The question came through Church Answers Central, our forum where pastors and church leaders seek feedback in a safe and private place with peers of like mind and subject matter experts. Almost 2,000 church leaders are part of this forum, interacting with each other nearly every hour of every day.
Does the size of a church determine the need for revitalization? Is revitalization based solely on numerical declines? Most would see the need for revitalization in a congregation that shrinks from 150 to 30 in attendance over five years. But what about the church in decline from 1,000 people to 750 people in attendance over ten years?
Several reasons exist as to why a church enters a period of decline.
- Inward focus – Evangelism is absent, and the church no longer moves outward.
- Doctrinal apathy – The fundamentals of the faith are not a priority.
- Spiritual lethargy – People care more about their preferences than discipleship and holiness.
These problems are common in established churches. Most will recognize them as catalysts of decline. But the question in Church Answers Central dealt with the size of the church, and I believe it’s an excellent one to consider. Numerical attendance declines can be evidence of an inward focus, doctrinal apathy, and spiritual lethargy.
The size of the church determines the urgency of the revitalization, not necessarily the need. In the example above, the church of 750 people in attendance likely does not naturally feel any urgency for revitalization. However, the church of 30 is more apt to feel a sense of urgency. Churches usually feel urgency before recognizing what is needed to fix the problem.
Urgency is typically felt in one of two ways:
- Facility: The room is too big.
- Finances: The revenue is too small.
The facility urgency. Numerical declines will trigger urgency when so few people attend that the room feels vacuous. Of course, this feeling will depend on the size of the room. Three hundred people in a room seating five thousand is a problem. Thirty people in a room that seats one hundred may not feel like a problem.
Churches are notorious for living in a state of tension between fragility and resiliency. They hang on by their fingernails, but those nails are quite strong. A church can decline in a vacuous room and still not act if the finances support what is left. This support can come from deep cash reserves or a key donor who keeps giving.
The financial urgency. Not every church has deep reserves or a key donor. Financial urgency occurs when the revenue declines to the point where the church lacks cash flow. In other words, when what is coming in through giving no longer supports the bare minimum expenses. A church can go from complete complacency to an all-out emergency in one month when the bills are not paid.
The attendance trigger point of revitalization is more art than science—more feeling than fact. I’ve seen churches with ten or twenty people attending in a room that seats hundreds and still not exhibit any urgency. Some churches will live off cash reserves for years. Urgency is more often about how people feel than the raw numbers.
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Posted on August 24, 2022
As President of Church Answers, Sam Rainer wears many hats. From podcast co-host to full-time Pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church, Sam’s heart for ministry and revitalization are evident in all he does.
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4 Comments
I think a good church must equally have a good preacher, pastor or leader. A healthy church brings in a good number of churchgoers. For example, our Church here, https://lhhouston.church/ has always had a good number of members attendance and as well as in increasing membership because we have a great pastor, who truly exemplifies the life that a Man of God must live.
I understand the urgency aspect for Revitalization as you expressed in the article. But I would contend that the NEED for Revitalization comes long before the urgency is felt. I would offer 5% or more decline in attendance per year or 10% decline over a 3 year period would be a numerical starting point to begin for leadership to be looking towards revitalization. This would be the beginning of a trend that should be interrupted before it becomes a serious problem which would be require a more difficult and urgent course correction.
Glenn – You offer good insight. And I like your percentage triggers. Great thoughts.
Thank you for this and other valuable advice.
I see it happening everywhere and have a hearts desire (with God’s blessings) make a difference at our church.