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Every pastor desires to see their church grow, with new attendees, lively worship, and a thriving congregation.With limited resources and a bit of creativity, you can find affordable and effective growth strategies.
Every pastor wants to see their church grow. You want to see new faces in the pews, hear vibrant worship, and feel the energy of a growing congregation. However, with limited resources, it can be challenging to find cost-effective strategies for church growth.
But don't worry - we've got you covered. Here are 11 proven strategies that can help your church grow without breaking the bank.
True church growth is impossible apart from God. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Apart from the divine work of God, we can do nothing to create church growth. Now, to be clear. You might be able to draw a crowd. If you get creative or crazy enough, you might get people in the door. But true church growth, authentic transformation of lives, and an impact that lasts for eternity are only possible through the power of God.
The first and most important strategy for cost-effective church growth is to pray fervently and continuously for God's guidance, provision, and blessing upon your church. Make prayer a priority in every aspect of your church and ministry.
E.M. Bounds said:
“What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use -- men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men -- men of prayer.”
It's important to think through church growth strategies. It's important to be creative and work hard to see more people come to Christ. But no amount of strategizing or hard work can create church growth if God isn't behind it.
In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul says: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." Paul and Apollos both worked to see the growth of the church. They planted seeds and watered them. But Paul knew that God caused the growth.
If you want to see your church grow, pray. Pray hard. Ask God to do great things in your church. This is a prayer He loves to answer, and you can be confident that God will work in your church.
In Romans 10:14-15, Paul asks, " How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?"
One of the key ways to see your church grow is by creating a culture of evangelism. This means equipping and encouraging every member of your church to share their faith with others.
Make evangelism a regular part of your church's teaching and training. Create opportunities for members to practice sharing their faith, such as through outreach events or small group discussions. Celebrate and share stories of members who have shared their faith and seen others come to Christ.
Ultimately, it's the responsibility of every Christian to share the good news with those around them. By creating a culture in which evangelism is the norm, you can expect to see church growth.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands his disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Discipleship is a vital aspect of church growth. It's not just about getting people through the doors, but about helping them grow in their faith and become more like Christ. Yes, you want as many people as possible to come into your church. But you can't stop there. You want to see people go deep in their faith as well.
It's important to have a clear discipleship plan in place. This can include small groups, mentorship programs, or regular classes focused on teaching biblical principles and helping members apply them in their daily lives.
Discipleship is not just for new believers, but for all members of the church. Encourage everyone to continue growing in their faith, and provide resources and opportunities for them to do so. This will not only strengthen individuals but also create a strong foundation for the growth of your church as a whole.
One of the most effective ways to spur church growth is to make it part of the very DNA of your church. This means incorporating it into your mission statement, values, and overall vision. When church growth is ingrained in the core of your church's purpose, it can help guide decision-making and prioritize efforts toward that goal.
Additionally, regularly talking about the importance of growth and setting measurable goals for the church can keep members focused and motivated to actively contribute to its growth.
If church growth isn't part of your mission statement, there's a good chance that it will become one aspiration among many. Or even worse, it will get set aside in place of other priorities. By making it a central part of your church's mission, you are sending a clear message to members and visitors that growth is a top priority for your community.
Incorporating growth into the core of your mission statement also creates accountability. It sets expectations and holds leadership accountable for actively working towards growth. Complacency is always a challenge when it comes to leading a church. It's easy to rest on what you've already achieved. Making growth a central aspect of your church helps protect against the creep of complacency.
As a church grows, it's important to regularly evaluate the programs and activities offered. This helps ensure that resources are being used effectively and efficiently toward the goal of growth.
The reality is that over the years you may accumulate programs that don't contribute to growth and actively take away resources from activities that do result in growth. Over time, you may need to prune programs that are not meeting the needs of your community or are not aligned with your overall mission.
Take a close look at each program or activity and ask yourself:
Based on the answers to these questions, prioritize and make any necessary changes to your programs and activities. As a church grows, it's important to focus on what truly matters and let go of things that are not serving the greater purpose.
One note of caution: people can grow very attached to certain programs and may struggle if you cut them. Make sure you can clearly communicate your reasons for cutting or pruning programs.
The children in your church represent the future of your congregation and community. Investing in their spiritual growth is essential for long-term church growth.
Take a look at your current children's and youth programs and evaluate whether they are meeting the needs of this important demographic. Are these programs engaging, age-appropriate, and aligned with the values and teachings of your church?
If possible, consider revamping or expanding these programs. This may include hiring qualified staff, creating a new curriculum, or partnering with other organizations in your community.
One significant benefit of having strong children's and youth programs is that they position you to effectively serve visitors and new members who have children. This can be a strong draw for parents. When deciding whether to attend a church, parents are more likely to choose one with strong programs for the kids.
Remember, investing in the younger generation is not just about growing numbers, although that's certainly important. It's about nurturing the spiritual development of these young individuals and equipping them to become strong, faithful members of your church.
One of the best ways to grow a church is by reaching out to the surrounding community. This can take many forms. Your community outreach could include:
Throughout the gospels, we see Jesus constantly engaging with His surrounding community. He ate dinner with people, ministered to the sick and broken, and showed compassion to those who would find it nowhere else.
By actively engaging with and serving your community, you can demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ. This can ultimately lead to growth as people are drawn to a welcoming and caring community.
Having a strong online presence is crucial for reaching and connecting with people. For good or bad, people spend a huge amount of time online. They browse social media, listen to podcasts, read blogs, watch YouTube videos, and scroll through their email. To reach people, you need to be active in the same online channels they are.
Some ways to strengthen your online presence include:
Don't feel overwhelmed if you can't do all of these things. Focus on doing just one or two of them well. For example, if you don't have the resources to maintain a blog, prioritize creating engaging social media content. The key is to consistently provide valuable and relevant content that reflects your church's mission and values.
Strengthening your online presence is not just about reaching new people. It's also about connecting with and nurturing relationships with current members. Use these tools to create a strong sense of community within your church.
A Church Management System like Breeze can help you better manage both your current members and visitors. Breeze allows you to quickly and easily add new visitors to your database and then follow up with them via email or text message. You can store and sort people by any information, including things like baptism date or spiritual gifts.
Breeze also makes it simple to accept digital donations. You can offer your church online, mobile, and text giving, ensuring that people can easily give no matter where they are. From there, you can view everyone's giving history directly in the ChMS itself.
Technology should allow you to spend less time on tedious work and more time on the things that matter. Using a ChMS not only helps you better organize and keep track of your church community, but it also allows for more personalized and targeted communication. This can greatly enhance engagement and involvement within your church.
The reality is that in order to grow, your church will need money. As much as we would like it to be, running a healthy church isn't free. It's important to be transparent with your congregation about the financial needs of the church and the impact their giving has on fulfilling your mission.
Even the Apostle Paul needed money to finance his ministry. In 2 Corinthians 8-9, he discusses the importance of giving and how it should be done willingly and with a joyful heart. At other points, he expresses gratitude to churches for their gifts to him.
Preaching on finances and giving may feel uncomfortable, but it's necessary for the health and growth of your church. Use biblical principles and verses about finances to guide your message and encourage members to give joyfully, not out of obligation. Show them how their giving is making an impact and fulfilling the church's mission.
Aside from preaching and teaching, one of the best ways to grow your church is by creating a welcoming and hospitable environment for visitors. You want new people to feel at home from the moment they walk in the door. People form first impressions quickly and you want to make sure it's a positive one.
Start by having friendly greeters at the entrance to welcome and direct people. Newcomers won't have any idea where to go when they first arrive so make sure your signage is clear and easy to follow.
Create a designated area for new visitors where they can learn more about your church and get connected with others. Consider offering a gift or a small token of appreciation for their visit. And don't forget to welcome visitors from the pulpit as well. Acknowledge that they're present and thank them for coming.
Welcoming new people isn't just a church growth strategy. It's also being obedient to Romans 15:7, which says, "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." By creating an inviting and hospitable environment, you are reflecting the love and acceptance of Christ to those who walk through your doors.
Your church should also have a follow-up plan for visitors. Assign someone to reach out to them within the first week after their visit. This shows that your church cares about their presence and wants to get to know them better. Consider sending a handwritten note or making a phone call to personally invite them back for another service.
Church growth doesn't come easily. It requires intentional effort and a heart for welcoming and connecting with new people. But the effort is well worth the work. As new people come into your church, you get to be part of their stories. You get to see God work in their lives and transform them.
In the end, it's not about the numbers or the size of your church. It's about creating a family that reflects the love and welcome of Christ to all who enter. So let us continue to welcome one another with open arms and open hearts, for God's glory and the growth of His kingdom.
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Breeze has been incredible. Their customer service, commitment to innovation, and their product are top-notch. I love the features, the ease of use and the mobile applications.
All of our database needs have been more than met, it's easier to use than the last database we had, and the price is amazing - what a value this has been to our church! All of our staff can use this software and they do regularly. We use it to track…literally anything a church could possibly need to track regarding it's attenders.
Breeze has been a great asset to our church and congregation. Especially from an administrative standpoint, it has been the most adaptable and easiest church database I have ever used. The features from blast emails to giving on-line, and texting have been one of our greatest assets. Thank you!
We switched from a major, web-based ChMS to Breeze and our decision is confirmed every day. We are a medium size church and we use Breeze for contributions, member management, event checkin and a few other applications custom to our church. I had trouble getting any staff to use our previous ChMS but almost all staff are using Breeze. The product is very well designed, extremely easy to learn and use and customer service is incredible.
Breeze has opened the communication highway for our congregation and staff, with very little training. Because members can update their own records and search easily for other members - and map their locations, send emails and text right from Breeze, they love it and our data is more real-time accurate. Our ministries are stronger, because they can trust the data in Breeze, which is easily accessed anywhere, anytime.
Breeze is the first ChMS my volunteers have actually embraced. That's because it's so easy to use. The software is very flexible and gives us the opportunity to make decisions based on actual data we've collected and not just hunches or stories we believe to be true.
I cannot say enough about Breeze. Their customer service is so friendly, you feel like you have friends and family helping you get started, they're prompt to reply and will do whatever they can to help you get things sorted out. It's been so easy to learn, our staff is loving it and best of all even our staff who are not computer savvy find it a breeze (pun intended). We are just thrilled by our choice.
From the start of our process looking for an online solution, Breeze has exceeded all our expectations. Fast data import, fast and friendly customer support, and we can’t say enough about how much we like the program itself. Very well designed and user friendly. On a scale of 1-10, Breeze gets a 15 from us!
