The statistic is often quoted…
85% of all churches today are in plateau or decline.
This is a distressing number, no matter how many times it’s repeated. While looking at what’s being done to turn the situation around, church consulting in particular, six signs of hope emerged.
Sign #1: A readiness to admit past mistakes. Remarking on a three-year study of the church growth program at one of America’s largest churches, Pastor Bill Hybels of Willowcreek said, “We made a mistake.” The church published its findings in the book “Reveal: Where Are You?”
In a Breakpoint email titled “Rethinking Church,” Chuck Colson noted that Hybels “example should challenge us all, especially pastors and those in positions of leadership, to take a long, hard look at what we are doing and ask whether it is really changing lives.” Colson applauded Hybels and his leaders for their remarkable courage.
Sign #2: A willingness to change. According to the Faith Communities Today 2005 survey … of the congregations whose leaders strongly agreed that their congregations were “willing to change to meet new challenges,” 46% experienced the highest levels of attendance growth.
Sign #3: More preaching on obedience based discipleship. Not long ago, Southeast Christian presented a sermon series called “not a fan.” Key themes included complete surrender; repentance; denying self; giving everything up; taking up your cross daily; and daily death. Not exactly seeker friendly material. Yet, months later the influence these messages had on the congregation is still being discussed.
Sign #4: Cross-generational cooperation. In a blog post following the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Chuck Lawless reminded young Southern Baptists of how much they were needed and challenged them to be involved in all aspects of SBC life.
After the 2009 convention, he called on older Southern Baptists to love and listen to the younger generation; to labor in prayer for them; to continue leading the younger leaders. “They still need us, and we still need them,” Lawless said.
Sign #5: Use of consultants is on the rise. Churches are turning to consultants to help in every area of church operation, from staffing and conflict resolution to vision planning. The Leadership Network attributes the rise to the complex nature of leading in this time of unprecedented cultural and organizational change.
More than 1000 leaders have been prepared to help churches by completing the five-level consultant training program of the Society for Church Consulting in Louisville, Kentucky. Tom Harper, President of the organization, says the trend for church consulting is likely to continue.
Sign #6: Accelerating use of media and technology. Along with traditional media, new media technologies are making it possible for churches to quickly and cost effectively publish or broadcast the gospel. Churches are extending their outreach to small and large audiences; to local communities and people around the world.
Churches are joining the world-wide conversation using websites, blogs and video. Community is being extended through social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Satellite broadcast is being used to connect multi-site churches.
Nearly 40 churches, such as Church Online in Edmond, OK, now have some type of Internet campus that includes live video and other interactive features.
Greater things to come, Greater things to be done
Even if 10% of all declining churches experienced an overnight turnaround, that would leave 306,000 churches in need of a change in direction. Rebuilding the church with biblical integrity will take time…and more help.
Can the church fulfill its mandate to reach the whole world for Christ in our lifetime? There are signs of hope. “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.” (Proverbs 31:24)
What signs of hope do you see that declining churches are being restored?