If you’re a pastor or a church leader, you’ve probably wondered how you can get your church to grow. Church growth can be challenging, but it’s not something you should shy away from. Don’t settle for anything less than God’s measure for your church. You need to stretch your faith, be persistent, and put in the work to achieve this God-given goal. Your church can break growth barriers of 50 people, 125, 250, and 500 up. Why? Because that is God’s heart.
Remember, this is not a question of quantity over quality. I believe both can be achieved, and it is NOT an either/or situation.
Here are some of the ways you can stretch your faith and grow your church:
Pray with Unwavering Faith and Believe
Do you truly believe your church can grow, or have you become cynical? The first step to stretching your faith is to pray and believe that your church can grow. The Bible says that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Therefore, believe in your heart that your church can grow, no matter the size. Make it a daily habit to pray fervently for your church, its members, and the potential members.
Wrap your head around this: God wants you to be part of the Great Commission. He wants your church to make disciples. He wants your church to reach people with the good news of Jesus. He wants your church to grow!
Focus on Evangelism:
Another way to stretch your faith is to focus on evangelism. This involves sharing the Gospel with non-believers and not forgetting the Christian basics of sharing the goodness they have experienced in their Christian lives. You need to have a solid understanding of your target demographic (Rick Warren calls this your equivalent to his Saddleback Sam) and build creative ways to reach them with the Gospel. You can create outreach events, social media campaigns, and community service projects to start the process of engaging non-believers.
It’s time to get out of the “holy huddles” and into the game. It’s time to get out of the pews and into the streets. Let’s go!!
Create an Atmosphere for Non-believers to Encounter Jesus:
To stretch your faith in church growth, you should also focus on providing exceptional worship services that keep existing members engaged and curious for more. Develop and maintain a culture that makes people feel wanted and accepted. Ensure that your church services are engaging and relevant to the issues of modern-day societies while, of course, holding fast to the never changing message of Jesus.
Utilize Technology and Creativity:
In the digital age, the internet presents us with a vast opportunity to reach a larger audience with the Gospel. Reimagine an online ministry, create powerful social media campaigns, and re-engage the younger generation. Live stream sermons and church events, create an engaging website, and run social media advertisements that target members of the community. Embracing technology also helps to expand your church’s reach and promotes your church to audiences far beyond your geographical location.
Get the younger generations to be part of your tech team. They know what “stops” the scroll and catches the attention of their peers.
Mentor new Leaders:
Lastly, don’t forget to mentor new leaders. Stretching your faith in church growth also means that you stretch the spiritual and leadership potentials of the members of your church. This will help in building a church that grows with values and purpose. Teach leadership values, provide a platform for members to lead in various church departments, and encourage them to pursue God’s calling for their lives.
I heard John Maxwell say, “Who you attract is not determined by what you want. It’s determined by who you are”. Hopefully, you are a good leader. Good leaders attract other leaders. If you do not utilize, those God sends, they will find other people to serve with. My advice: Steward this gift and lead well. Train others who will, in turn, train others. Sounds biblical, doesn’t it?
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
Stretching your faith with regard to church growth requires a combination of prayer, focus, and hard work. With persistence and a deep conviction that your church can and should grow, you can take the next step to achieve this God-given vision.
