Some of the best ways you could grow your church may not be that obvious.
To really increase your church’s attendance, you need to think outside the box and come up with fresh ideas that will produce results.
It doesn’t matter if you live in a small town or a large city, or if your church is just starting out or has been around for decades.
There are plenty of ways to get creative and keep expanding. Here are some of the fastest ways to grow your church:
1. Create A Website
Having a well-designed and informative church website provides a platform you can use to connect with a wider audience.
It allows you to not only share important information about services and events your church has but also effectively communicate the mission and values of your church.
A website provides a platform to highlight the warm atmosphere, community engagement, and spiritual growth opportunities available at your church.
It allows those interested in joining, but who don’t currently attend, to discover what your church has to offer.
Find out what you need to create a website for your church here.
Once you have a website up and running, it’s important to create content regularly in order to keep your church’s online presence active and engaging.
You can do this by posting updates on services, events, sermon series, or inspirational messages to keep followers informed and inspired and also help new church members learn about you.
2. Use Social Media
A lot of people use social media today, especially YouTube.
You can tap into this large audience by creating content that appeals to them. You don’t even have to invest in expensive equipment.
Create short videos about the pastor’s message, upcoming sermons, church activities, or anything else related to your church and upload them to YouTube.
You could also create accounts on popular social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to share your church’s content with a further reach.
Be sure to regularly post updates about events and services to keep followers interested in what’s going on with your church.
3. Create a Google My Business Account
Google My Business helps improve your online visibility and makes it easier for people to find your church.
It’s an effective way to increase church attendance, especially among those who live closer to your church and are searching for spiritual communities online.
4. Host community events
Participating in community events and activities, such as local festivals, charity drives, or volunteer programs, can raise awareness about your church.
This engagement creates a positive image and encourages more people to attend your services.
For example, hosting a community picnic or organizing a clothing drive can help build connections and showcase the values of your church to a wider audience.
Whether it be a cookout, a movie night, or simply an open house showing the work of your church, hosting community events is a great way to get people involved and show them what you can offer.
5. Invite Friends & Family
Encourage your existing church members to invite their friends and family to services.
Personal invitations are often the most effective way to help your church grow.
Make “invite a friend” a regular part of your church culture. This can be one of the fastest ways to grow a church, as personal referrals often carry a lot of weight.
6. Draft Invitation Forms
Simplify the process of inviting others to your church by offering pre-designed invitation forms that are easy to use and share.
By providing ready-made forms, you can help potential church members feel more comfortable about joining your church since you’re advertising that newcomers are welcome.
This approach not only simplifies the invitation process but also helps to build a sense of belonging and inclusivity, ultimately leading to an increase in church membership.
7. Appeal To Youths
Create engaging and inclusive youth-friendly programs and activities, to build a welcoming environment that not only attracts families to your church but also fosters a sense of community and connection.
This innovative approach to church growth can give you immediate benefits while also ensuring long-term sustainability through nurturing the next generation of believers.
8. Encourage Simple, Growth-Focused Visions
Adopt clear and simple visions like “Love God, love others, serve many” to serve as powerful guiding principles for your church’s growth strategies.
These values can help provide a solid foundation for the church’s mission and purpose while inspiring and empowering members to actively contribute to the growth and well-being of the church community.
9. Start New Initiatives
Launch new, innovative, and impactful programs that cater to the needs of your community.
You can do this by offering a diverse range of activities, events, and initiatives to attract new members and keep your existing members engaged.
This strategic approach plays a vital role in fostering growth, enhancing the attendance of your church, and amplifying its overall impact on the lives of people.
10. Build Stronger Relationships
Building strong relationships within your church community and fostering an environment of encouragement, is crucial for retention and growth.
By nurturing connections, fostering fellowship, and providing support, you can lay the foundation for expanding the church from 50 to 100 or even more members.
11. Start a Podcast
With the rise of online streaming, podcasts have become a great way for people to listen to sermons and other religious-based content.
This is a great way to reach people who don’t normally attend your church, as well as existing members.
12. Focus on small groups
While it’s important to attract newcomers, don’t forget about the power of building relationships with those already attending.
Small groups are a great way for people to build stronger connections within your church, and can also help attract new members.
13. Offer volunteer opportunities
Everyone is looking for ways to give back, and your church can provide a great space to do just that.
Consider offering volunteer roles to members of your community who want to contribute in a meaningful way.
You could also work with other charities that might need volunteers, such as soup kitchens, food drives, or animal shelters.
14. Partner with businesses and organizations
Get your church involved in the local community by forming relationships with other local businesses or organizations.
You can provide support to each other, as well as spread your own message further.
15. Reach out to other churches
Consider partnering with other churches in your area for joint events or services.
Not only will it help to build relationships, but you can also learn from each other and share resources.
How to Save a Dying Church?
To save a dying church, try to rediscover your congregation’s identity and purpose.
Focus on outreach, cultivating a compassionate congregation, renewing initial love for the church’s mission, and investing in the community to help revive the church.
Avoid personal preferences that may cause division and instead focus on unifying everyone in the church around a shared goal focused on serving God and loving others.
Consider implementing some of the growth ideas mentioned above to help breathe new life into your church and make it a thriving and impactful part of the community.
What are The Three Keys to Growing Your Church?
The three keys to church growth are:
- A passionate love for Jesus
- A praying leadership
- A personal responsibility to evangelism
These elements foster a strong spiritual foundation, dedicated leadership, and active outreach, respectively.
It’s also important to maintain unity, an inviting atmosphere, and focus on delivering the Gospel.
What are some of the reasons churches don’t grow?
Some of the things that can stop churches from growing are stagnant spiritual growth of leaders, diminished faith, inward focus over community outreach, resistance to change, and insufficient church space.
Other factors that hinder church growth are a worn-out pastor, lack of trust in leadership, and legalistic practices that discourage non-members from attending.
To prevent your church’s growth from slowing down, take some time to evaluate your church’s goals and strategies to ensure they are up-to-date, relevant, and effective in reaching new audiences while also investing in existing members.
Additionally, provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for your members to help foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the church’s mission.
Finally, strive to create an uplifting and welcoming atmosphere that encourages more people to come through your doors.
