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Measuring Church Growth: A Research-Based Tool for Evaluating and Planning
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Table of Contents
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For the past fifteen years I have spoken openly and consistently as a proponent for large churches. They are certainly here and likely to stay. At the end of the chapter we will consider some of the advantages offered by a large congregation. But for now, The Center's research findings have surfaced several disturbing trends that need consideration.
From Figure 7.3 at least two trends are observable. First, as Churches of Christ get larger, they decline in their evangelistic effectiveness. Second, in every size group except one growing churches baptize more people than declining churches. Huge growing churches demonstrated the most unsettling trend. They actually baptize fewer converts than their declining counterparts. This represents a major divergence in the research findings for growing and declining churches and raises a host of issues that cry out for clarification and discernment.
I had heard about this trend. I had even read about it. But not until I saw it for myself did it become a sobering concern. Carl George, a leading church consultant, had observed the same trend among other traditions. He states, "Why do some churches grow even without being strongly evangelistic? The most common explanation, which fits many of the large metropolitan-area churches, is that some develop a gravitational pull on the unhappy, the disillusioned, and the underutilized from other churches." Carl offers a full treatment on what he calls the "feeder and receptor patterns" of growth.
From pages 103 - 105
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A comprehensive list of growth characteristics is beyond the purpose here. There are, however, a few key factors that enable congregations to move through the different size barriers and potentially become megachurches. If congregations will address these issues, they can grow regardless of their size.
1. Maximum facility use. Winston Churchill is credited with saying, "We form our building and then our buildings form us." Churches can become prisoners of their facilities and their comfortable pattern of activities. Frequently, congregations will allow the building space to determine the size and number of ministry offerings. A church can grow in size only if it is willing to make space for additional members.
Barrier-breaking churches creatively use their facilities to allow more people to worship and participate. Their vision is beyond a single Sunday morning assembly and Bible class period. Multiple worship services are the norm, and there is little hesitation to expand the number to three or more morning assemblies.
Leaders must monitor three areas carefully: parking, classroom space, and auditorium seating. If any one of them becomes crowded, all growth is blocked. For example, a church cannot seat any more people than it can park in a comfortable walking distance from the facilities. Creative multiple facility use requires options that ensure ample space in all three areas at every time period.
From pages 108 - 109
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