By Rev. James W. Moss, Sr.

George Smithson is a long-term member of Hilltop Church. The church has nearly doubled in attendance over the past decade. George doesn’t particularly appreciate the pastor’s style. His question was simple, "Can’t churches be like weeds in a garden and just grow?" The answer is unmistakably "no!" Anytime a church nearly doubles in a decade or even grows significantly, that means pastor and people have intentionally designed a strategy for growth. George continues, "If you put a church in the middle of a growing community, isn’t it natural for the church to grow?" First, it needs to be said that it’s easier to grow a church in some settings than others. Second, just because a church is located in a community that’s growing numerically doesn’t mean the church will grow. Many churches in such communities are declining in number. Conversely, some churches located in communities with declining populations are growing numerically. Though demographics impact the potential for growth, that simply isn't the sole answer.

George then responds in frustration, "If only the gospel is preached, the church will grow." Frequently pastors of growing churches will say, "My church is growing because I preach the gospel." However, pastors of declining churches will also say, "My church is declining because I preach the gospel." Though preaching the gospel is essential, factors beyond the proclamation of the gospel impact growth.

Paul writes to the Galatians, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." (6:7) We’ve been picking fruit from trees we didn’t plant. If you visit apple country, you will occasionally see a field where all the trees have been cut and the land is being prepared for new ones. For sufficient fruit to be picked, new seeds must be intentionally planted. Volunteer plants won’t generate sufficient fruit for future needs.

The dictionary says intentionality means, "done deliberately; a plan of action; a design; and an aim that guides action." Church growth is fairly complex, and involves several different dynamics. Therefore, specific plans must be laid to achieve desired ends.

Action Strategy…

A church must begin the process in prayer. Pastor and people must seek God’s will for the future. What does God want for you and his church? God reveals his will to honest seekers.

Learn everything you can about the factors that limit growth or make growth possible. We know certain things:

Annual average attendance for morning worship will probably not exceed 80% of the comfortable sanctuary seating capacity.

Annual average attendance for Sunday school will not tend to exceed twelve persons per class.

A class won’t average more than the classroom will hold.

It generally takes two people to maintain an average attendance of one.

One parking space is required for each 2.3 people in attendance.

A church must annually recruit new people equal to 10-15% of the current annual average attendance to maintain the current average.

A new person who visits your church this Sunday must have two friends in the church and be part of a face-to-face fellowship group if that person will be attending one year hence.

These are but a few facts that either limit or make additional growth possible. It’s important to understand the available information that will impact the future of your church. Changing ideas or paradigms is not easy.

Apply the principles that dictate program changes. The following are such actions:

Begin a new worship service on Sunday morning.

Start a new Sunday school class designed to incorporate new persons in the life of the church.

Start a home Bible study designed to involve new people

Track attendance on Sunday mornings. Send a bulletin with a personal note to each family without a member present on a given Sunday.

Set up a telephone visiting ministry.

Secure a large outdoor sign.

Utilize the public media.

Identify prospective members for the church.

Design two full-church programs in the next year.

Be open to incorporate new people. It’s increasingly difficult for new people to fight their way into existing churches. This requires either breaking down the walls that keep new people out or building bridges that permit new people to gain entry to the church. It can be very difficult to separate the gospel from culture. The gospel is relevant because it transcends the ages and culture. The gospel is significant at any point in history or in any culture into which it’s introduced. We must be careful not to change the gospel to suit our cultural preferences. Culture builds walls, the gospel builds bridges. We’re called to be bridge builders. This involves intentional ministry.

(This article appeared in the "Summer, 1997" issue of "The Herald.")