As I travel around the state, I’m encouraged to see churches that are now “blowing and growing.” Others are lagging behind and a little “winded.” Some churches seemingly are “gasping” for breath.
Regardless of where you are as a church, here are some suggestions that might help spark growth in church attendance:
Have each Sunday School/small group contact everyone on their roll. Make a call and ask for prayer requests. Pray with them over the phone. If they haven’t been in a while, let them know you have missed them. If needed, apologize for not contacting them sooner.
Make it a priority for you as a leader to contact a few regular attendees and let them know you appreciate them and their faithfulness.
Personally contact three people that have not been attending lately. Tell them you love them and miss them. This contact needs to be a phone call or a personal visit.
Invite someone and pick them up for church. Bringing someone with you to church can encourage the entire congregation. Hopefully, it will spark an interest in them bringing someone.
Have a service day in the community and use this time as an opportunity to invite others to your church.
Send an encouraging email to every church member. Along with this email, pray that it will fall on receptive ears. Ask God to use this to spark a renewal in excitement and attendance.
Pray that God will add to your number. Make praying for the lost and those who are unchurched a priority. Remember, it is God who adds to our number!
Set goals. An “old fashioned” friend day still works. Prayerfully set a goal of invitees. Also, encourage each member to bring a friend.
Teach your congregation to share about what God is doing in your church. Genuine enthusiasm is contagious. Excited church members invite guests.
People want to come to a church where God is evident.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This article first appeared in Ministry Moments, a newsletter of the Alabama State Board of Mission’s Office of Church Health. Rob Jackson serves as director of this office, and has served in ministry since 1990.
