13 Things Pastors Can Do To Grow A Plateaued Or Declining Church

Recently, I have dealt with a number of churches who are plateaued or declining.  What has become heartbreaking is not the church has become stuck, statistically most are in similar situations.  What is most discouraging is the approach and attitude the church leadership takes once growth has stopped.

In my post 13 Things Christians Say. 13 Things Christians Really Mean. I noted many leaders sanitize their refusal to address issues and change by using sanctimonious language like “Let’s pray for God to bring revival.”  And of course, the decline continues.

In the August 3rd edition of Sports Illustrated, writer Brian Hamilton profiled the Texas Longhorns basketball program and new head coach Shaka Smart.  The Longhorns are a plateaued and declining organization.  They have too many financial resources, too many quality facilities, too much history and too many quality players in the state of Texas to be where they are at.  So Coach Smart was hired.

As I read the article, I noticed the parallels of the state of Texas basketball and many American churches are striking.  Therefore, how Coach Smart is addressing the team’s issues and regaining lost momentum is something all pastors and church leaders can learn from.

The following are 13 Things Pastors And Church Leaders Can Do To Grow A Plateaued Or Declining Church:

1. Admit You Are Plateaued Or Declining – Address the issue.  Most churches do not want to admit what they are doing simply is no longer working.  Texas has appeared in just one Final Four since 1947.  A new leader with a new direction and philosophy was desperately needed.
2. Change Your Thinking – A mistake many churches make is trying to copy what another successful church (like North Point or New Spring) does.  Do not do what another church does but definitely try to replicate how they think.  Correct thinking incorporated into your unique environment with God’s help will yield success.  Coach Smart says, “Every coach has his style, and on one way is necessarily the best.”
3. Make A Commitment That No Growth Is No Longer An Option – You must reach a point where you scream out, “No More!!!”  Coach Smart has a rule in practice – if you are down you have one second to get back up.
4. Establish Core Values – Establishing core values is simply the first step.  They must then permeate all areas of performance evaluation.  Coach Smart continually promotes his 5 values – Appreciation, Enthusiasm, Unselfishness, Teamship and Accountability.
5. Each Staff Member Must Get Better – What you have been doing has gotten you to you where you are.  Every team member must grow, get better in their area of discipline and do things a different way.
6. The Leaders Must Have A Positive Attitude – People will not listen to a pastor or leader they do not like.  As a result, people attend churches where they like the pastor and church leadership.  Coach Smart is gifted with a contagious positive attitude.
7. Begin Nurturing Strong Relationships With The Community – You must go beyond the walls of the church and begin serving your community.  Assistant Coach Mike Morrell says, “The way that we want to play starts well beyond those lines (on the basketball court).”  Coach Smart adds, “The relationship part of it is what’s going to allow us to move to the next step.”
8. Upgrade Your Talent – The answer to every problem is a person.  If you have an under-performing department, make the difficult decision to upgrade this area.  The Longhorns basketball team has now started attracting players from the talent-rich state of Texas.  For instance, Houston four-star guard Jacob Young committed earlier this summer.
9. Keep Things Simple – Focus only on what is working well.  Coach Smart says, “I would rather us be really simple and do the things that we do well than be complicated and not be very good at anything.”
10. Make This Sunday Your Best Sunday Ever – Yes, change your thinking to believe every Sunday can be your best Sunday ever.  Every Sunday matters so do not waste the opportunity.  Attack Sundays.  Senior guard Javan Felix says, “Attack the day – that’s what he (Coach Smart) says all the time.  Just attack the day and do what you can do to get better.”
11. Celebrate Small Victories In A Big Way – Celebration adds the fuel needed for your staff to see progress and continue pressing forward.  Find any reason to celebrate.  Coach Morrell says, “I don’t know that we’re the most enthusiastic coaching staff in the country but I know if we’re not, we’re up near the top.”
12. Expect Opposition – With every new level comes a new devil.  Growth will not be without opposition.  Texas will not have an easy road as national programs like Kentucky and Duke continue to mine the state of Texas for talent as well.
13. Pray – And once you have done everything you can do, pray and ask God to do what only He can do.

Address The Issue, Change Your Thinking, Scream “No More”, Establish Core Values, Get Better, Have A Positive Attitude, Engage Your Community, Upgrade Talent, Stay Simple, Have Your Best Sunday Ever, Celebrate, Expect Opposition, and finally Pray.

Do these 13 things and you should see your church regain lost momentum.

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