s calendar. Now it is fair play for youth sports, lake days, work, and more.
It is no secret that people are attending church less frequently than ever before. Even faithful Christian families may only be there a couple weekends each month. The reason for this seems to be the same in every geographic region: Competition. Not competition with other churches but with other activities. Sunday used to be a protected day on our culture’s calendar. Now it is fair play for youth sports, lake days, work, and more.
21 Nov 2016

Why You Might Not Want People In Church Every Sunday – Panic at the Church (Part 5)

It is no secret that people are attending church less frequently than ever before. Even faithful Christian families may only…
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Growing Strategies
When you love a strategy more then you love the mission you’ve got the right recipe for a declining church. When the strategy stops working it’s not time to give up on the mission, it’s time to employ a new strategy. The mission of the Church is not to get a bunch of people in a big room at one time for a great show. The mission of the church is to help people meet Jesus. Don’t get those two things confused.
When you love a strategy more then you love the mission you’ve got the right recipe for a declining church. When the strategy stops working it’s not time to give up on the mission, it’s time to employ a new strategy. The mission of the Church is not to get a bunch of people in a big room at one time for a great show. The mission of the church is to help people meet Jesus. Don’t get those two things confused.
15 Nov 2016

Large Church Gatherings Are a Strategy, Not the Mission – Panic at the Church (Part 4)

When you love a strategy more then you love the mission you’ve got the right recipe for a declining church.…
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Growing Strategies
“Our customer is the problem. That’s why we’re not making any money.” Sounds like a surefire way to run a business, doesn’t it? Organizations like that don’t keep their doors open for long. Yet it’s the very mindset holding many church leaders back.
“Our customer is the problem. That’s why we’re not making any money.” Sounds like a surefire way to run a business, doesn’t it? Organizations like that don’t keep their doors open for long. Yet it’s the very mindset holding many church leaders back.
14 Nov 2016

Church Attendance Decline? There’s a Problem with Your Product. – Panic at the Church (Part 3)

“Our customer is the problem. That’s why we’re not making any money.” Sounds like a surefire way to run a…
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Growing Strategies
Earlier this week, I introduced a new series on the church attendance panic we’re currently seeing in many churches. As we continue the conversation, I caught up with Bryan Collier, Lead Pastor of The Orchard in Tupelo, Mississippi, to get his thoughts on attendance, societal shifts, and his church's mission.
Earlier this week, I introduced a new series on the church attendance panic we’re currently seeing in many churches. As we continue the conversation, I caught up with Bryan Collier, Lead Pastor of The Orchard in Tupelo, Mississippi, to get his thoughts on attendance, societal shifts, and his church's mission.
10 Nov 2016

How One Church Leans In to Less Frequent Attendance – Panic at the Church (Part 2)

Earlier this week, I introduced a new series on the church attendance panic we’re currently seeing in many churches. As…
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Growing Strategies
Whenever I walk into a church facing attendance decline, a common theme emerges. The leaders are concerned that people are attending services less frequently. They’ll explain that regulars used to show up every week, but now they’re attending only once or twice a month. Rather than panic about attendance patterns; let me offer these proactive next steps you could take to encourage people to show up more often.
Whenever I walk into a church facing attendance decline, a common theme emerges. The leaders are concerned that people are attending services less frequently. They’ll explain that regulars used to show up every week, but now they’re attending only once or twice a month. Rather than panic about attendance patterns; let me offer these proactive next steps you could take to encourage people to show up more often.
08 Nov 2016

Panic at the Church: Dealing with Less Frequent Attendance Patterns

Whenever I walk into a church facing attendance decline, a common theme emerges. The leaders are concerned that people are…
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