Growing Churches
From thinkchristian.net on Why Churches Grow:
Churches are more likely to grow when:
• A church is multiracial.
• Men make up at least 60 percent of regular participants.
• Leaders describe worship as “slightly to not at all†reverent.
• Drums or percussion are always used in worship.
• Churches are located in new suburbs or downtown metropolitan areas.
• Churches have started or maintained a web site in the past year.
• Children are involved in worship.
• A church holds more worship services.
• There is an absence of serious conflict.
(taken from a report of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research)
These are not necessary the main reasons churches grow, but are some interesting correlations. The one most shocking to me is the “irreverent worship”. Do we take this as not serious worship that is a mockery to our great and holy God or is it representative of a childlike faith without pretenses? hmm…
I guess I’ve taken a step in the right direction in getting my church a place online at MyChurch.org.
Chris Folkestad wrote:
I too was a little taken back by the “irrelevant worship.” I DO however think that worship service needs to be secondary on Church leaders priority list. There is so much more to church than Sunday morning or Wednesday nights. Too often I think we put too much time, energy and money into these services that could be channeled into small group ministries, or week day ministries.
Don’t get me wrong, Worship services are an important part of the church calendar, but sometimes I think they become important for the wrong reasons. They are important because we can attract large numbers and make ourselves and our church look trendy and cool. Maybe they should be important because it is a time when we can come together as a church family, worship God together, and we can share the Gospel with those who are seeking.
For what its worth…
Chris
Posted 08 Jan 2007 at 12:19 pm ¶
mike l wrote:
Chris- I belive the article was talking about “irreverant worship”, not “irrelevant worship”, but either would be interesting to talk about.
Here is a question for you guys: Is it possible we all care way too much about church growth? I say this talking about growth in sheer numbers. Don’t get me wrong, Jesus said that a good tree produces good fruit, and I suppose in some respects that can mean growth in numbers, but can’t it just mean growth in reference to people maturing in relationship with God?
I worked at a church once where the pastor’s first question every Monday morning (youth group was on Sunday night) was “How many did you have last night.” I don’t think it was intentional, but he was imparting to me the idea that ministry is all about the numbers. Frankly, I’d rather have a group of 12 people than a church of 3000 anyday, and looking at Jesus it seems like that’s what he preferred as well.
Looks like I’m on a little soap box here, but that’s because I guess I’m perplexed as to why there are so many people trying to put together the formula for the perfect church. In short I don’t believe there is one. In college we spent plenty of time looking at models of the mega churches. I got the message that if we could duplicate Willow Creek or Saddle Back- then we would be doing real ministry…sucsessful minstry. I don’t buy it. Not at all.
I think as long as the people in the church are seeking God’s Holy Spirit and obeying what He is telling them, then He in turn will “grow” that church in the direction it needs growth (most likely in proximity to Him) – keeping in mind he may just decide to “downsize” those numbers we find ever so important.
Posted 12 Jan 2007 at 12:44 am ¶