“Depending on what you read, 84% of all American churches are plateaued or declining. When you get a chance to talk to one of the 16%, you should probably listen.” – Brian Dodd
Today I was speaking with a committee chair from a church in Kentucky. After recapping our conversation, he said, “You are a good listener. You pretty much nailed it.”
My response was, “Thank you. You know it’s interesting. Depending on what you read, 84% of all American churches are plateaued or declining. When you get a chance to talk to one of the 16%, you should probably listen.” We laughed and continued our conversation.
As a member of INJOY Stewardship Solutions, we help churches with generosity initiatives and capital campaigns. As a result, I only talk to growing churches or those who need to pay off significant debt. Churches who are not growing delete my emails and voice messages. I never hear back from them.
After having literally thousands of one-on-one conversations with pastors of growing churches, the following are 10 Observations About Modern-Day Church Growth Few Are Talking About:
- Arrogance And Anger Are Destroying Pastors – We are seeing Proverbs 16:18 come to life all across the country. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pastors are falling at a disturbingly rapid rate.
- Humility And Gratitude Are Primary Characteristics Of Pastors In Growing Churches – I never miss an opportunity to ask these leaders why they feel their churches are growing. The top response I get is, “We’re doing everything we know how to do. Good systems. High-energy services. Great children’s ministry. But we were just talking in our staff meeting and we don’t know where these people are coming from.” The pastors I speak with have a deep sense of gratitude for what God is allowing them to be a part of. Give me a humble pastor with moderate preaching skills over an arrogant pastor who is a great communicator any day of the week. This is because the humble pastor will still be my pastor a year from now.
- Church Growth Does Not Happen By Accident – Did you notice the comments above? They are doing everything they know how to do. Good systems. High-energy services. Great children’s ministry. Churches do not accidentally grow. They have a plan.
- Church Growth Is Not A Primary Indicator Of Whether Someone Is A Good Pastor Or Not – Many pastors I talk to are incredible leaders. They teach the Bible with power and without error. Their knees are callused from fervent prayers. They love their congregations. They have high character. But for some reason their church has plateaued. No one knows why. Candidly, their attendance numbers are not reflective of their pastoral competency or ability.
- Many Mega Church Pastors Are Serving In Small Churches – Their congregations and/or cities just have just not caught up with them yet.
- Many Great Pastors Have Poor Lay Leaders – I talk with many pastors who have an incredible vision with an amazing strategy for their churches. Then I talk to their controlling Board members and it becomes obvious why the church has plateaued. No wonder so many growing churches are staff led. You cannot outrun your lay leaders.
- Lay Leaders Desperately Need Quality Leadership Training – They need to know how to think and approach ministry from a growth mindset. Ministry is transformational, not transactional. Church work is not buying and selling widgets. Lay leaders also need to think in terms of investment, not expense.
- Pastors Are Over-Worked And Under-Paid – I’ll say it! For example, President Obama should sign an Executive Order outlawing internal capital campaigns. Pastors need help. I have way too many conversations with depressed pastors who hear their leaders say, “Pastor, you know how to do this.” This is code for “Pastor, I know you have a full-time job and are already exhausted but let’s put even more pressure on you. Let’s make the the capital campaign platform driven and if it does not go well, (it is because) the people just did not respond to your preaching or vision. Oh, and it lets me off the hook as a leader because I do not have to sacrifice. We will just be happy with whatever God provides. Five loaves and two fish you know!”
- Pastors Of Growing Churches Allow Their Thinking To Be Challenged, Not Just Confirmed – These pastors are reading a combination of books and listening to a combination of podcasts on theology, best business practices, sports, and church growth. It is not just one thing. They also attend conferences like ReThink Leadership or the Global Leadership Summit. These events stretch pastors’ mind but they also refresh them. And don’t forget to take your lay leaders.
- Pastors Of Growing Churches Are Fun To Be Around – There is a lot of laughter during my conversations with pastors of growing churches. They are winsome, delightful and continually encouraging. People love sitting under this type of leadership. Here is an exercise I recommend to pastors wanting to improve their preaching – Watch a video of yourself preaching with the volume off. Are you happy or angry? Pleasant or ticked off? Attracting people or frightening them? Most of our communication is non-verbal. People may not be hearing a word you say because your body language is screaming so loud. Many pastors can get exponentially better by simply smiling.
These are things I am noticing about growing churches. What other things have you seen in churches who are reaching more and more people?
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