7 Strategies + Ways to Grow Your Church

[@calebgibson55]

Changing your language is really important! A lot of businesses have language that no one else uses, and some churches do the same thing.

[@CareyNieuwhof]

Very true

[@allisonmacey6819]

Rewarding engagement rather than attendance; this is key! If 75 people came to your restaurant but didn't order anything, that wouldn't be means to celebrate. We'd wonder what we did wrong.

[@lucasanga9920]

Connect to groups, serve to volunteer, invite a friend, give to donate.... Become a Christian, join the mission, bring a friend, choose a community, give generously

[@sethwynands2613]

Most churches in my life have had a small group of overfunctioners (especially when it comes to giving, volunteering, or inviting) and a large group of underfunctioning attenders. I love the idea of communicating an expectation for these actions through language and invitations. This spoke right to something we're working on. Thank you for this!

[@philipbenjamin4720]

That was a really helpful list thank you Carey. Your wisdom really came through in this video. If I have the opportunity I am going to shamelessly rip off some of Carey’s concepts. I liked New Here, and Next Steps (I imagine that really capable people at the Next Steps desk could have a whole host of paths down which they could direct people - into all kinds of service and participation). I liked the series of two word statements as a guide for what commitment to the vision of the church looks like. I hadn’t before stopped to think about the way in which connect groups can become selfish - and that service is a helpful way of maintaining the self-giving nature of things. (Groups can also be a connect and service combination - for example a connect group could hit the streets monthly instead of meeting in a home - or do prison visits - or old people visits - the list is endless). I liked how one of the two word phrases related to INCLUDING. Much is often made of inviting and welcoming people - but in some contexts including is overlooked. The church I grew up in taught me about the power of including - our youth group grew from just over twenty to over three hundred people in the space of a decade and my sense is that two key elements were a key part of this - we were taught that faith was not some hobby - an all of life thing - and also we were instructed to not just invite, and welcome - but also to include. And we did - people would be asked to be part of things that were happening at other times during the week and on the weekend - we weaved people into the group. One danger to be kept in mind (continuing from what you said Carey about how leaders will get what they celebrate) is we must not communicate in what we say and do that we are happy for people to support OUR vision for church (as distinct from God’s vision for the church) by regularly offering an hour of their week and some of their spare cash. Our message must never deviate from “What are you planning to do with the rest of your life?” As an illustration of how churches do divert from the whole of life message consider how senior pastors will often complain that there are many people in their city who are only around for a couple of years before moving on. But that is to some degree the leaders’ fault if the leaders are allowing their people to believe that work and career comes before church participation in the life of a faithful disciple. Leaders should be saying to people that while they aren’t suggesting that only lifelong commitment to their church is faithfulness - they shouldn’t negotiate on the belief that lifelong commitment to A church - and ahead of career - is faithfulness. We should be moving cities and countries for church just as much or more than we should be moving cities and countries for work. I haven’t had the opportunity to prove it but I think that one thing that particularly men want BEFORE being asked to be a subpart of the vision - is the opportunity to fully understand the vision/strategy - the ENTIRE mission of the church. When they are given this chance - and they are convinced by its viablity and wisdom they will then become defenders and evangelists of the vision. Related to this leaders need to show absolute respect for their people both in making sure that ALL events at church are really worthwhile use of people’s time - and start and finish on time - the strategy of the church must reveal godly wisdom - and real effort in how the implications of the strategy have been considered IN DETAIL. Leaders must show EXACTLY why there is good reason to believe that the vision will work. People must be converted not just to Christ but to the strategy the church is adopting to serve him - to see his kingdom expand. While God will still expect us to back the less than perfect strategist leader there isn’t any benefit in leaders testing their people in this area! When the people are convinced they will then truly engage - not merely in serving in some part of the total picture - but I suggest just as importantly they will begin to defend and evangelise the vision of the church with others. And really importantly - they will then ASK people to come to church. The thing that made me aware of this need to share the whole vision was actually a negative example - analysis of failing UK churches. It was pointed out that when women were senior pastors it led to the men getting the message that their unique contribution as men was not welcome. Men would then stop coming. At that point it was only the mother in the family who was trying to get the children to church - with the father at home watching sport - or whatever - pulling in the other direction. Men then ended up causing the whole family to end up not going to church. But when men ARE convinced about the vision - when they can see exactly what place they have in it - they will end up ensuring their entire family is coming to church - and moving towards God. So then healthy churches have leaders who instead of top downing the vision constantly - as if the vision is only breathing as long as the leader is speaking (when that is the case that's a sign that something isn't right) - effectively RELEASE the vision among their people - enabling their people to then lead in defending and fulfilling it. When people are effectively invited into the vision they are no longer bound - with everything they do continuing to be overseen by leadership. The people can act in the name of the church being confident of what is required in doing so. More of this stuff please!

[@gregheis1963]

What about Jesus? All 7 steps should be about proclaiming the Gospel. Growing your business is probably not going to grow His Church.

[@AlexKomnenos]

It’s always ironic to me that all of these church growth method materials seldom quote scriptures or put Christ first. It’s all basically “God yes but we need to do XYZ”. Since the 90s this fad of church growth has dominated evangelicalism and yet every decade church attendance declines by 5%. It’s not working and you’re mainly rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

[@stassone2006]

Thank you, Pastor!

[@CareyNieuwhof]

Glad it was helpful

[@raymond_tora]

I think faith is a calling (Romans 8). And our faith asks alot from us. Time, service, resources, ect. So members want to feel they have a personal stake in what they're doing for the Church. If members are receiving impressions that their input or work doesn't matter because they are not leaders, members will become discouraged to engage. It goes back to what Jesus said, "if anyone wishes to be great, they must take the last place."

[@calebwilliams4820]

Hey Brother,Faith isn't a calling but it is what is required for every believer to believe that even though we don't see God physically we have Faith that he is real.Hebrews 11

[@calebwilliams4820]

Hey Brother,Faith isn't a calling but it's what every believer must have that though we may not physically see God who we are rendering service to,we know that he is real and he exists and sees our Services.(Hebrews 11).If it was a calling then the Christian who aren't called won't be doing the work of God with reverence to God,rather a religious thing.

[@raymond_tora]

@calebwilliams4820 If you look at the chapter in Romans 8, it says "God chose his people in advance....and those he predestined, he also CALLED." (Romans 8:30) Thats the sense I was referring to. Not in a vocational sense. Faith is something we called to possess by God.

[@calebwilliams4820]

@@raymond_tora Alright thank you for the clearance.God Bless you Brother🙌🏾

[@tayongayim5199]

thanks for sharing am struggling with church growth. i pray GOD will use this knowledge and multiply us

[@CareyNieuwhof]

I hope this was helpful

[@johnapope13]

These are super helpful, Carey. Thank you so much!

[@CareyNieuwhof]

You are so welcome!

[@TheTruthfoundme]

Thanks for sharing, God bless you!

[@CareyNieuwhof]

Thanks for watching!

[@bryanwhite2268]

Thank you for this video, Pastor Nieuwhof. I have subscribed as well and thank you for this helpful information. God bless you exceedingly, -Bryan, NC

[@CareyNieuwhof]

Thanks for subbing!

[@josephice2847]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@CareyNieuwhof]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnbraland8621]

Very helpful. Thanks Carey

[@CareyNieuwhof]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wordworks4701]

thanks so much

[@CareyNieuwhof]

You're welcome!

[@Inspiration-ITV]

Your work has the mark of excellence we see in Joseph and Daniel. Hugely appreciated.

[@CareyNieuwhof]

Many thanks!

[@ChristianMcDaniel-dj8qm]

Thanks Carey! Do you have a pic of your kiosks at your church??

[@CareyNieuwhof]

I don't but you may find one on their IG - @connexuschurch

[@Cmac993]

Thanks!