“A happy heart makes a face cheerful.” Proverbs 15:13
One
of the things people look for in a church is a positive happy atmosphere. Going
to a church full of dour looking solemn people is not very attractive. I think
that is one of the reasons our church is growing. New visitors have been
attending worship and deciding to join us in part because they look around and
see happiness! With the next new members class we will have 51 new members in
the last two and ½ years.
It
makes sense that we are happy because we have so so much to be grateful for,
thanks be to God! But happiness is also a choice.
Groucho
Marx once said:
Groucho’s quote reminds me of this passage in Matthew
6:25-27 that encourages us not to worry, (which inspires happiness):
“Therefore
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not
life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of
the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by
worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” (NRSV)
There are other
reasons besides a happy atmosphere that helps a church grow. Here is a list I
shared with our session at our March meeting. YOU can help us accomplish these
ten goals:
- 1. MAKE SUNDAY SPECIAL Put creative energy into every worship service. You may only get one chance to connect Christ to a visitor.
- 2.ADD AN EXTRA SERVICE (and maybe even an extra venue)
- The Session and worship committee are considering adding a new worship service on Friday evenings that may attract new members who like to listen to instrumentalists accompany our hymns.
- 3. WORK ON YOUR WELCOME Making new attendees feel at home from the moment they drive into the parking lot will significantly increase the chances of them returning. We need greeters at Bowen Hall doors helping people find their way into our church.
- 4. ENCOURAGE BELONGING AND BELIEVING
- Belonging will often precede believing, and forming friendships is essential. Invite new comers to our activities. Consider starting a small group study.
- 5. INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE Young people need to be purposefully placed into visible leadership roles and given excellent Christian mentoring.
- 6. ENGAGE YOUR COMMUNITY Churches need to place community engagement high on the priority list. One church started: Christians Against Poverty and gave financial advice and aid to those struggling in their local community. In one year that church added 100 members.
- 7. MARKET YOURSELF The best marketing is the kind that comes from positive interactions with the local community. Giving people a reason to enter the church is half the battle. So make the most of Christmas, Easter and any events that give you an excuse to invite people in. Don’t be shy.
- 8.GIVE SUPPORT TO CONGREGATIONAL CARE Churches that grow have been able to develop pastoral support networks that allow everyone in the church to be ministered to without the pastor having to do it all.
- 9. RUN AN EVANGELISTIC COURSE (AND CHURCH)
- Strategically, the church needs to be missionary-minded so that every member knows they have a role in sharing their faith, inviting friends and ensuring that visitors feel at home. Have a constant introductory course such as Alpha or Christianity Explored to teach the basics.
- 10. PRAY Praying for growth. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul says: ‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.’
- In our efforts to see church growth, we need to acknowledge we can achieve nothing without God’s blessing, which brings forth the fruit. When churches become inward-looking they forget the power of the gospel and what it feels like to grow. Pray daily for our church to grow so we can meet the spiritual needs of the people in our congregation and community. All of us can pray.
(List
above adapted from: Justin Brierley’s article at:
https://www.premierchristianity.com/Past-Issues/2015/January-2015/Ten-ways-to-grow-your-church-in-2015)
I
am so thankful for the willingness of our Church of the Roses leaders to work
on these ten things that will help our church have a healthy future. May God
continue to bless us and keep us as we carry on in faith. Remember, there
are seven Sundays in the Easter season. YOU can help us make each Easter Season
Sunday special by worshipping and participating in the future of our
church. Happy Easter Season! Love, Pastor Cindy
