In the contemporary era where church participation seems to be dwindling, the question arises: how can one invigorate their church and propel their mission forward?
The answer lies in converting average church-goers into fervent advocates for the mission. The passive culture of simply attending a service in the back row of a preferred church needs to change. Instead, the focus should shift to fully embracing and engaging in the mission. It’s not just about personal preference, it’s about fostering a thriving church community and reaching more individuals.
Time and again, the mission thrives on the involvement of devoted Christians. These individuals, brimming with passion, know the mission, serve it, and live by it. Their fervor is infectious enough to draw in their friends. In the long run, a smaller group of engaged Christians can achieve more than a larger group of uninvolved attendees. While only God can induce growth, He does so through the efforts of engaged individuals.
So, how can you stimulate engagement to grow your church? Here are ten strategies for fostering in-person engagement and expanding your church community.
1. Inspire People to Serve
Active participation in the mission indicates engagement. Encouraging your congregation to volunteer might be more impactful than encouraging them to join a group. In my time as a head pastor at Connexus, it was evident that our most enthusiastic members were those who served. Serving gives people a sense of mission and a love for it.
While the aim should be to have everyone in a group, solely participating in group activities can feed a self-centered mindset. This is similar to merely attending church and not partaking in the mission. While groups can become about the individual, serving is always about others.
2. Simplify the Process of Getting Involved
Many congregation members struggle with how to become more involved due to a lack of clear information. An overload of options can lead to inaction. Therefore, creating a clear and simple path towards engagement will encourage more people to follow it.
3. Align Your Programs with Your Mission
Shifting from a program-based church model to a more straightforward model can significantly impact engagement. This is because people often become passionate about the programs they are involved in, leading to a disconnect from the main mission. Hence, offering programs that align directly with the central mission will help people focus on the most important objectives.
4. Cultivate a Culture of Engagement
People tend to conform to set expectations. Thus, establishing a culture where engagement is anticipated will push individuals to rise to these expectations. You can create this culture through your messaging, calls to action, and overall communication.
5. Advocate for Action Over Knowledge
Preachers have a valuable window every week to influence people’s lives. Instead of merely imparting information, preachers can use this time to call people to action, which is a more effective strategy for growing your church.
6. Adopt Active Language
Switching from passive to active language can drive action and engagement. This can involve changing the language used to describe steps towards involvement, with phrases that clearly depict the desired outcomes.
7. Recognize and Celebrate Progress
Whenever increased engagement is observed, it should be rewarded. This can be achieved through public celebration, personal affirmation, and celebrating progress with key leaders. Remember, what is celebrated tends to be repeated.
8. Refrain from Catering to Members Who See the Church as a Private Club
Some members may treat the church as a private club and prioritize their personal preferences, which can inhibit the mission. Rather than trying to cater to everyone’s preferences, the focus should be on meeting the needs of the community and fostering growth.
9. Equip Members to Engage in Spiritual Conversations with Non-religious Individuals
Many congregation members might be hesitant or uncomfortable discussing their faith with non-religious individuals. Equip your members with the tools to approach such conversations confidently and respectfully.
10. Adapt to Digital Communication
Embracing digital platforms for communication is crucial to keep your congregation engaged and respond to queries or prayer requests. The failure to adapt to changing communication methods may lead to a failure in engaging the people you are trying to reach.
Remember, the key to growing your church lies in fostering engagement and participation. Through these ten strategies, you can stimulate engagement and expand your church community.
