What does growth mean for a church? Growth doesn’t always have to mean adding more members to your ministry. Church growth may also refer to people maturing in their faith.
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Although God is the one in control, there are some things you can do to help prepare your church for growth. Here are 10 key growth strategies that can help you increase the impact of your church, put you in a position to reach more people, and help those people grow spiritually.
Tip 1. Create a Written Action Plan
If you want to see your church grow, prayerfully create a written action plan with specific goals and strategies. That doesn’t mean some of those goals or strategies won’t change over time if God prompts you to do something differently, but planning prevents stagnation. It also shows your congregants they can trust you to keep on mission and be a good steward of the resources God provides to your church.
Tip 2. Adapt Your Programming to Your Community
One of the best ways to reach new people is to adapt your programming to your community. That doesn’t mean changing your mission. It just means every community is different. Churches of any size can make a big impact when they know who they are trying to reach.
That could mean offering evening services to accommodate people’s busy schedules. You may also want to focus on offering programs that meet the specific needs of your community. That may include addiction counseling or financial planning classes—any type of service that’s underfunded or underrepresented in your region.
Tip 3. Get Connected With Your Broader Religious Community
If you want your local church to grow, it’s important for your church leaders to get connected with other growing churches or ministries. That may include local ministries, other churches in your denomination, or national church organizations. These larger communities may share financial resources, support, and best practices that can help everyone involved become more effective in their work.
Tip 4. Foster Diverse Spiritual Experiences
Many people are drawn to churches that offer diverse spiritual experiences. If your church is known for being on the traditional side, for example, you might want to consider offering a contemporary worship service.
You can also foster diverse spiritual experiences by offering different types of small groups, large groups, serving opportunities, and classes. These options allow people to explore their faith in different ways and to find a path that resonates with them on a deeper level.
Tip 5. Encourage and Embrace Technology
It’s important to embrace technology in all aspects of your church’s work, including growth. There are a number of ways to do this, such as using social media to reach new people, setting up an online giving system, or livestreaming your services.
Using technology can help you reach more people and make it easier for them to connect with your church. It also allows you to share your message with a wider audience, which can ultimately lead to more growth.
Tip 6. Make Your Church More Visible in the Community
If you want your church to grow, it should be visible in your community. There are a number of ways to do this, such as hosting community events, participating in local festivals, or volunteering throughout the city. Making your church more visible is a great way to attract new people and show them that you’re invested in the community.
Tip 7. Be Willing to Try New Things
In order to grow, your church needs to be willing to try new things. This could mean anything from starting a new worship service to launching a capital campaign. It’s important to be open to change and willing to experiment with different approaches. You could ask a few people in the congregation for their thoughts or even conduct a survey to get people’s feedback and ideas.
Trying new things can be scary, but it’s essential for growth. It shows that you’re committed to meeting the needs of your congregation and that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to reach new people.
Tip 8. Invest in Your Leadership
Investing in your leadership team may include everything from providing training and development opportunities to hiring new staff members and executive pastors—and compensating them fairly.
A church that takes care of its leaders is more likely to see growth. A church leader who feels supported and empowered is more effective in their work, and an effective leader will draw people in.
Tip 9. Focus on Discipleship, Not Just Attraction
Too many churches focus on attracting new members without fostering the growth of their Christian faith. But staying on mission means focusing on helping people grow in their faith, not just getting them in the front door.
Attracting new unchurched people is part of growth, but if you want your church to thrive, you need to make sure you’re investing in the spiritual development of your church members. This includes offering opportunities for Bible study, small groups, mission trips, and other ways for people to grow in their faith.
Tip 10. Pay Attention to People’s Needs
A church that makes its members feel seen and cared for is more likely to see growth. When people feel like they’re part of a community and their needs are being met, they tend to stick around—and extend a personal invitation to friends and family.
Looking for how to meet people’s needs may involve providing childcare to offering transportation assistance. Whatever you do, make sure people feel appreciated and valued.
Bonus Tip: Use Software That Is Specifically Designed for Churches
There are several church management and accounting options out there that claim to be “church solutions” but do not address the unique financial needs of a church. Fortunately, Aplos was specifically created to tackle the demands that are unique to church finance management, which will make your ministry more productive and more efficient.
Learn why thousands of churches are using Aplos to save time and increase productivity.
