While there’s a lot of ‘sensitivity’ around the subject of large churches v. smaller churches, the reality is many leaders I know sincerely want to reach more people. The challenge is the church growth barriers you encounter along the way.
Surprisingly, only a tiny percentage of churches ever make it past 200 people in attendance. Why is that?
Well, as I shared in this post (which is one of the most-read posts on this blog), there are at least 8 reasons why churches don’t make it past the 200 attendance mark.
In this post I want to offer 6 keys to breaking church growth barriers and address 6 more reasons churches don’t get there.
Surprisingly, only a tiny percentage of churches ever make it past 200 people in attendance. Why is that? Click To TweetHere’s What’s Missing
I’m going to assume leaders are praying and that the church is biblical and authentic in its mission. I’ll also assume that leaders want the church to grow.
But even with all those conditions in place, too many churches just can’t push through.
And even once you get past 200, some churches can’t make it past 400 or 800. Again, not for lack of desire or opportunity.
So why can’t they grow?
They simply haven’t structured for growth.
This post explores this in detail and I’ll also remind you again of the best book I’ve ever read on the subject: Carl George and Warren Bird’s, How to Break Growth Barriers. They go into detail about some of the barriers I raise in this post and the previous one.
Wise leaders position their church today to make an impact tomorrow.
And by the way, if you’re tempted to criticize this as ‘yet another strategy piece’, please read Exodus 18, Luke 10 and Acts 6. (Apparently, God likes structure and organization too.)
Wise leaders position their church today to make an impact tomorrow. Click To TweetWhile embracing all 6 things won’t guarantee your church will grow, every church I know that has successfully pushed past the 200, 400, and 800 barriers have navigated these changes (and dealt with the 8 problems in my other post).
6 Keys to Breaking 200, 400, and 800 in Attendance
1. Push Down Decision Making
Too many leaders try to hold onto all the decision making power in an organization, whether that’s a board (see point 3) or usually, the pastor.
Organizations that make decisions in teams often face delays, frustrations, and suffer from a lack of clarity. (Think of a committee system that grinds everything meaningful to a screeching halt.)
Our structure at Connexus where I serve is staff-led, elder governed and people gifted.
We tell our staff that if you’re the leader, you’re the decision-maker. Here’s how we put it: You are free to consult with whoever you wish (your staff leader, volunteers, core team), but you don’t need permission from anyone. You’re the leader. Lead.
The exceptions to you being the sole decision-maker are if your decision
requires spending that moves your total budget number higher than budgeted
impacts or changes the mission, vision, strategy or values of Connexus Church
impacts or effects other ministry areas, both negatively but also positively (in the time of teamwork).
It’s amazing how much you can get done if you let leaders lead.
It's amazing how much you can get done if you let leaders lead. Click To Tweet2. A Willingness to Let Others Take the Credit
One of the main reasons pastors are afraid of push down decision making is that they want to be at the center of everything that happens. Drill down a little further and you discover that often, they are reluctant to let others take the credit.
Whether it’s a desire to control or just insecurity, it’s hurting their organization.
Part of growing a church is a willingness to let others be at the hospital bed, letting others get the credit for great ideas, letting others lead others to Christ, letting others win.
Understand, the more you let others lead in the organization, the more you will struggle with your own role (hopefully you zone it in on the two or three things you’re actually good at). But ironically, doing less and empowering your team doesn’t make you less valuable to the organization, it makes you more valuable.
3. Scalable Pastoral Care
At 200, the barrier to scalable pastoral care is the pastor. He or she wants to be there for everyone. Huge mistake. A workaholic or exceptionally gifted person can do most of the pastoral care to 300 or 400, but usually at that point he or she burns out or the church implodes. Nobody can take it solo past 400.
That’s where systems are key. Many churches use small groups for this. But to get small groups to a scale where it works for churches larger than 400 takes a great system and leadership. If you want some free insight into how we do groups as a strategic partner of North Point church, you’ll find it here.
If your pastoral care doesn’t scale, your mission won’t either.
If your pastoral care doesn't scale, your mission won't either. Click To Tweet4. Governing Boards that Focus on Oversight, not Micromanagement
Boards that micromanage will keep your church small forever.
As your church grows past 200 to 400, 800 and beyond, your need to find godly leaders for your board who can understand larger organizations and develop high trust between the board and the staff team. Board members need to be comfortable with larger budgets, larger systems and how to handle personnel issues sensitively and strategically. Not everyone has the gifting for this, so choose wisely.
Churches that end up with a micromanaging board will never make it to 800, let alone past it.
5. An Outward Focused Vision
Too many churches are focused on themselves and keeping their members happy. Almost every church that moves past the 800 mark has overcome this and has embraced an outward focused vision.
You can’t underestimate the importance of an outward focused vision (which if course, is the heart of the Gospel).
A church that is focused on itself ultimately loses its potential and the wider community and often, in the end, loses itself. It will implode or shrink to the point of ineffectiveness.
To drill down on an outward focused vision, here’s a post on why your church isn’t for everyone and another post on how to gain alignment around your mission, vision and strategy.
6. A Bias toward What is Possible
I’m so glad you read to the end of this post. This is huge.
Churches that grow are churches that default toward what is possible when it comes to opportunity. Not sure what I mean? Study the opposite. You’ve seen it or lived it far too often.
Someone comes with a bright idea and the group listening almost immediately comes up with 21 reasons why the idea can’t happen. We’re too small. That will never work. So and so tried it.…. And on and on it goes until all vision is dead. And if it squirms trying to find new life, some person who is pessimism’s gift to the world will step on it one more time. No wonder change is impossible. The culture has already decided it is.
In growing churches, bring a new idea and people will default into how to make the idea happen. Their bias is always toward what is possible. And if it seems impossible, they will brainstorm until they figure out a way to make it happen.
Want more on this? Here’s a post on the Top 5 Ministry Excuses You Need to Stop Making.
