Is Your Church Dying?

According to Lifeway Research, Protestant churches are in decline. We are losing more churches than we are planting. I know this from my own experience. When I moved to La Grange, TX in 2010, there were three Churches of Christ in our county. Now, there is only one. My experience is not unusual. The fastest-growing religious affiliation in America is what researchers have labeled “nones.” Many of these people were affiliated with a church at one time but have stopped attending and now identify as not belonging to any religious group. There are lots of churches on life support.

The obstacles Christians face are numerous and complex. Books have been written, and conferences have been held to discuss what is happening to Christianity in America. Some of these trends have been years in the making. At the same time, the answers to some problems are simple. You may not be able to reverse the growth of the “nones,” but you can have healthy, thriving churches that are making a difference in their communities. Churches don’t have to die. Many churches are growing and doing quite well.

If you are attending a church in decline, don’t get overwhelmed by all the data, articles, and podcasts. Information is helpful, but don’t become paralyzed by the amount that is available. Keep it simple! Focus on what you can do. What can you do as an individual? What can your church do? What can be done in the community? There are lots of things that are out of your control. Don’t worry about national trends when you have local issues you need to address. You have a limited amount of time, energy, and resources; use them wisely.

One question is more important than all others. If your church is experiencing decline, the whole congregation needs to spend time contemplating and discussing this question.

Do we, as a church, want help?

Take your time with this process. Discuss what it means. Think through the sacrifices it requires. Consider the changes that need to be made.

Sadly, many churches are content with dying. They don’t want help. They don’t want to make sacrifices or changes. They are comfortable and want it to stay that way, even if it means the church will eventually close its doors.

If your congregation sits with this question and answers “Yes!” There is hope. The news is not all bad. People are seeking meaning in life, looking for institutions they can trust, and wanting to be a part of a movement that is making a difference. Get outside the walls of your church building and into your community. Open your homes and invite people to your tables. Don’t wait for the world to come to you. Go into all the world, your schools and workplaces, your food pantries and homeless shelters, your neighborhoods and parks, and make disciples. God is at work and looking for churches to say, “Yes!”

If you or your church would like help, I would gladly discuss your situation with you. I am certified in church revitalization and would love the opportunity to help any church seeking to make a difference.