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Church attendance can bottom out! Find out the reasons why and implement some familiar and unique solutions.
Help! Our Attendance Is Declining
(Some Possible Reasons Why ... And Their Potential Solutions)
By: Danny Von Kanel
Mount Pleasant church cries for help. Years of decline in attendance has wrecked havoc on programming, finances, and morale. Leaders have come and gone. People have moved in and out. Those who remain ache for God’s blessings ... for spiritual growth ... for numerical gain.
Mount Pleasant is not alone. 70% of churches in America are plateaued or in decline. Fortunately, a good number of this percentage, like Mount Pleasant, realize something is wrong. They long for correction. They desire a new path to growth. They aspire to know why their declining and how to find solutions to reverse the trend.
Twenty five years of observing, counseling, and nurturing churches toward growth, has led me to some insights. All "like-minded" Mount Pleasant churches would do well to ponder these and consider the answers.
SOME REASONS FOR DECLINE AND THEIR SOLUTIONS
Reason - Changing Population
Mount Pleasant church gropes for significance in a community that has changed. A former white middle-class community has now transformed into a predominantly low to middle income black community. Mount Pleasant, till this point, has remained all white.
Solution - Change Location or Redefine Your Mission
Both these solutions cost: one in money, the other in possible conflict to make it happen. Many churches have relocated. This invariably involves purchasing new land and building a new worship center across town. "The average cost", says Steve Dawson, " for construction of a new facility is about $100.00 per square foot plus land costs. The average selling price of an old facility is $50.00 to $75.00 per square foot, with no value given to the land. A congregation with an existing 15,000 square feet facility will spend close to a million dollars before they have added the 15,001st square foot." Having a new mortgage is also something that must be figured into budget price. Both building cost and new mortgage suggest careful consideration before making this leap. Growth does not necessarily come because you build a new building.
We must weigh our biblical mandate to carry the gospel to "all" the world when considering this option. Redefining one’s mission means a shift in whom we reach. Much of our country still struggles with racial and social issues. Addressing either carries with it the potential of losing even more people who reject this variation in ministry.
Mount Pleasant chose to redefine their mission. Indeed, a few members objected and left the church. Those who remained, accepted the challenge to reach their neighbors regardless of color or social status. Growth has been the result.
Reason - Love Affair With The Status Quo
Churches locked into a certain way of doing church are prone to decline. Riverside church knew this way well. Predominantly senior adult, they insisted on doing church like when it was at its peak back in 70’s. "Success breeds conservatism, and that means a love affair with the status quo and an aversion to change." They resisted change in worship styles. They wanted staff to cater to their needs. They gave very little impetus for younger members to "have ownership" in how the church was run. Hence, key decision making committees included few younger members. The end result stiffened any inroads for change. Decline was inevitable.
Solution - Embrace Change
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that a church which fails to reach young families is destined to die. Senior adults will eventually pass on to eternity. Change had to occur at Riverside that would attract young families. Their pastor suggested changing their worship style from traditional to blended. He begin to target his messages to issues of concern to young families. He recommended committees give young adults "ownership" by placing them on key committees.
Unfortunately, Riverside church rejected the pastors’ changes. Not surprising, the church closed its door ten years later.
Reason - Church Conflict
Jackson Street church fired four pastors in eight years. Every departure took with it several families who said they wanted no part in crucifying God’s man. With each exit, their community became less and less responsive to attempts at outreach. One man summed up their difficulties in impacting their community by saying, "If that is what they do to their leaders, why should I or anyone else want to go there."
Solution - Seek Forgiveness/Embrace Conflict Management
One must ask the question, "With four firings in eight years, could it be that the pastors were not all in the wrong?" As in divorce, there are always two sides to every story. Even if the pastors were mostly to blame, a church would do well to corporately confess their sin to God and move on. God will not bless a church with unconfessed corporate sin.
Once forgiven, set up a systematic process related to conflict management. Most conventions have trained personnel to mediate when there is church conflict. Jackson Street had to break the cycle. They chose to seek forgiveness and embrace conflict management. The end result has been numerical growth during an eight year period free of pastoral firings.
Churches wanting to grow, can. Though these are by no means all the reasons for decline, they are three of the most prevalent. God’s people do respond when leadership redefines their mission, embraces change, and helps get a grip on conflict management. As you assess which reason fits your congregation, begin to implement these solutions. When you do, begin to watch for positive change in your attendance.
Sidebar
Tools To Enhance Attendance
1. Assessment - Until you pinpoint why attendance is declining, all efforts at reversal are futile.
2. Demographic Studies - Demographics portray the possibilities for growth. An identifying of specific areas to target efforts at growth can be gained from this study. Contact the US Census or your state convention offices to secure demographics.
3. Mission Statement - Growth is enhanced when the entire church is working on the same page for the same purpose. Make sure your people know what is their mission.
4. Prayer - Every growing church is a praying church. The fields are white unto harvest. Pray that God will send forth laborers.
5. Visitation Program - Churches who fail to go where the people are miss opportunities to witness and minister when a crisis hits. Staying in touch shows you care. A caring church will reach and keep people.
6. Community Awareness - Let your community know what your church has to offer. Never let an opportunity pass by without having something in your local newspaper or radio station.
7. Sermons - Preach a series of sermons on "The Great Commission". Help your congregation catch a vision of what your church can become.
8. Worship Style - Consider changing your worship style in order to attract younger audiences.
9. Excellence - Raise the standard of excellence in everything you do. People are still attracted to quality.
10. Muti-sensory Planning - Involve all the senses in worship, Bible study, and church events. We have become a visual generation in particular. Let people’s sight influence their coming to your site for worship.
Sidebar
Church Leadership ... And Attendance
Checklist
Our leaders are outreach minded.
Always Most Of The Time Sometimes Never
4 3 2 1
Our leaders are prepared.
Always Most Of The Time Sometimes Never
4 3 2 1
Our leaders visit absentees.
Always Most Of The Time Sometimes Never
4 3 2 1
Our leaders pray for their members
Always Most Of The Time Sometimes Never
4 3 2 1
Our leaders give of their time ministering to others
Always Most Of The Time Sometimes Never
4 3 2 1
Our leaders witness.
Always Most Of The Time Sometimes Never
4 3 2 1
Scoring: 21-24 Excellent (Other factors affecting attendance; pinpoint factor(s); implement solutions or redouble your efforts)
18-20 Good (Bring to excellent the weak areas)
14-18 Fair (Serious issues need addressing)
6-13 Poor (Reason attendance in a downward spiral; immediate action is necessary)
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reason: Christians are constantly being bomb-barded by messages on television, messages which slander Christ and the Church without
fear of reprisal. Some of the massages are
obvious and some are subliminal. But, make no mistake, they are there! And, unless and until Christians stop watching those messages, which can only be construed as hate, Church attendance will continue to decline. Please update your very good artical with the above fact included.