Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 27

5 Surprising Approaches Churches Are Using to Increase Attendance

I like outliers. 

Outliers are, by their definition, exceptions to the rule. They are different from others.

Our Church Answers team closely watches church attendance, especially attendance since the pandemic. Most churches had a decline in attendance. Since many of these congregations are intentional about recovering from the decreases, we note what approaches these churches take. 

Our team reports trends among large numbers of churches. But some churches are growing using approaches that don’t match the current trends. Here are five surprising practices a few churches are using to increase attendance. 

Subtract and add. One church used the pandemic to review all of its ministries and programs. The church leaders realized they had too much activity with little fruit. So, they decided to eliminate the time-wasting activities. They moved methodically, at times slowly, lest they engender too much conflict. Over the past three years, the church has eliminated six programs and activities that were largely unfruitful. But they took it one step further. The leaders committed to adding a Great Commission or outwardly focused ministry whenever they saw the need to introduce something new to the church. They have to date added two of those ministries. The net result is the removal of six time-draining ministries and the addition of two growth-focused ministries. Their attendance has moved from 117 to 154 since this new approach began. Two invite programs a year. Two churches started with similar emphases. Both congregations have two major emphases a year where they attempt to get every member to invite one person to church on a specific date. For one of the two dates, they connect it to a naturally high attendance day like Easter or Christmas Eve. For the other invitation day, they pick a date that is typically a typical attendance day. One pastor told us that his church’s attendance had broken the 200 level for the first time in its history. We did not get specific numbers on the second church, though the pastor commented that this emphasis engendered “healthy attendance growth” for each of the past three years. Church Answers has its own resource for invitation programs called Invite Your One. One More Group. A Midwestern pastor heard one of our podcasts where we talked about the vital importance of groups: community groups, home groups, Sunday school classes, life groups, and others. He led his church to start at least one new group a year. In three years, the church has created five new groups, and the church has nearly doubled in attendance from 80 to 155.  The Hope Initiative. Though this ministry is less than a year old, we are getting growth and renewal reports that far exceed our expectations. A pastor in Kentucky told us that when he came to his church in 2021, attendance was 80 to 100. They have gone through The Hope Initiative twice. Attendance is up to 180, and 15 people have been saved. Evangelism training in new member classes. The first time I heard about a church putting this training in a new member class, my reaction was, “Why haven’t I thought about this before?” This particular church uses the training called “3 Circles.” The app version is called “Life on Mission.” The pastor said he spends about 20 minutes teaching it, confident the new members can use the app from that point forward. Since integrating the training into the new member class three years ago, attendance has increased from 315 to 390. 

Please understand two points about these five approaches. First, they are outliers (though The Hope Initiative may soon defy the definition of an outlier). Most of them are not in widespread use. Second, they are not silver bullets. They are different approaches to obedience to the Great Commission. 

I would love to hear from you. Please share what tools or approaches God is using in your church. Your response would be a blessing to all of us.

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Seven Tips to Make Sermon Points More Memorable

My wife recently found a box of old church bulletins with notes from my previous sermons. She is a prodigious note-taker. These old bulletins contained thousands of sermon points. How many of them did she remember? I didn’t ask. 

Only a few congregants will remember specific points I make in a sermon several years afterward. This reality does not discourage me. Spiritual growth builds over time and works like exercise. You will not likely remember every specific workout, but you will build strength and endurance through regular exercise. Similarly, listening carefully to sermons for years will increase your spiritual maturity. Even if you can’t quote individual sermon points, they build on each other like successive exercise workouts.

Should pastors care about making memorable sermon points?

Yes! When people are more familiar with a subject, they can process information more easily and quickly. Memorability helps people pay attention for longer periods of time. Think of memorable sermon points as the connection between building blocks. Not every point will be remembered, but each one will assist the listener in building knowledge and understanding.

Additionally, any single sermon point may stick to someone in an impactful way. I’ll never forget my college pastor’s definition of passion. He said, “Passion is the degree of difficulty one will endure to reach a goal.” It stuck with me all these years! This one point has guided so much about the way I live. I will endure significant hardships if I’m genuinely passionate about something.

How can you make your sermon points more memorable?

I usually make between three and seven significant points in a sermon. Sometimes, these points build on each other successively. Other times, they serve as an outline. Occasionally, I will use points to lead up to a major conclusion at the end of my sermon. What are some ways to make them more memorable?

1. Include visual cues. Most churches have at least one screen in the worship space. Put each sermon point on the screen. You do not need fancy graphics. The words alone are sufficient when depicted in an easy-to-read font.

2. Use the second person pronoun, “you,” in the sermon point. Including “you” helps people internalize the application of a sermon. For example, “You should have a high view of God’s glory and a humble view of yourself.”

3. Make your sermon point a call to action. I try to include at least one call to action in every sermon. The congregation should be convicted to do more for God at the end of every worship service. This commitment is made clearer when the pastor makes a specific call to action.

4. Explain each point with a “what, so what, now what” structure. Start with what and give the meaning of Scripture. Then, work through so what and help your congregation understand why this meaning applies to them today. Finally, conclude with now what and share the next step everyone needs to take.

5. Keep people focused with occasional pictures on the screen. For example, I recently talked about Obadiah Holmes in a sermon, and I showed a nineteenth-century etching of him while I shared his story. I’m unsure if a picture is worth a thousand words, but they help retain information.

6. Avoid obscure terms or technical words. If you want it to be memorable, make it simple. Theological jargon may be impressive, but it has a limited sticky factor.

7. Demonstrate empathy while making your point. When you connect with how people feel, they are more likely to accept your proposed solution and believe it to be attainable. Empathetic sermon points are more memorable. Additionally, sensationalism and inflammatory statements are easily remembered but often have little personal impact. Empathy is a much better approach to memorability with a positive benefit. 

While pithy statements do not make the sermon, memorable points help people absorb what you are trying to teach. After finding the stash of old sermon notes, my wife debated whether not to toss them. I gave her permission to clear up the shelf space. They were not keepsakes. Her passion to live out the sermon points was far more important to me.

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The ONE Big Change Taking Place in Church Hiring Practices (and It’s Under the Radar)

It is a movement. It is an undeniable movement.

In the midst of all the changes taking place in churches, this one factor is rarely mentioned. For sure, a lot of the focus has been on change in churches since COVID. I get that. The pandemic and quarantine changed much of society including churches. That focus does not need to be ignored.

But, even before the pandemic, there was a massive change taking place in church hiring practices. Because most of us looked at the change itself rather than the cause, we missed the big picture. It is indeed the one big change taking place in church hiring practices.

Don’t leave me when I tell you what the change is. Stay with me as I explain the causes of the change. That’s where the movement is taking place.

First, here is the change. There is a massive movement from full-time church staff to part-time. Don’t yawn. You probably know that reality already. But second, here is the overall reason for the change. Church leaders view staff positions dramatically differently than they did just ten years ago. 

More church staff are indeed becoming part time. That’s the “what.” But let’s uncover the “why” to explain this movement.

The very nature of what church staff do has changed dramatically. I can remember not too long ago when I was asked to rank the order of hiring church staff: worship, education, students, children, and others. Church leaders no longer have cookie cutter ideas of what the next staff person should be. They know that the context of their community and of their church is not like any others. They often thus hire part time as a test because they have never hired a person with the new and specific ministry responsibilities.Churches are no longer seminary or college dependent for staff. If someone has a residential theological degree, he or she is likely expecting to be hired full time. The time and expense of their training demands full-time compensation. But churches are now more likely to hire someone locally or internally without seminary training. These persons are typically part-time.There are many specialized ministry positions that are best filled by part-time staff. I remember when I was a pastor in St. Petersburg, Florida. I hired my first staff person who was able to lead both education and youth. I was fortunate. I was even more fortunate to find someone for my next staff person who led both worship and evangelism. That was a rarity. Today, if you bring on someone to your staff to lead evangelism, that person is more likely to be part time. I know of a church that created ten part-time positions at the same personnel cost of two full-time staff. They are thus able to have staff persons with highly focused responsibilities. It has proven especially advantageous for them to hire some younger staff who are tech-savvy.The co-vocational movement is growing rapidly. We make a subtle distinction between “bi-vocational” and “co-vocational.” The former describes persons who get part-time compensation because the church cannot afford otherwise. The latter refers to staff who desire to keep their job in the marketplace, but to work on a church staff part time. I am familiar with churches that have physicians, professors, plumbers, building contractors, and others on their staff. These co-vocational staff love having one foot in the marketplace of secular jobs while working with a church as a part-time side gig.Technology allows part time for what used to be full time. We no longer need assistants who work in the church building. Though we still have much to learn about artificial intelligence, it is taking on more tasks historically assigned to real people. We are now more mobile than ever. We can now hire a part-time assistant in Idaho when we live in Tennessee (I did just that with Belay).

For certain, the traditional motivation of hiring part-time staff for pure economic reasons is still present and active. But the big change is the strategic decision to move to part-time staff for one or more of the reasons listed above. The “why” is indeed more important than the “what.” That is the incredible movement taking place

I would love to hear from you about your staff hiring practices at your church.

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Why Your Church Needs More (Often) Announcements in Worship

Most of us have entered the twilight zone of worship announcements at some point. A person approaches you with awkward determination three minutes before the start of a worship service. A piece of paper unfolds multiple times.

If there was a way to collect all these scraps of paper, we pastors could create an epic coffee table book of some of the oddest things people want to share with a congregation.

In a previous church, I had to kill the death announcements. Historically, the church began worship services by announcing all member-related deaths. Nothing screams “Let’s worship!” like announcing a second cousin’s funeral who lives three states away.  

Every moment in a corporate gathering is valuable and should bring glory to God. Church leaders should guard the congregation from the black hole of endless droning about insignificant events. Additionally, church leaders should protect less skilled communicators from the undeserved pressure of performing in an area where they are not gifted. Sometimes, it is edifying for an unskilled communicator to share a testimony with the entire congregation. Such moments can be powerful. Making an announcement is not that moment.

The horror stories make many church leaders want to eliminate the announcements from a worship service entirely. But I believe such a move is a mistake. Churches don’t necessarily need more announcements in worship services. They need important announcements more often. Here’s why.

Attendance frequency is declining. Until church leaders solve the problem of people attending less frequently, they must figure out ways to communicate with these infrequent attendees. Thirty years ago, pastors could get away with making an announcement once or twice over a couple of weeks. People attended more often. Today, it’s likely a good portion of people in your church attend much less than a generation ago. If it’s important and you want most people to hear it, announce it for several weeks.

Newer people are more easily confused. Not only are people attending less frequently, but some also don’t know the usual drill because they are new. Newer people—especially the unchurched—will likely be confused about what happens in a church. Expect this confusion because they do not have a frame of reference or history with the congregation. The more you communicate what’s essential, the more likely they will pick up on it.

Most people don’t retain information after being told once. I don’t. You probably don’t either. Repeating something is one of the best ways to highlight what you consider important. Repeating something is one of the best ways to highlight what you consider important.

Generations process information differently. Millennials are more likely to receive an announcement through social media. Older Boomers are more likely to read the worship guide. The Silent Generation loves for you to call them personally. But every generation is listening together in the worship service. A Sunday morning announcement is the best way to communicate to all generations simultaneously.

How might you make key announcements more often without detracting from worship? For example, we start our services each week with a video announcement of the top three items people need to know. Then, a service host (typically a church member) will greet everyone and remind people about what they just saw. At the end of the service, as the lead pastor, I will mention again the most pertinent items right before everyone leaves. With this format, there are three chances for people to catch the announcements in each service.

Announcements are not the most important part of the worship service, but leaders should announce what’s most important to the entire church. And the answer is not more announcements. Instead, the answer is announcing what’s important more often.

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The Cincinnati Bengals . . . and Discipleship

I realize this post is an unusual one for me, but I trust it makes sense at the end. I started writing this post on a plane going from Atlanta to Cincinnati to speak in a church meeting Sunday and Monday. As a native of Cincinnati and a life-long fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, I was excited to see Bengals fans all around me as they made their way to the city for Sunday night’s football game between the Bengals and the Buffalo Bills. It seemed like everyone on this flight was a Bengals fan.

How do I know? By the clothes they were wearing and the conversations they were having. Black and orange jerseys and jackets abounded—particularly #9, the number for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. I also cannot remember how many people I saw wearing Bengals caps. Seems Bengals fans really want people to know their team. 

Then, even the most inattentive ear could not have missed so many ongoing conversations about the game to come. The conversation was somewhat natural for fans who remember the almost-tragic collapse of Buffalo Bills player, Damar Hamlin, in last year’s game at this time. At the same time, though, the conversations were more about a surging Bengals team led by a healthy Joe Burrow. Seems Bengals fans also really like to talk about their team. 

At the risk of overapplying these images in my mind, I couldn’t help but think about some applications to my life and my church: 

Would others look at the lives of our church members and know quickly they are Christ followers? We may not wear a Christian “jersey,” but we are to live in such a way that others recognize a difference. It ought to be that we really want people to know what it means to be a member of the family of God.Does my church teach believers what it means to put on the new man (Eph 4:24, Col 3:10)? We should want them to give evidence of who they are internally by the way they live—to show others who they are in Christ. Do we ever, though, in my Baptist terminology, just “dunk ‘em and drop ‘em,”—and then wonder why they lose their fire and stop talking about Him?Are my church members so excited about their faith that they almost can’t help but talk about Jesus? That is, they talk about grace and forgiveness and peace and joy in Christ no matter who’s listening simply because they really want others to know Him? Would you hear something about Jesus in almost every conversation?Do we have a strategy in place to keep the fire burning in believers? Do we continually encourage believers to grow in Christ so they walk more like Him and talk more about Him? I’ve described “discipleship” in my book, Disciple, as “the process of intentionally fueling the fire of Christ in a believer’s life so that the fire doesn’t go out” (p. 31). If we don’t have a strategy for this kind of discipleship, we can’t expect our members to be light in the darkness.Do we really celebrate victory in Jesus? Sports fans celebrate with abandon when their team wins (and, by the way, the Bengals did win the game . . .), but our response when someone is saved from hell and separation with God is often a weak handshake, at best. Perhaps—just maybe—our folks would live for Jesus and talk more about Him if we celebrated more the victory He’s already given us! 

Just some thoughts of a sports fan who also believes that discipleship matters for believers. What are your thoughts?

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When Church Members Are a Blessed Exit: 5 Thoughts

Perhaps one of the most under-reported issues about the post-pandemic church is how some churches are doing better after the departure of some church members. We know that about 20 percent of active church attendees stopped attending during the pandemic and have not returned. What we rarely hear is that some of those departures actually helped churches.

I need to be careful with this topic. I am not suggesting that urging members to leave should be a church strategy. Nor am I suggesting that problems always reside with the church members. Pastors and other church staff can be problems as well.

Still, this issue is worth exploring. Here are five observations I have at this point,

1. Greater unity takes place when a negative church member leaves. My prayer is that any negativity in the church would be removed. It is hard to have a unified church when there is pervasive negativity present. One pastor shared with me about three church members who did not return after the pandemic quarantine. He and all of his elders affirmed that it was like a dark cloud had been lifted from the church.

2. Sometimes it is better for church members to find another church that better aligns with their focus and doctrine. In that sense, the problem was not as much a negative member as it was a mismatched church member. Any perceived negativity was the consequence of the member not being aligned with the church.

3. These blessed exits can be a form of self-selected church discipline. Of course, departing members do not see themselves as subjects of church discipline. Still, their exits were good for the church, its mission, and its unity.

4. Many of the pastors with whom we’ve spoken have learned not to chase these exiting members. It’s not uncommon for members to depart because they did not get their way on an issue in the church. Prior to their departure, they were negative and needy. Many pastors have learned the painful lesson about giving these energy drainers too much attention.

5. Beware of people coming to your church when they quickly start complaining about the church they left. That attitude could be a clear signal that they will start complaining about your church and about you personally. Be ready to “nip it in the bud” (Andy Griffith and Barney Fife fans will understand the reference.).

I remember well the first time a pastor friend of mine referred to his church experiencing a “back door revival.” Though his church endured some painful losses through this attrition, God used the exits for His glory. 

Sometimes a minus can become a plus for a church.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

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Navigating Criticism with Grace: A Guide for Women Leaders

Criticism is an inevitable aspect of leadership, and as a woman in a leadership role, you may encounter unique challenges and expectations. How you handle criticism can profoundly impact your growth and effectiveness as a leader. Whether it is an e-mail from a member sharing their opinions on room temperature and the selection of snacks available to a conversation with your pastor on how there needs to be more alignment with vision and the churches discipleship process, how we receive the critiques not only says a lot about our own maturity as a leader, but it also allows us to continue to grow and improve. Embracing criticism as an opportunity for personal and professional growth is a skill that can set you apart.

1. Embrace a Growth Mindset

The first step in handling criticism effectively is to adopt a growth mindset. Understand that criticism is not an attack on your abilities but an opportunity for improvement. Embracing this mindset allows you to view feedback as a tool for personal and professional development.

2. Separate Personal from Professional

Criticism can hit close to home, particularly for women in leadership positions, where the added layer of potential gender bias or a lack of equitable opportunities can amplify these emotions. It’s crucial to distinguish between personal attacks and constructive feedback related to your work. Avoid internalizing criticism that doesn’t directly address your performance or behavior.

Our natural instinct may lead us to instinctively defend ourselves, but a more constructive approach is to ask these questions:

What’s the source of the criticism? Is this individual habitually negative, or are they genuinely invested and supportive, aiming to identify areas for improvement?Which parts of the criticism hold truth, and which should you let go? Separating the wheat from the chaff can help you focus on valuable insights.Consider whether this feedback will ultimately benefit or harm the organization or your team. Is it a step toward growth and betterment, or does it serve to disrupt progress?What can you learn from their perspective? Every critique, even when challenging, can offer valuable insights that may lead to positive change and growth.

3. Listen Carefully and Use Discernment

When it comes to dealing with criticism, the key is to listen attentively without jumping to your own defense. Give the person sharing their feedback the time and space to fully express their thoughts and concerns. Engaging in active listening not only demonstrates your respect for their perspective, but also enhances the quality of the conversation.

Another useful technique is to ask clarifying questions while they’re giving their feedback. This approach helps you gain a deeper understanding of their motives and the context of their critique. It’s possible that beneath their criticism of specific decisions or actions, there may be an underlying issue or a misunderstanding fueling their negativity. By delving into their perspective through thoughtful questioning, you can uncover hidden insights and address the root of their concerns more effectively.

4. Maintain Emotional Intelligence

The ability to maintain emotional intelligence is, in my opinion, the most crucial aspect of handling criticism effectively. Leadership often demands a high degree of emotional intelligence, and it is vital to remain composed and avoid knee-jerk reactions such as anger, defensiveness, or resentment. Instead, strive to respond with empathy and professionalism. It’s important to note that this doesn’t imply allowing yourself to be a doormat or disrespected. As a leader, you have the opportunity to set the tone and exemplify respect and dignity in every interaction.

5. Stay True to Who You Are

Remaining receptive to feedback and committed to personal growth is vital, but it’s equally important not to lose sight of your unique leadership style and vision. Instead of seeing criticism as a reason to transform your core identity as a leader, consider it a valuable tool for fine-tuning and improving your approach.

Every one of us has room for improvement and areas where we may fall short. It’s essential to understand that perfection isn’t the goal of leadership. Instead, we lead with humility, staying true to the calling and gifts that have been bestowed upon us.

As a woman leader, you have the strength, resilience, and skills to thrive in your role. Embrace criticism as a stepping stone to success, rather than a stumbling block. By cultivating a growth mindset, actively seeking feedback, and approaching criticism with emotional intelligence, you can not only weather the storms but also emerge stronger and more effective in your leadership position. Remember, every critique is an opportunity to grow and become the inspiring and humble leader you aspire to be.

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The One Thing that Solves Most Church Problems (Only 1% of Churches Actually Do This)

Church health will not improve until ongoing evangelism returns.

A recent Church Answers poll found that only 1% of churches have an ongoing evangelism effort. This finding corroborated a more extensive longitudinal study we’ve been conducting since 1996, in which the lowest church health score across denominations is in the category of evangelism.

The trend is alarming, and it is getting worse. We are seeing it across denominational lines and in non-denominational churches.

The figure below is part of the demographic data we collect when conducting our Know Your Church surveys. We have responses from tens of thousands of church members across the nation. The data below is from the last five years and represents multiple denominations. What is shocking is the lack of new believers in these churches. The vast majority of our respondents report being a Christian for eleven or more years.

If you were to examine the demographics of your church, what would this figure look like? Would you have a good mix of new Christians and mature Christians? Or would your pie chart look like this one? What this data shows is troubling. Churches are not reaching people for Christ, and there is a lot of catching up to do with evangelism.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, evangelistic programs faded from churches. Some became outdated. Others never worked well in the first place. The problem was churches did not replace these programs with another ongoing evangelism emphasis. Instead, churches cut these programs, and evangelism stopped altogether.

The opportunity: People are still receptive to faith conversations.

Surprisingly, many people not currently attending a church are receptive to going. The reason they do not is that they have yet to be invited. If invited and accompanied, 82% of the unchurched are open to attending church with a friend or acquaintance.

While many of us may fall into the trap of believing that those who do not attend a church have a negative perception, the opposite is true. Most of the unchurched believe pastors and churches are beneficial to the public. Such positive perceptions should encourage local churches to reach out to their communities.

Additionally, most unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian. Our neighbors who do not attend a church value relationships that go beyond a superficial wave and hello when we pass by them on walks through the neighborhood.

Creating a culture of ongoing evangelism is the best way to regain church health.

What if one thing could resolve most problems in every church? A renewed focus on evangelism is the single greatest way to regain church health. The healthiest churches inwardly are the ones most focused outwardly.

Ongoing evangelism is led by example. Evangelistic churches have evangelistic pastors and church leaders. Frankly, this change begins with you.Ongoing evangelism can start with a few people. You don’t need buy-in from the entire congregation to change culture. Just a few people working together is enough to change the course of a church. The Hope Initiative is a practical resource and a great place to start!Ongoing evangelism changes church culture. Over time, ongoing evangelistic efforts will move the needle of church culture, perhaps more than you realize. A church focused on evangelism has fewer issues over personal preferences.

Your church address is not an accident. Your home address is not an accident. Your work address is not an accident. God has sovereignly placed you where you are. Why? There is someone in your life right now, so you can reach them with the good news.

For more information about the most recent research and current church trends, check out our resource, Big Storms and Blue Oceans, which includes both an e-book and video content.

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Is Passing the Offering Plate Dead? 7 Thoughts

For hundreds of thousands of churches, the tradition stood the test of time. The majority of churches passed the offering plate (or some type of receptacle) during a designated time of the worship service typically called “the offertory.”

There is no doubt that the number of churches passing the offering plate has decreased dramatically in recent years. And to be transparent, I am one of the traditionalists who prefers the old-fashioned passing of the offering plate. To me it has been a powerful symbol of our act of giving. It also served as a visual training for the next generation as they saw their parents and grandparents put cash, checks, or offering envelopes in the plate as it passed by.

But my role is to report what I see, not what I prefer. In light of that assignment, here are seven thoughts I have about passing the offering plate.

1. The pandemic hastened the decline of passing the offering plate. Though my evidence is anecdotal, I observed fewer churches passing the offering plate each year up to the pandemic. Of course, part of the pandemic was the quarantine when churches were not gathering for worship. And when the churches resumed gathered worship, many were hesitant to pass a plate that others had touched. Stated simply, the pandemic accelerated and exacerbated a trend already in place.

2. The number of churches passing the offering plate today is small. Matt McCraw of our Church Answers team posted a poll asking a simple “yes” or “no” question about passing the offering plate. The results are 2 to 1 in favor of the “no” response. The current percentage of no votes is 67%. Though the poll is not scientific, I would not be surprised if it’s accurate.

3. The growth of online giving has exacerbated the decline in passing the offering plate. The pandemic affected many church practices. Among the most affected was the method of giving. For the most part, the only way to give to a church was online or mail during the quarantine. Naturally, church leaders began promoting online giving more enthusiastically than ever. Now, more church members give online than don’t. And there’s not much need for an offering plate when there is no physical offering to give.

4. The growth in online giving has increased overall giving. Most churches experience increased giving as people moved from plate giving to digital giving. That makes sense. You don’t forget to bring your check or cash when you give online. You give even if you are absent from worship services. Church leaders are unlikely to encourage plate giving to return since it might actually decrease giving.

5. We still need a time in worship services where we acknowledge our gifts to God. A bit of creativity is required here, and many churches are doing just that. One church uses a video testimony on giving or ministry supported by giving every week. It is called “the offertory time” just as it was when they passed the plate.

6. It is unlikely the hybrid model will continue. Simply stated, there will be fewer churches that both pass the plate and promote online giving. Some churches have boxes in the worship center that are used to return guest cards and gifts. Most of the pastors with whom I have spoken say the gifts in the box are zero or nominal.

7. The opposition to discontinuing the passing of the offering plate is largely generational. Boomers and builders are more likely to fight to do the things the way they’ve always done them. That includes the passing of the offering plate. As these older generations pass from the scene, so will most of the opposition to discontinuing the passing of the offering plate.

I don’t necessarily like the trend, but I must report the data as I see it. The passing of the offering plate is dying. It will soon be dead. 

Rest in peace, offering plates. You served our churches well.

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Dispelling Four Common (and Unhelpful) Myths about Neighborhood Churches

“There’s a church on every corner in that community!”

I’ve heard this comment many times over the years. In most cases, the tone indicates a level of disdain. It’s understandable. Church buildings seem to be everywhere, while God’s mission seems to be nowhere. But I don’t believe we need to give up on these churches. God hasn’t.

When I see a church on three acres buried in a dense neighborhood, I don’t think “landlocked and limited potential.” I see opportunity. Who else is better situated to reach the people there? These little churches that dot the landscape of many cities, towns, and suburbs may be in desperate need of revitalization; but they have a future. I don’t believe that God intends to give up these strategic corners of the Kingdom.

There is significant hope for neighborhood churches across North America because many church leaders and their congregations are leveraging their resources and reclaiming their neighborhoods for Christ. Let’s dispel some unhelpful myths about neighborhood churches.

Myth one: Neighborhood churches can’t compete with large, regional churches.

First of all, it’s not a competition. I think most Christians would agree that the Kingdom of God doesn’t operate based on zero-sum, competitive, business-oriented principles. My church doesn’t lose if your church gains. But I understand the sentiment—if not the fear—from smaller churches when there’s a much larger church right down the street.

Large, regional churches—by design—must be broad in scope. They tend to be structured around programs and events. Great relationships can form in large churches, of course, but the predominant ministry model is driven by a “pull people in and fill the room” mentality. Because their reach is regional, maintaining a micro-focus on ministry is difficult.

Smaller churches tend to be driven more by relationships. The programs and events in smaller churches are determined and assessed by their effect on relationships, rather than by how many people attend. In most small churches, you know who’s missing, and you can pick up the phone and call them.

The competition between small and large churches is more perception than reality. Can small churches lose members to larger churches? Yes, it happens. But small churches can also glean members from larger churches. Some people desire the relational connections that epitomize smaller congregations. And as the majority of churchgoers want to drive less than fifteen minutes to church, many simply don’t want to travel further to get to a regional church, unlike previous generations. I believe small churches have a bright future of reaching their neighbors. Large churches are not a threat to smaller churches. Indeed, in the coming years, it may be the other way around.

Myth two: Small size means small influence.

Influence can be measured by reach and impact. Reach involves how far. Impact involves how deep. When a large church pursues significant reach, their success is often determined by how many people participate. Neighborhood churches can measure their influence more by deep impact than broad reach.

Whereas large, regional churches are necessarily broad in scope, smaller neighborhood churches can be laser-focused on customized ministry. For example, a large regional church might create an outreach to every police and fire station in the area. They organize a day of ministry and send out a mass of people with a broad reach. The neighborhood church is more apt to walk across the street to the police or fire station and build an ongoing relationship with the officers or firefighters. Both forms of ministry are valid. Both can have a great influence on the community.

Successful neighborhood churches embrace a philosophy of being strategically small rather than intentionally small. Strategic smallness seeks to leverage the strengths of a smaller size for greater ministry effectiveness, whereas churches that intentionally stay small betray a dangerous inward mentality. Small size doesn’t have to mean small influence. The influence of a neighborhood church will just look different from that of a larger, regional church.

Myth three: Our neighborhood location makes us invisible to the community.

There are clear advantages to location. Signage, road frontage, and vehicle volume can make a difference. But a church’s location is not what makes it invisible. The reason that churches fall off the neighborhood’s radar has more to do with a lack of mission and a lack of confidence. Small congregations can struggle with a poor self-image, feeling weak, unattractive, and limited. The invisibility factor is less about location and more about self-perception. When you perceive insurmountable inadequacies in your church, you are less likely to invite neighbors, friends, and coworkers to a worship service or ministry event.

In a recent conversation with a pastor in California, he described to me how his church had overcome the perceived downsides of their location. The church was buried in a neighborhood, two odd turns off the main road. Zoning restrictions meant limited signage. But his church was not invisible. In fact, most people in the community knew precisely where the church was located. How?

“People don’t drop into church anymore,” he said. “Inviting people is far more successful than a strategic road location with a lot of visibility. There is another church on the main road where you must turn to get to our church. They aren’t growing, and we are, mainly because we invite people to church, and they don’t.”

Myth four: The most capable pastors lead the largest churches.

In the 1990s, an emerging discussion addressed the desire to turn around struggling churches. Church growth experts started using the term “turnaround churches,” which became the precursor to the church revitalization movement of the mid-2000s. The idea was that small churches could grow again. Gen X pastors and Millennials began to sense a calling to these smaller churches, along with a vision for leading a turnaround strategy.

Today there is a solid group of pastors and church leaders willing to take on the challenges of church revitalization. Many are co-vocational or bi-vocational. There is a strong contingent of pastors with a calling to serve neighborhood churches. Many grew up in the area, sometimes in the churches they now serve. The lure of larger churches with bigger pay packages remains, but such is the case in any profession, not just ministry. The Millennial and Gen Z generations are the most diverse in the history of North America. Their callings within the church are just as diverse.

Neighborhood churches are just as likely to land capable leaders as their larger counterparts, but only if these congregations demonstrate a willingness to move forward.

We need to get excited about how God can use churches that are already situated in neighborhoods across our nation. A church on every street corner is precisely how God’s Kingdom can grow!

This article is adapted from an excerpt in The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church: Discover How Your Church Is Primed to Reach Your Neighbors, published by Tyndale. Pick up a copy today!

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