Is Your Church Growing After the Pandemic?
Everywhere I go now, people are interested in how the church is doing after the pandemic. How is your church doing? Some churches were growing and others weren’t, even before the pandemic hit. Some churches have regained their numbers while others seem to be decreasing in attendance. We need to stop comparing our numbers before and after the pandemic and instead look at numbers over the past 12 months.
I recently attended a church which has been gaining new attendees every week. I think this is the correct way to respond to attendance numbers: Let’s stop worrying about parishioners who may have gone somewhere else and begin to focus our energy on the new attendees. I’m on a team that teaches two introductory classes at my church. These classes are very popular. Newcomers are interested and want to know more about the church they’re attending.
Being online has opened up a door to us that we never had before. Many churches now have people worshipping with them from all over the world, but putting your church service online requires more than just people attending worship virtually. Churches need to be writing stories and articles that touch not only online participants but all worshippers.
Pastors are trained to introduce people to Jesus. Pastors and worshippers need to continue to do what they know how to do and allow communications staff and online offerings to continue to bring new people into our churches. Ministry is all about people. And people are looking for a living relationship with Jesus, whether they are online or sitting in a church pew.
I read an article this week saying that overstaffed churches tend to struggle more than those that are lean on staffing. We can’t hire staff to do all aspects of ministry, yet many times that’s what the church thinks. To be successful, we need volunteer leaders to build volunteer teams. I’ve been working with a church for several months that has been planning for a consecration Sunday in the Fall. Their direction is to involve as many people as possible, and consecration Sunday will be a success because they are dotting all the “i’s” and crossing all the “t’s.” They already have all the committees, and the whole church is aiming at a successful consecration Sunday.
As we continue to recover from the pandemic, may you and your church be winners. Spend time with new folks and encourage your church to pull together to welcome everyone. If you are interested in having a consecration Sunday, give me a call (804-521-1157). Remember – ministry is all about people. And people are looking for a living relationship with Jesus!
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Images: Terren Hurst, Surface & Christina Wocintechchat, courtesy of Unsplash
