Have you noticed your church attendance stagnating, or worse, getting lower? It can be difficult to convince people to go to church these days. Whether you’re competing with other local churches or you’re in a more secular area, you have some serious work to do.
While it is going to be difficult to grow your church membership, it’s not impossible. There are several things you can start doing this year that will help you attract new people to your church (even if you’re on a tight budget).
Not sure where to start? No problem. Keep reading to learn our top tips for growing your church membership so you can continue spreading the word of God.
Improve Your Church’s Website
Does your church already have a website? If not, you’re missing out! Many old churches don’t have websites at all because they think they don’t need them, but this is no longer the case.
Without a website, how will new people learn about your church? How will they even know about what your specific church offers and values? People rely on the internet to get their information.
Your church’s website should be user-friendly, easy to navigate, and informational. It should also be usable on mobile devices as many people use their phones to navigate the web in 2023.
You can use your website for so many things, so it’s definitely not a waste of time. You can announce events, spotlight members, link to digital giving for churches, and so much more. Once you have a great website, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without one.
We recommend hiring a pro to set up your website unless you happen to be pretty tech-savvy. Setting up a website is harder than it looks!
Get on Social Media
Yes, even churches should be on social media. Everyone is on social media, so if you want new members, you have to find them where they spend their time: on the internet.
Facebook and Instagram tend to be the easiest platforms to use for beginners, so start there. You can post about upcoming events, activities, and anything else you would want your current members or future members to know.
Hiring a social media helper can be pricey. Consider having a younger volunteer run the social media page for the church if you can’t afford to pay for help. If they’re interested in marketing, they may be able to use you as a reference in the future when they’re applying for school or paid jobs, so it will benefit them!
Attend Community Events
Does your church have a presence at community events? If not, why not? How will people learn about you if you don’t put yourself out there?
Some community events may be strictly secular, but if that isn’t the case, don’t be afraid to set up a booth and join in. Highlight the things that make your church genuinely special and try to be as welcoming as possible.
Pass out information about the church at the event so people can remember you. You can also consider giving away small items like t-shirts, pens, or keychains with information on them if it’s in your budget to do so.
Do Good Work for Your Local Community
Speaking of your community, what have you done for the community lately?
Churches should always be looking for new ways to serve. If you’re not serving your local community, it makes sense that your community would no longer be interested in engaging. You have to make an effort.
So what should you do?
Look into local charities and see how you can help. Perhaps you and your churchgoers can work at a soup kitchen or a shelter for the unhoused. Spend your time and energy offering direct aid to the people in your community who need it most.
Allow people to seek shelter in the church during times of crisis.
When you help your community, people will see that you practice what you preach. This will make them more likely to attend your church.
Send a Message of Acceptance
In 2023, churches should have a message of love and acceptance if they want to attract the younger generation.
Many people worry about organized religious groups due to antiquated views. If you welcome people with open arms, you’re far more likely to get more churchgoers through the door. Wouldn’t Jesus want you to welcome people with love and acceptance?
Do Open House Events
Open house events and mixers are great for attracting new people to the church! You can also use them as fundraisers for an added bonus.
What types of events work well?
You could do a community kitchen day where you serve food from the church. Pick a theme, like food from around the world for example. You can also set up a bake sale. People will almost always gather for free or cheap food!
Set up an event for young children. It can be an arts and crafts day or a little festival with fun activities.
There are so many options. Get creative and see what you can come up with!
Make Church Fun
You need to keep church fun and interesting if you want people to attend.
Not every service will be fun but introduce fun events and activities. Make sure there are interesting things to do for teenagers who may be less interested in a conventional church experience.
When in doubt, survey your current churchgoers and ask them what they think. They may have incredible ideas for how you can improve the church for everyone and attract new people. No one knows better than your current members!
How Will You Grow Your Church Membership?
Growing your church membership is going to be a challenge, especially if you’re in an area that already has a lot of churches! The most important thing to remember is that you need to make your church stand out. Highlight the things that truly make it special and that would encourage people to want to attend.
Get ready to welcome newcomers to your church after you try these tips.
