The Church Revitalization Podcast – Episode 258

When it comes to church growth, there’s an elephant in the room that needs addressing: Yes, God grows the church. But before you close this tab, thinking, “Well, that’s all I need to know,” let’s have a quick heart-to-heart.

Imagine telling a farmer, “God grows plants.” While technically true, it doesn’t mean the farmer sits back and waits for a harvest to magically appear. They plant seeds, water crops, and tend to their fields. In the same way, while we can’t manufacture or manipulate church growth, we can certainly create an environment conducive to it.

This article is all about helping you, especially if you’re part of a mid-sized church (think 100-200 members), to cultivate that growth-friendly environment. We’re going to explore three often-overlooked strategies that can help your church thrive without compromising your values or turning it into a spiritual amusement park.

These strategies are particularly suited for mid-sized churches but don’t click away if your congregation is smaller or larger. These principles can be scaled up or down to fit just about any church size. They’re designed to help you participate in the exciting process of church growth, all while remembering that, ultimately, it’s God who brings the increase.

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into these three strategies that might just be the game-changers your church has been looking for. No green thumbs are required – just a willingness to try something new and a heart open to what God might do.

Strategy #1: Master Your Church Welcome Strategy

Let’s face it: first impressions matter. Whether you’re on a first date or visiting a church for the first time, those initial moments can make or break the experience. So, let’s talk about how to roll out the red carpet (figuratively, please) for your visitors.

Create a Dedicated Welcome Team

You might be thinking, “But we’re already friendly!” And that’s great! But there’s a difference between being friendly and having a strategic welcome plan. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Form a specialized team: Instead of relying on whoever’s available, create a core team of 3-5 people whose passion is connecting newcomers to your church family.

2. Train for every scenario: Ever had that awkward moment when you can’t tell if someone’s new or a long-time member you’ve somehow never met? Train your team to handle these situations with grace and humor.

3. Diversify your team: Consider involving people of different ages, including youth. There’s something disarming about being welcomed by a friendly teenager handing out bulletins.

Develop an Effective Guest Follow-up Plan

Your job isn’t done when the service ends. In fact, it’s just beginning. Here’s how to keep the welcome going:

1. Balance automation and personal touch: Use automated systems for quick responses, but don’t forget the power of a handwritten note. It’s like the difference between a store-bought cake and a homemade one – both are sweet, but one feels extra special.

2. Extend your follow-up period: If your current follow-up plan is a single “Thanks for visiting” postcard, it’s time for an upgrade. Think of it as courting – you wouldn’t propose on the first date, right?

3. Always be inviting: Each follow-up should invite your guest to a next step, and not just “Come back next Sunday!” Think newcomer events, small groups, or volunteer opportunities.

Define Success Metrics

How do you know if your welcome strategy is working? It’s time to play “Choose Your Own Adventure: Church Edition.” Pick what success looks like for you:

• A second visit?
• Joining a small group?
• Signing up for a membership class?
• Volunteering?

Whatever you choose, make sure your whole team knows the goal. It’s like bowling – you can’t get a strike if you don’t know where the pins are.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to be friendly (though that’s important). It’s to create a clear path for visitors to become part of your church family. With a killer welcome strategy, you’re not just opening the door – you’re rolling out the welcome mat, offering a comfortable seat, and inviting folks to put their feet up and stay awhile.

Strategy #2: Implement a “Serve to Grow” Leadership Development Strategy

Remember when your parents told you to eat your vegetables to grow big and strong? Well, in the church world, serving is the spiritual broccoli that helps disciples grow. Let’s talk about how to make serving not just a task, but a growth strategy.

Marrying Serving and Discipleship

Too often, we treat serving and growing as two separate menu items, like choosing between the salad or the fries. But what if we could have both? Here’s how to blend serving and discipleship into a power smoothie of spiritual growth:

1. Rethink your discipleship pathway: Instead of separate “grow” and “serve” steps, consider how serving opportunities can be growth opportunities in disguise.

2. Train leaders to be disciple-makers: Every team leader should see themselves not just as a task manager, but as a spiritual mentor. It’s like being a sports coach who develops both skills and character.

3. Create serving opportunities that challenge and stretch: Don’t just fill slots; create roles that push people out of their comfort zones (gently, we’re not trying to scare anyone away).

Building a Leadership Pipeline

Think of this as your church’s talent development program. Here’s how to create a pipeline that would make any HR department jealous:

1. Start with a map: Create a clear path from new volunteer to team leader to ministry head. It’s like a game of Chutes and Ladders, but with less sliding backwards (hopefully).

2. Offer mentorship at every level: Pair seasoned leaders with up-and-comers. It’s the Mr. Miyagi approach to leadership development.

3. Provide practical training: Offer workshops on skills like public speaking, event planning, or conflict resolution. Think of it as a mini-seminary, minus the Greek and Hebrew (unless that’s your thing).

The “Serve to Grow” Payoff

Now, you might be wondering, “This sounds great, but how does this help my church grow?” Glad you asked! Here’s the secret sauce:

1. Personal growth leads to church growth: As people grow in their faith through serving, they become more passionate about the church and more likely to invite others.

2. Leadership multiplication: The more leaders you develop, the more ministries you can run, and the more people you can reach. It’s spiritual compound interest!

3. Increased engagement: People who serve are more invested in the church. They’re not just attending; they’re building.

4. Natural evangelism: When people are excited about what they’re doing at church, they naturally talk about it with others. It’s like when you can’t stop talking about that great new restaurant you found.

Remember, this isn’t about creating a church of workaholics. It’s about helping people find their sweet spot where their gifts meet the church’s needs. When that happens, growth isn’t just possible – it’s inevitable.

So, ready to turn your church into a leadership greenhouse? With a “Serve to Grow” strategy, you’re not just filling volunteer slots; you’re cultivating the next generation of church leaders. And that, friends, is how you grow a church from the inside out.

Strategy #3: Optimize Weekday Church Engagement

Picture this: It’s 2 PM on a Tuesday, and your church building is sitting there, quiet as a mouse in a library. Sound familiar? Well, it’s time to wake up that sleeping giant and turn your church into a seven-day-a-week powerhouse of engagement. Let’s explore how to make your church the place to be, even when it’s not Sunday.

Rethink Your Space

First things first, let’s talk about your building. It’s not just a Sunday morning container; it’s a community asset waiting to be unleashed.

1. Audit your space: Walk through your building with fresh eyes. That dusty classroom? It could be your next big opportunity.

2. Reimagine underused areas: Got a bunch of adult Sunday School rooms that are more storage than study? Time for a makeover!

3. Invest in infrastructure: High-speed internet and good coffee can go a long way. Think of it as the WD-40 and duct tape of church engagement – they make everything run smoother.

Ideas for Weekday Engagement

Now, let’s fill that space with some life. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

1. Create a coworking space: Turn those empty rooms into a hip coworking space. It’s like WeWork, but with better values and fewer scandals.

2. Host alternative worship times: Not everyone can make it on Sunday morning. Why not try a Wednesday night service? It’s like a spiritual pit stop in the middle of the week.

3. Develop a “Church Open House”: Create a space where people can drop in to work, study, or pray. It’s like a spiritual Starbucks, minus the overpriced lattes.

4. Start a midweek podcast or video series: Can’t get people to the building? Bring the building to them through their earbuds or screens.

Reevaluate Traditional Midweek Activities

Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “But we already have a midweek prayer meeting!” If that meeting is thriving, fantastic! Keep it up. But if it’s more of a ghost town than a gathering, it might be time for a change.

1. Audit your current activities: Is that Wednesday night prayer meeting really reaching people, or is it running on fumes and tradition?

2. Be willing to let go: Sometimes, the most loving thing you can do for a program is to let it go to church activity heaven. It’s okay, it had a good run.

3. Experiment with new formats: Could that prayer meeting become a dynamic worship and prayer night? Or a community meal with prayer stations? Get creative!

The Digital Dimension

Don’t forget, engagement doesn’t always have to be in person. In our digital age, your church can be active 24/7.

1. Create bite-sized content: Develop short video devotionals or encouraging social media posts. Think of it as spiritual snacking between the main meals of Sunday services.

2. Host online small groups: For those who can’t make it in person, bring the small group to them via video chat.

3. Utilize social media effectively: Don’t just post announcements. Create engaging content that people want to share. Be the church that lights up people’s feeds with hope and encouragement.

Remember, the goal here isn’t to run your staff and volunteers ragged with constant activity. It’s about creating multiple touch points throughout the week that keep your church community connected and growing. By optimizing your weekday engagement, you’re turning your church from a once-a-week pitstop into a daily refueling station for the soul.

So, are you ready to wake up your sleeping church building and turn it into a 24/7 hub of community and growth? With these strategies, your church can become the place to be – any day of the week.

Your Church’s Growth Journey Starts Now

So there you have it – three often-overlooked strategies that could be game-changers for your mid-sized church. From rolling out the red carpet with a killer welcome strategy to turning your church into a seven-day-a-week spiritual fitness center, these approaches are all about creating an environment where growth can flourish.

Remember, implementing these strategies isn’t about transforming your church overnight. It’s about taking intentional steps towards creating a more vibrant, engaged, and growing community. Start small, be consistent, and watch as these seeds of change begin to sprout.

Whether you decide to revamp your welcome team, launch a “serve to grow” initiative, or turn that dusty classroom into a hip coworking space, the key is to start somewhere. Pick one strategy that resonates with you and give it a shot. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step – or in this case, maybe a single “welcome” or a freshly brewed pot of coffee.

Your church has unique strengths and challenges, so feel free to adapt these ideas to fit your context. The goal isn’t to copy someone else’s formula, but to find what works for your community.

So, are you ready to shake things up a bit? Your next chapter of church growth is waiting to be written. Grab that pen (or keyboard), rally your team, and let’s get growing!

Watch this episode on YouTube!

Scott Ball is the Vice President and a Lead Guide with The Malphurs Group. He lives in East Tennessee with his wife and two children. (Email Scott).

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