Posted on 01/02/2023 6:55:18 AM PST by SeekAndFind
The news is astounding.
Churches with fewer than 250 in average worship attendance account for 92% of all churches in the United States. At Church Answers, we call these congregations “standard churches” because they represent all but 8% of churches.
It is incumbent upon us, therefore, to discern what important trends and developments are taking place that have direct bearing on standard churches. Here are five major developments.
1. There will likely be a migration to neighborhood and rural churches. We are certainly aware that the greater majority of attendees are in larger churches. But we are also aware that the post-quarantine era introduced a greater desire not to commute as much, as well as not to travel as much for other activities. A number of people also moved to the quieter life of smaller towns and rural areas. The opportunity is great to reach both these new residents and those willing to go to a smaller church.
2. Larger churches are growing by getting smaller. The multisite movement is a dramatic shift from church practices 20 years ago. Indeed, almost all of the largest churches in America grew by increasing their number of sites rather than growing at one location. The leaders of these churches know that growth must be horizontal rather than vertical. They understand that attendees prefer smaller congregations or, at least, smaller gatherings.
3. One person can lead a dramatic and positive change in a standard church. We are incredibly encouraged to hear about one or a few people leading substantive changes in a congregation. Here is a comment from a recent article I wrote: “I prayed for five visitors to come to church and ten came. I confess, I was shocked and so were the people in my small church. I have renewed zeal for what God calls me to do. I listen to and read everything you guys put out. I complained no one is doing anything to help our church and I heard Sam say it starts with you! So, I am knocking on doors. You said if you invite they will come. They are! Thank you, Church Answers!”
4. Standard churches now have opportunities to educate and train their own members. Standard churches in the past had to hire people from outside the church if they wanted someone with theological training. There are now many options with digital resources to provide education and training on the church field (see our fast-growing Church Answers University, for example: www.ChurchAnswers.University).
5. Evangelism is returning to many standard churches. These churches are reaching and will reach people with the gospel as the leaders and members respond in obedience to the Great Commission. Evangelism is not the purview of a larger church only; it is the command for all churches and all Christians.
Some see nothing but problems with many standard churches. I see an abundance of hope and promise.
God is not done with you or your church.
Originally published at Church Answers
Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers, an online community and resource for church leaders. Prior to founding Church Answers, Rainer served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Before coming to LifeWay, he served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his Master of Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Ping
92% of how many churches? If all of them would have come forward to offer to take in a pregnant young girl in trouble it would have gone a long way to alleviate the issue of abortion and minimize the effects on our November election losses. The SCOTUS decision in June sought us all off-guard and we were unprepared to respond. The small congregations, many poor and all spread out could have demonstrated our love for life. Another opportunity missed.
Yes I’m old enough (mid teens) to remember how churches turned their back on unmarried pregnant girls. God did not like this and we are now paying the price with abortion.
Personally I think the Church has learned from this. Seems to me that the Church has matured in many ways
This article is full of insulting labels and some advice not found in Scripture.
What a sad commentary on the Post-Modern Modern Evangelical American religiosity of today.
“Small” churches?
I don’t see God ever calling a church “small” in Scripture.
“Standard” churches?
My concordance doesn’t have that string of words anywhere in my Bible.
And...#4 exposes their grift: “Opportunities for training”.
IOW, we are ready to take your money, suckers.
Just give us a ring!
This entire article is an ABOMINATION to God!
Stop the grifting.
Go to church.
Pray.
I could have told these people that the small churches account for 92% o churches in the US! Just drive around your town or county for goodness sake! And I bet the little Baptist churches account for 50% of those 92%. They are everywhere. I say good for them. We need more faith in this country and the world.
“could have?”
You are too hard on the church.
Many in many congregations do these things, some quietly. Many churches, so many, support pregnancy centers that facilitate housing and so much more for free. Why assume otherwise? The literally thousands of crisis pregnancy organizations in this country, offering everything from free pregnancy tests to pre natal care, baby and maternity clothes, furniture, and yes, housing. . . are supported by Christians and churches. Millions of dollars being spent and so much volunteer time.
Again, the thousands of crisis pregnancy centers in the US are basically entirely church funded - by individual Christians as well as, formally, churches.
Our little church housed the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade. When it finally got a place of its own (even offers prenatal care now, all free of course) we continued with large monthly donations. This goes on all over the nation. The church has a hundred percent come through.
Persevero-It’s not what I’m getting at. The work these churches do is getting unnoticed and they receive nothing but scorn from the media. A national coming together on this issue would be positive correct much of the anger. Just as well it would put the left on the defensive as it should be on more issues. A high-profile billionaire putting down some cash would have gone a long way on the publicity end. Elon Musk has been in the news a lot but it’s not on his navigation map. Trump on the other hand-I just don’t know.
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