George Bullard's Journey

Measuring Church Numerical Growth is Not as Easy as it Seems

Download: Measuring_Church_Growth_is_Not_as_Easy_as_it_Seems

Below is a request to share with my ministry colleague, Bob Dale, recommendations for “Perennial” Churches. These are churches experiencing a particular pattern of growth. I hope you will put your thinking cap on and see if you have a lead or two to for Bob.

His request caused me to think about how hard it is to measure church growth. Your first reaction might be that it is an easy task. If a church has more people in attendance this year than they did last year they are growing.

All right. Let’s assume you are correct. Tell me. Which of the following churches are growing?

Hillside Church has grown in weekly attendance ay 17 percent over the past five years in a community context that has increased 30 percent in population during the same period. Most people in attendance come from the series of neighborhoods that make up this community which is about a three-mile radius around the church facilities.

As their section of the county has grown significantly over the past generation, Grace Church started or partnered with a new congregation every three to four years. The total weekly attendance in these collective congregations is more than 3000. Grace has slightly less in attendance than they did a generation ago.

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Wanted: "Perennial" Churches

Have you ever noticed that some churches boom and then lose momentum quickly, while other churches thrive over long periods of time?  Those congregations that survive and thrive are "perennial" churches, faith communities that mimic plants that grow season after season.

• Do you know of churches that have a consistent "growth arc" of 20-25 years?
• Have they grown and expanded their ministries steadily?
• Have they thrived over time, in spite of less-than-perfect conditions?

Can you help identify churches that match these three characteristics for a special research project?  All types of churches are welcomed, but Methodist and Disciples' congregations are especially needed now.  Please send emails entitled "Perennial Churches" to Bob Dale at bob.dale@vbmb.org as soon as possible.  Include contact information on the churches you nominate.  Thanks in advance for your interest and assistance.