Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 39

Five Major Developments for Churches with an Attendance Under 250

The news is astounding.

Churches with fewer than 250 in average worship attendance account for 92 percent of all churches in the United States. At Church Answers, we call these congregations “standard churches” because they represent all but 8 percent of churches.

It is incumbent upon us, therefore, to discern what important trends and developments are taking place that have direct bearing on standard churches. Here are five major developments.

1. There will likely be a migration to neighborhood and rural churches. We are certainly aware that the greater majority of attendees are in larger churches.  But we are also aware that the post-quarantine era introduced a greater desire not to commute as much, as well as not to travel as much for other activities. A number of people also moved to the quieter life of smaller towns and rural areas. The opportunity is great to reach both these new residents and those willing to go to a smaller church.

2. Larger churches are growing by getting smaller. The multisite movement is a dramatic shift from church practices 20 years ago. Indeed, almost all of the largest churches in America grew by increasing their number of sites rather than growing at one location. The leaders of these churches know that growth must be horizontal rather than vertical. They understand that attendees prefer smaller congregations or, at least, smaller gatherings.

3. One person can lead a dramatic and positive change in a standard church. We are incredibly encouraged to hear about one or a few people leading substantive changes in a congregation. Here is a comment from a recent article I wrote: “I prayed for five visitors to come to church and ten came. I confess, I was shocked and so were the people in my small church. I have renewed zeal for what God calls me to do. I listen to and read everything you guys put out. I complained no one is doing anything to help our church and I heard Sam say it starts with you! So, I am knocking on doors. You said if you invite they will come. They are! Thank you, Church Answers!”

4. Standard churches now have opportunities to educate and train their own members. Standard churches in the past had to hire people from outside the church if they wanted someone with theological training. There are now many options with digital resources to provide education and training on the church field (see our fast-growing Church Answers University, for example: www.ChurchAnswers.University).

5. Evangelism is returning to many standard churches. These churches are reaching and will reach people with the gospel as the leaders and members respond in obedience to the Great Commission. Evangelism is not the purview of a larger church only; it is the command for all churches and all Christians.

Some see nothing but problems with many standard churches. I see an abundance of hope and promise. 

God is not done with you or your church.

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When It’s Not the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

For many of us, the Christmas season is filled with joyful celebrations, beautiful moments of reflecting on God in flesh, and finally being able to blare Christmas music from our cell phones and cars. For others, it is a time of mourning, loss, and a reminder of deep, personal wounds that can fester in the reflection of the merriment of Christmas joy around them.

According to the CDC, December is the most dangerous month for drug and alcohol-related deaths. In a little over a decade, nearly 91,000 deaths attributed to drugs and alcohol have occurred in the month of December alone. In a season that should be filled with hope, so many people we encounter are falling into a pit of hopelessness.

The story of Christmas is perfect for shedding light on the hope we can find in our darkness. Jesus came into a world filled with pain, a world where people searched for hope and longed for the Messiah to come but were constantly disappointed. The very moment he was born, his people were in the process of being counted by an oppressive Roman government and he himself would soon be hunted by a jealous tyrant. And yet, in the midst of all the chaos and despair, God chose to accelerate his recovery plan. What a hope we have to share this Christmas season with those who are struggling under the pressures and despair of a world that seems to have forgotten them.

As pastors, you see this pain firsthand and are often the lifeline for people who don’t know where else to turn. During such a busy season, it can be a crushing burden to bear. But God’s willingness to enter a dark, dirty, sinful world did not end on that night in Bethlehem long ago. He wants to enter into our messiness, our overwhelmed and overworked lives. What a relief to know we don’t have to clean up our act first to make room for him. He wants to be part of the process.

For more than 30 years, The Life Recovery Bible has been a guiding resource to help people enter the process of restoration. It speaks right to the hearts of readers as they rediscover hope and healing in God’s beautiful story of redemption. It’s a wonderful tool for helping those dealing with addictions, but this Bible can be so much more. It is a manual for God’s recovery plan, highlighting our need to surrender and depend on God’s strength instead of our own.

As you face the highs and lows of the Christmas season, The Life Recovery Bible can be the perfect companion as you minister to the needs of others and as you take some time for self-care and reflection.

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” –John 1:4-5, NLT.

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What Is an Appropriate Severance for Pastors on Their Way Out of a Church?

A power group surprisingly forced out Pastor Timothy after four years of successful ministry. Pastor John was caught embezzling funds and was fired immediately. After ten years, the board removed Pastor Ed because they believed he was not a leadership match for the congregation. 

Should these pastors receive a severance? It depends.

Severance pay is a common practice in many industries. Some employers will offer severance as a gesture of goodwill to those laid off, but it is not required by law under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Many severances are based on the length of employment. A reasonable expectation is one to two weeks of severance for each year of employment. The stipulations of a severance are often outlined in an employment contract. Unfortunately, most people do not have employment contracts.

What about paying a pastor severance? Whether to pay a pastor a severance depends upon the scenario, ministry tenure, and church budget. 

What is the scenario? 

Retirement. A long-tenured pastor beginning retirement may receive a severance for a few months following an official departure date. In this scenario, the church desires to honor the faithfulness of their shepherd by making the transition out of a pastoral role a little easier. These severances are generally good but should be kept under a year. 

Disqualification. When a pastor’s sins are to the degree of disqualification from ministry, the decision to pay a severance is a more difficult decision. Visceral reactions will land on both sides. Some will call for justice and want to cut off the pastor immediately. Others will desire to extend grace and help the family for a season. 

Each case is different. While it’s difficult to give a general rule for disqualified pastors, I believe the best path is to offer a one-month to three-month severance. Have a posture of grace and generosity. Potential exceptions would be cases of abuse and embezzlement, in which termination is immediate with no severance. 

Conflict. Some pastors are wrongly forced out due to circumstances entirely out of their control. Others create conflict and deserve to go. A severance is warranted in many cases of church conflict. For a shorter-tenured pastor, offer three months. For a longer-tenured pastor, offer six months. If a power group forces out the pastor, then give a year.

What is the pastor’s tenure?

Pastor Ed served his church without major incidents and minimal conflict. The church declined slightly over his ten-year tenure, and the board believed a leadership transition was in order. They asked Pastor Ed to step down. Most people liked him. At the same time, the church was not likely to split over his departure. In cases like this one, a general rule of thumb for severances is one month’s salary for every year served, up to a year. If a pastor served for nine years, then offer a nine-month severance. In Pastor Ed’s case, he should receive a severance for ten months. Severances beyond a year are not typically beneficial to the church or the pastors receiving them. 

Also, about half of pastors in the United States are bi-vocational. Unfortunately, these pastors rarely get anything in the form of a severance and are often neglected when transitioning between pastoral positions. 

What is the state of the church budget?

If compassion were currency, then many churches could afford to pay better severances. The reality is the budget will be a determining factor in the size of the payout. Some churches offer lump sums upfront. Frankly, I believe a better approach is to pay the severance on the normal pay cycle over a set period. The severance should include salary, benefits (health and retirement), and transition services like counseling. 

Lastly, it’s important to note that church employees are generally not eligible for unemployment benefits since most churches do not pay the unemployment tax in their respective states. As you determine a severance, consider these three questions. What is the scenario? What is the pastor’s tenure? And what is the state of the church budget?

Many thanks to Jared Matthew , who sent us this question. At Church Answers Central , we answer these kinds of questions every day. Church Answers Central is the world’s largest online community for practical ministry support. Get 24/7 answers to your church questions. Join a vibrant community of nearly 2,000 church leaders in a safe environment. Connect with top church health experts like Thom Rainer, Chuck Lawless, Sam Rainer, and others like you. Become a member today !

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Five Ways I Am Eliminating Perfunctory Prayer in My Life

I struggle with my prayer life.

I am inconsistent too much. And even when I am consistent with a prayer time, I find myself distracted often. 

One of the bigger struggles I’ve had with my prayer is perfunctory prayer. For me perfunctory prayer is a minimal effort to connect with God. At best, I am going through the motions. At worst, I tell someone I will pray for them, but I don’t.

Recently, I made five changes that have moved me toward a more robust prayer life. Yes, I still have a long way to go. Still, these five changes give me hope that my prayer life will be more meaningful and less perfunctory.

1. When I tell someone I will pray for them, I really pray for them. I am ashamed to think of the number of times I told someone I will pray for them, but I don’t follow through. I am lying to the person I promised, and I am lying to God. I’ve asked God to give me a greater awareness of this sin in my life, so I don’t repeat it.

2. I have stopped using “prayer” in my greetings and other incidental conversations. Here is what I mean. I’ve written emails where I say something like, “I pray your year is going well.” Sadly, I did not really pray for that person to have a great year. I used prayer as a figure of speech. Such words on my part minimize and trivialize prayer. 

3. When someone asks me to pray for them, I do so on the spot if possible. Instead of merely affirming I will pray for someone who requests prayer from me, I do so on the spot. Again, I am ashamed to think how many times I responded affirmatively to prayer requests but forgot about them. 

4. I use a prayer app. So that I truly remember to pray for people, I enter the prayer need on a prayer app. Now, when I have my prayer time, I am able to see those prayer requests one by one. I am also able to see all the answers to my prayers. There are several prayer apps available. I use Echo Prayer.

5. I will not talk about my prayer life to make me look more spiritual. My prayer life has a long way to go. If I hint in any way that I am some super saint with an unmatched prayer life, I am lying. I still struggle with prayer. I just want to struggle less.

For years I used the ACTS acronym to guide my prayer life: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication. Several years ago, I moved confession to the beginning of my prayer time. It was my own conviction that I needed to confess my sins first before I could get into other areas of prayer. So now my order of prayer is confession, adoration, thanksgiving, intercession (for others), and supplication (for me). I admit, though, that CATIS is not a very memorable acronym.

I would love to hear from you about your prayer life. I learn so much when I listen to other believers to hear how God is working in their lives.

 

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Five Important Demographics Churches Fail to Know About Their Communities

Pastors and church leaders often miss the basic demographics of their communities. Why?

Demographics tend to change gradually and often go unnoticed.Keeping an existing circle of friends is easier than deepening our relationship with others. We tend to go to places where people are like us, which means we often do not see the areas where demographic changes are occurring in the neighborhood. 

Perceived demographics may not match actual demographics. You may think you know your community, but in many cases, church leaders have a skewed view of who lives around the church.

Dramatic demographic changes can occur in a community without church leaders and members noticing. Even well-meaning and intentional churches can overlook segments of the community.

Last year, I wrote an article about four often-missed demographics by churches. I will continue the theme this year with five more demographics churches fail to know about their communities. I’ll use my community in Bradenton, Florida as an example.

1. What is the marriage rate compared to the national average? In my community, we have a higher divorce rate and a lower marriage rate than typical. Therefore, we tend to have more single-parent homes and older people who are single. 

2. How far do people tend to travel to work? This demographic has changed drastically in many communities. Even if people commute the same distance to work, they are not driving as often as in the past. Most people in our community drive less than thirty minutes to work.

3. How many people struggle with poverty and healthcare? Rarely do pastors and church leaders know how many in their communities live below the poverty line and struggle to pay medical bills. If you want to care for the least of these, then you must know this data about your neighborhood. In the Bradenton area, for example, 12% of households are below the poverty level—almost 5,000!

4. How many in your area are unemployed, widowed, or have a disability? Like the previous demographic, the at-risk population is often underserved and neglected. Knowing the size of this group will help you understand the gravity of need in your neighborhood.

5. What are the rates of religious giving in the community? Is your community generous when it comes to supporting religious work? It’s good to know how you compare to national averages. The Bradenton area is right in line with the national average. 

Where did I get this information? In a resource provided by Church Answers! We recently updated our popular Know Your Community report with all new 2022 data. All the data in this article is available for your community, plus much more. We’ve also expanded several new demographics and psychographics. Click here to learn more about this report and order one.

 

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7 “Christmas Card” Truths for Churches Needing Revitalization

In North America, more churches than not are plateaued or declining. At the same time, though, church revitalization is a growing movement today (with, in my judgment, Church Answers leading the way). For those churches needing revitalization, maybe these reflections about Christmas will give you hope today:

1. Darkness is not final. The prophets had foretold Jesus’ coming, but darkness reigned a long time. It seemed to rule for centuries, through the rise and fall of several kingdoms. It faced its end, though, when the Light was born in Bethlehem. The darkness won’t win over God’s church, either.

2. God works in His time. It was in the “fullness of time” that God sent Jesus (Gal 4:4-5) – at exactly the right time in history. I wish I could tell you how long it will take for God to revive your congregation. I don’t know that answer, but this I do know: God’s timing is always right.

3. God works in unexpected ways. As far back as the Garden, God announced He would send someone from the seed of woman to defeat the serpent (Gen 3:15). His plan, however, was surely unexpected: God would come as a baby born to a virgin likely resting among animals in a small village. How God will revitalize your church might surprise you and your congregation, but that’s okay. He works that way sometimes. 

4. Humility matters. God lowered Himself to become one of us. The baby Jesus was born to a young unmarried girl whose name is now known solely because of her role. He wasn’t born in Rome, or even in Jerusalem, but in the small town of Bethlehem. God is looking for humble leaders – not those seeking to build their own kingdoms – to be instruments of revitalization.

5. God’s got this. Read the genealogies of Christ in Matthew and Luke, and you’ll remember again how complete and right God’s plan was—from the beginning. Over the centuries and across the cultures, God was fully in charge of the plan. Nothing worried Him, and nothing caught Him by surprise. He still is in charge . . . He’s still not worried . . . and your situation still hasn’t surprised Him. He’s got this. 

6. Resurrection Day’s coming! Christmas without Easter is incomplete, but we needn’t worry about that reality. God knew resurrection day would come when He sent His Son to Bethlehem; He knew the tomb Jesus would borrow would be only a temporary stopover on the way to granting eternal life. Christmas is all about hope when we know a greater day’s coming—so, look forward to tomorrow as you serve God in revitalization. 

7. It’s okay to rejoice out loud. The angels sang out, “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:13). The shepherds glorified and praised God after they’d seen the baby (Luke 2:20). Simeon and Anna quickly spoke of the Christ child when they met Him (Luke 2:25-38). When God works miracles (like revitalizing a dying church), somebody needs to be singing out loud. Perhaps your church will find renewed life if you lead them today with a revived song in your heart. 

If you’re leading a struggling church, let the story of Christmas give you hope today. 

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Five Lessons We Learned from Deceased Churches

It has been a decade since we did our original research on churches that have closed their doors. Our findings were published in my book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, in 2014. Our work obviously hit a nerve since the book became a number-one bestseller.

Church Answers has continued to talk with church members and leaders whose churches closed or those that were on the precipice of death. While the original information in Autopsy of a Deceased Church is still relevant, there is more information we’ve gleaned since then. We will release that information in a major new resource in January 2023.

For now, let us share with you five updated lessons from churches that closed.

1. The churches had no ongoing effort to reach the unchurched in the community to become churched. That last phrase, “to become churched,” is key. Many of the churches had good ministries to their communities, but they were not intentional about inviting them and getting them to become a part of the worship and small group gatherings of the church.

2. The pandemic increased the pace of decline and, ultimately, death of the churches. We’ve noted this reality on several occasions. The pandemic did not change the trends of churches. They exacerbated them.

3. The leaders and members of the churches were in denial. They refused to confront their reality. If they did, it was often too late.

4. The churches did not have new members’ classes to set expectations. Most of the deceased churches did not have a new members’ class at all. The few that had such classes only provided information; they did not use the class to set expectations. All of the deceased churches were hurt significantly by decreased attendance patterns of members. Their failure to set expectations was a key reason members attended less frequently.

5. The churches kept waiting for the silver bullet. The most common silver bullet was a new pastor who would turn things around. The second most common silver bullet was a new youth or children’s minister who would do all the work to reach young people. In other words, the members desired to abdicate their ministry responsibilities and pay someone else to do it.

We will unpack more of the issues related to deceased churches in January when we release our new resource. Stay tuned to our daily email to get this information soon.

In the meantime, let me know what you think about these issues related to churches that closed. I would love to hear from you.

 

P. S. We are offering my book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, for $5.49 for a limited time: Order now!

 

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The Power of Storytelling and Reigniting Your people on Mission

Our church celebrated our 100 year anniversary and as an initiative for our centennial year we had the goal of having 100 women share their stories of God’s grace, redemption, and healing. To be honest it seemed in the beginning like a great way to creatively highlight women in our church, but what I didn’t expect was the deep encouragement, joint mission, and growth that would come from the simple ask of “Tell me your story.”

As I read google form entries of marital abuse, past abortions, the tragic loss of children, and the seasons of battling loneliness and depression, the faces of women that I had brushed shoulders with in the church lobby week after week came to mind. In their own words, they grieved and then celebrated how God had met them, healed them, protected them, and is now using them to be lights in the midst of darkness.

Stories Connect People.

In learning the stories of some of our women it gave me the opportunity to connect them with other women who have been or are walking through similar circumstances. This is 2 Corinthians 1:6 in action. “Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you.” In our churches we have walking reminders of hope, perseverance, and faithfulness. One instance of this was getting to connect a young woman in our church whose husband had an affair and left her and her children with an older woman who had walked through the same situation two decades earlier. They have met for coffee, prayed together, cried together, and both been so encouraged to see God’s provision. 

Stories Remind Us To Not Put God In A Box. 

There is a temptation for all of us to approach church and evangelism with a checklist that is dependent on our own talents and efforts. When we hear how God is working and moving through different circumstances and how he uses different means to bring someone into a relationship with Him we begin to look at things differently. Suddenly a worship song, or a 10 minute conversation at the checkout counter, or the invite that was finally taken to join a friend on a Sunday morning becomes a display of God’s grace and pursuit.

Stories Grow Our Awareness & Healing.

In a world of polarization we can often categorize people in a number of different ways and rarely choose to take the time to actually listen, learn, and lean into the why and how they got to where they are. When we take those steps to get to know the person instead of operating out of assumptions we grow in compassion, joy, and empathy. Additionally, those that tell their stories and are met with grace, compassion, and understanding. In sharing the stories of our women we also communicated to everyone listening that the Church is here and ready to meet you in your current need. For both the storyteller and the listener we get to foster a culture of safety, forgiveness, and healing for one another.

Stories Rally Our People Around The Mission of God. 

Reminding our people of “The Why” is what motivates them into movement and investment. Many of us are struggling with volunteer recruitment and last minute registrations. Post-pandemic ministry no doubt looks a lot different and we are still trying to figure out so many aspects of ministry and leadership, yet in the midst of those questions our mission and purpose is still the same; Loving God and loving people. This is why I love The Hope Initiative that Dr.Chuck Lawless is leading so many of our churches in. 

As you look ahead to a new year with new opportunities and challenges I hope that you will integrate the stories and celebrations of what God is doing in and through your people. Maybe that is through a 100 stories campaign, or a weekly bulletin highlight, a special event with tacos and testimonies, or a special baptism Sunday. Profound joy, hope, and encouragement comes from the simple words, “Tell me your story.”

Ask, and then go and tell of God’s wondrous works. 

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.” 

– 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 NLT 

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How to Be More Vulnerable Without Freaking Out Your Church

How to Be More Vulnerable Without Freaking Out Your Church

Vulnerability is a two-edged sword. Many appreciate the honesty of tender leaders revealing their secret struggles. Overshare anxieties, however, and you can disrupt the church with unnecessary angst.

Jesus was vulnerable. The incarnation demonstrates the vulnerability of God. Someone had to change baby Jesus’ diaper. Someone had to teach God to speak and walk—it was His mother, Mary. Vulnerability is not something to avoid. God was intentionally vulnerable. Pastors should be as well.

How can you achieve the balance of genuine vulnerability?

Share with strategy, not just emotion. When emotions lead, you are less likely to consider the impact on those receiving your feelings. It’s hard to be thoughtful when you unload on others to release your own burdens. Every person needs friends who can help lighten the load of a heavy season. But you should not use your position as a pastor or church leader to trap people into hearing about your problems.

Consider who needs to hear your problem. Get in the pulpit and scream, “I just can’t take it anymore!” Or meet with a close confidant and make the same emotional outburst. There is a big difference between dumping emotion on the entire congregation and venting with a friend or accountability partner. Different audiences require different strategies when expressing deep emotions.

The larger the audience, the more careful you should be. For example, I can be more intimate with my staff in our Tuesday meetings than with the congregation during Sunday morning worship. When pastors share publicly about an inner struggle, an entire room can illuminate with inspiration. Or quickly deflate in awkwardness. Often, the difference is one of the size and make-up of the audience.

Include optimism with your authenticity. When giving declines precipitously, church leadership should address the issue. “We’re in a tough spot financially” is the correct message, but it’s incomplete. Authenticity with optimism adds, “Here is the way I believe God will help us through this season.”

Use weakness to connect rather than to draw sympathy. Showing your weakness increases your ability to connect with others. Jesus is the supreme example. The humanity of Christ was necessary for Him to sympathize with us. The point of the incarnation was not so Jesus could draw sympathy from us but rather so He could connect to us. Vulnerability can be used for either selfless or selfish reasons. Pastors and church leaders should express weakness to serve others rather than trying to garner sympathy.

Give details only when they are helpful. The more details you give, the more dramatic the issue becomes. On the rare occasion I preach while sick, I will let the church know I’m not feeling well. It’s a small gesture of vulnerability. But I don’t spend several minutes describing my symptoms lest everyone thinks I’m dying.

Pastors and church leaders should always be honest. Sometimes vulnerability is a key part of being honest. But don’t share too much. And don’t share with the wrong group. A misguided vulnerability will add too much anxiety into the church culture and has the potential to destabilize the congregation. You can be vulnerable without freaking out your church.

 

Church Answers Central is the world’s largest online community for practical ministry support. Get 24/7 answers to your church questions. Join a vibrant community of nearly 2,000 church leaders in a safe environment. Connect with top church health experts like Thom Rainer, Chuck Lawless, Sam Rainer, and others like you. Become a member today

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The New Very Large Church

It’s time to rethink church size. For the purpose of this article, I define church size as average weekly worship attendance, including children and youth who may not be in the primary worship service. In other words, we count every person attending a worship weekend (or other days for a few churches).

Thanks to Lifeway Research, we have a clearer understanding of the sizes of churches. I don’t know if you will be surprised.

I was.

What is a Large Church?

Let’s look at the breakdown of churches by average worship attendance:

Under 50 in attendance: 31% of all churches51 – 99: 37%100 – 249: 24%250 and above: 8%

All of the numbers are fascinating, but the largest category should cause us to pause. Only 8 percent of churches have an attendance of 250 or more. These churches now define the category, “very large churches.”

Of course, there are still megachurches of 2,000 or more in worship attendance and mid-megachurches of 1,000 to 1,999, but those churches are outliers. If a church has an attendance of 250, its size is in the largest category.

New Names for New Categories

There will be some readers who cringe at the numerical emphases of this article. I get it. Numbers are neither ultimate nor penultimate. But these numbers represent a sea change in how we look at or define church size.

For now, we at Church Answers will speak of churches in the following categories so we can be on the same page:

Under 50 in attendance: smaller churches51 – 99: mid-size churches100 – 249: large churches250 and above: larger churches

Implications of These Paradigmatic Changes

We will discuss the implications of these changes in depth at our podcast, Rainer on Leadership. But it does not take much thought to understand the world of American congregations is dramatically different than just ten years ago.

More pastors and staff will be co-vocational and bi-vocational.

Equipping church members to do the work of ministry is as vital as always.

Ministry and theological training must adapt to this reality.

Search committees will be looking for a different type of pastor.

Church budgets will be smaller.

Denominations must refocus their ministry and support of this new paradigm.

More churches will need to be adopted or they will die.

The list could go on.

The New Reality

Over two-thirds of American churches have a worship attendance under 100. As noted earlier, the new very large church has an attendance of 250 or higher.

It is indeed a new reality.

I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

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