As we grow, it is essential to remember the importance of prayer. Every idea and endeavor should be grounded in prayer, seeking guidance from God. This is particularly true when it comes to small church growth. Our purpose is to honor Christ and grow in His name, so it’s crucial to consult with Him during our journey. Even after praying, it’s natural to still feel stressed.
Allow me to share a few suggestions to help you find relaxation. These are goals that will contribute to the growth of your church. While we will touch upon promotional strategies, it all begins with fostering a genuine community. This is the ultimate objective and the most effective approach for long-term health and growth in a small church.
Greate Genuine Community Rather Than Manipulation
Certain megachurches in the United States and elsewhere have unfortunately strayed from the true gospel and embraced a distorted version known as the prosperity gospel. In doing so, they have led many astray and contributed to the accumulation of wealth by false prophets disguised as believers. This is far from the teachings of Jesus Christ and does not reflect the genuine essence of a community of believers.
Instead, our identity should be defined by our love for one another. Our giving should not be driven by selfish motives or a desire for attention. A church should serve as a sanctuary for the wounded, a place where the eternal family can come together and rejoice in the life we are called to live in Christ. This is the primary and most crucial form of growth.
Following the example of Paul, our focus should be on ministering to the body of believers before reaching out to unbelievers. Therefore, the foundation of growth in a small church lies in the maturity we attain in our relationship with Christ. Here are some steps to help us achieve that.
Strong Vision
A church’s vision is crucial, as it fuels growth and unity. Without a strong vision, the number of newcomers becomes insignificant since they don’t connect with the purpose. A clear, Bible-based vision centered on loving Christ and pursuing holiness brings depth and authenticity.
In embracing this vision, the church experiences the abundant fruit of genuine love among its members. As they walk together in this shared pursuit, hearts are transformed, relationships are nurtured, and the church becomes a beacon of God’s love, attracting and impacting those who seek a meaningful and vibrant faith community.
Love for Each Other
A church that focuses on cultivating maturity will witness its effects in various aspects. As the love passage in Corinthians teaches us, patience in times of trouble and tribulation will become evident.
Affection for one another will blossom, leading to the formation of genuine and lasting friendships. A deep sense of care for the surrounding community will also emerge. These signs indicate that the church is moving in the right direction.
Love for one another serves as a primary indicator of a healthy church, and where there is health, growth is sure to follow.
Small Church Growth From a Basement
A Virginia church started in a basement, fueled by an idea that spread among close friends. With discussions on doctrine and fasting, they planted a community. From five initial members, they grew to a consistent forty in the first year.
PC Church in Lynchburg initially had friends attending each week. The preaching and friendships flourished, creating a sense of home rather than an urge to escape after the service.
Word spread about their love, service, and healing of brokenness. More people joined, attracted by the genuine community and love they witnessed. This love led to service, which opened up new opportunities.
The small basement church experienced remarkable growth in maturity and stability, even raising funds for life-changing surgery for someone in need.
Service
Serving others is a natural response when we genuinely care about someone. When people are in need, those who love them are often the first to step up and help. In times of sickness, if a parent is unable to assist, it’s typically the children and neighbors who come forward.
Similarly, in moments of tragedy within the local community, it’s often the small, community-based church that rises to the occasion with acts of service and support. Service is a reflection of compassion, and as the church grows in compassion, it should embrace the opportunity to serve.
Through service, two important things are accomplished. Firstly, it allows us to live out the love of Christ as we are called to do. Secondly, it creates connections and opens doors for meaningful relationships to form.
Connection and Opportunity
Service presents an evident opportunity to share the gospel with unbelievers and invite them to church, leading to potential growth in numbers. However, it also becomes a cycle of serving, inviting, and witnessing individuals coming to faith.
Yet, there is an additional opportunity that arises: the chance to collaborate. Collaboration has the power to amplify the impact of everything your church is already doing. It extends beyond the bounds of individual efforts and brings synergy to your service.
When you collaborate with others, your service expands and becomes even more impactful. This is what it means to seize the opportunity of collaboration.
Collaboration
In small churches, limited manpower can pose challenges when it comes to serving the community. However, the scope of your service can expand when you seek outside help and forge partnerships. By reaching out to schools, local ministries, and even commercial entities, you can discover various opportunities for collaboration. Allow me to provide you with a few examples.
Events Can Cause Small Church Growth
Indeed, construction is one form of service, but there are also other avenues such as organizing block parties and concerts. You can reach out to talented artists and DJs who are willing to contribute their skills to engage the community. Through these events, relationships are forged, and your church can have a broader impact and serve in various ways.
Hosting prayer walks for the city, whether in response to a national tragedy or for personal growth, can be a powerful event. As your church marches through the city, praying for its well-being, people will take notice and become curious. This opens the door for you to explain your mission and extend invitations for further engagement.
However, collaboration is not limited to single-day events; it can extend beyond that.
Merging Is a Common Tool of Growth
Occasionally, collaboration takes on a more significant form, such as when a small church decides to merge with another ministry. This is a common occurrence and can have transformative effects. The church body and pastoral staff double in size, and through shared vision and a desire to serve their community better, they choose to merge.
While it may be challenging and some individuals may depart as a result, in the long run, the merged church can experience increased stability along with growth in both numbers and passion. Moreover, a merger contributes to expanding your city-wide network, fostering deeper connections and collective impact.
Partner Up With Local Services
The basement church faced limitations due to its manpower until it merged with another church. This not only doubled their leadership team and congregation but also provided opportunities for new ministries. One such partnership was formed with a local ministry called Lighthouse, where they exchanged resources for service.
The church extended its support by providing meals to the hungry, offering education to those who dropped out of school, and assisting in job placements for the unemployed. Through these acts of service, the church experienced growth and transformation.
However, when a destructive storm struck their city, the church leveraged the resources from their partnership with Lighthouse to aid in the cleaning and rebuilding efforts. This act of selfless service earned the church respect, gratitude, and piqued the curiosity of the community. The foundation laid by their local partnerships prepared them for this growth.
While partnerships alone are insufficient, the church recognized the importance of visibility. By incorporating their church name and logo on t-shirts, they effectively conveyed their role in caring for the community and making their presence known.
Using Promotion for Small Church Growth
In addition to some impactful shirts, it’s important to explore a range of traditional strategies that can contribute to the growth of your church. These tried-and-true methods have proven effective over time and should be embraced as part of your overall growth plan.
Social Media
Anyone, including kids, who has the willingness to serve can utilize social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to share updates. With just a smartphone, you can post pictures of service projects and express gratitude to those involved, expanding the reach of your church.
Church social media also provides the opportunity to create group chats for immediate help and prayer, fostering a sense of community. Additionally, it serves as another avenue for outreach, allowing you to connect with individuals who may not be physically present but can be reached through digital platforms.
Live Streams
While live streams may not be considered a traditional form of outreach, they offer significant benefits. Posting the recorded service after the live stream also proves to be advantageous. Firstly, it lets people get a feel for the church’s atmosphere and make an informed decision about visiting. Secondly, it enables those who are traveling to stay connected and up-to-date with the sermon series.
Local Partnerships
As your church grows, utilize the skills and businesses within your community. For example, if someone owns a coffee shop, consider hosting a small group meeting there and displaying a banner. Look for opportunities to collaborate with local businesses to expand your reach and visibility. By engaging with various establishments, you can attract new members and create a stronger presence in the community.
Evangelism and Invitations
The timeless tactic that has remained unchanged for thousands of years is to go out and spread the gospel to the ends of the Earth. Embrace the joy of being a child of God and share His message. Extend invitations, walk with Him, and celebrate together. Invite more people to join in this journey of faith and worship.
Now, Go Forth and Create Small Church Growth!
Never forget your foundation. Why does small church growth matter? It should foster a stronger sense of community, promote spiritual maturity, and not solely focus on financial gains. However, as genuine community flourishes, people naturally contribute more — both in terms of time and finances.
This abundance opens doors to new opportunities, fostering a healthy and thriving church. And when the time comes, consider exploring DonorWERX giving software as a convenient solution to facilitate giving for new members.
