planting churches

Ideas For Church Growth

The following are ideas generated by a Committee on Church Growth during a
brainstorming session on February 23, 2004. Perhaps one or two will work for your
church!
Leave the lights on every night to increase visibility
Fix up the garden out front - put lights on the trees.
Make the church the center of the community for our neighborhood
Be on the local garden walk partner with school
Have community garden for kids, folks who rent who want to have a garden
Add an Easter sunrise service
Create an after-school care program, day care
Classes in church for stay at home moms
Use the "Catechesis of the Good Shepherd" curriculum
Hold First aid classes
Babysitting classes - Mom's day out
Have a fresh, welcoming ,well-equipped and staffed nursery
Use our parking lot street hockey league or basketball league
Kitchen cooking classes and donate food to a homeless shelter
Host a homeless shelter in the parish hall
Partner with Richmond city jails
Add praise and worship singing to worship - one service with alternative music
Hold an Outdoor concert
Bring your dog to church Saturday evening
Send info to new homebuyers hand written letters
Help with the local fun run
Have a table at the community yard sale, give away coffee, soda and church info
Put events into community newsletters
Metro Business news free calendar
Find out how to get free press
Girl Scouts, boy scouts using our space Saturday car washes
"Gotta Go; Go with God" - Outreach to people traveling to NASCAR
Arts Festival
Hire a bluegrass band for bluegrass festival, pig pickin
Halloween event
Concerts at church - organ recitals, choir concerts
Blessing the animals October get press for this event
Pamphlets and pizza day - deliver pamphlets, eat pizza
Have a removable sign to advertise special events cheaply
Portable sign on special events
Two part sermon specialty sermons to real world
Contact book clubs - have sermons related to popular books
Hold speaker series on issues of concern to the community
Lenten series pamphlets email to everyone in church and ask them to forward to 2
friends.
Bring a friend to church on Palm Sunday
Hold High Church services
Covered dish picnic in the park

Community Plant exchange - host it at our church

Get involved with the election become a polling place
A.A. or N. A. meetings
Give a flower to visitors
New sign in book to accommodate email addresses
Singles night
Healing service first Saturday
Add a daily Eucharist to intensify church involvement
Do you have ideas that aren't on this list? E-mail us and we will add them!
For more information, contact:
The Rev. David Keill
episcopal@cachurch.net
FIRST THING GUESTS WILL HEAR
Answering machine/receptionist

Warm, friendly, female voice* (not that of the Rector)

*Research shows that since women generally make the decision in the family regarding church
and faith.
Professional sounding
Clear information about service times, directions, how to leave a message
FIRST THING GUESTS WILL SEE

1. Signage and Publications

a. Signs
Updated logo
Look at condition of signs indoors and out:
1. Are the signs new looking, not rusty, or peeling?
2. Are they readable from the road while driving?
3. Once parked, do visitors know where to go? Are there clear directions to
sanctuary or worship space, nursery, offices, classes, meeting spaces, etc.
b. Publications
Bulletin no typos, proper grammar
Avoid juggling too many books. Is it possible to reprint the service in the bulletin
or to use only one book for music?
Keep publications simple and readable
In bulletins and announcements avoid insider language that is not explained: i.e.
ECW, EYC, ECC, St. Helenas Guild, etc.
How do people know what goes on past Sunday morning? Is there a welcome
brochure or last months newsletter available for newcomers to pick up? Are
weekly events published in the Sunday bulletin?
2. Facility (see Callahan)
Parking Do they know where to park?
Exterior Do they care about the facility? Is it clean?
Interior Is it inviting and attractive?

Bathrooms Are they well marked? Have you checked them? (Keep extra supplies on hand.)
Nursery Is it well marked and clean? Are diaper odors controlled?
3. Ushers and Greeters
Do guests feel welcomed or assaulted?
Friendly and informed
Balance of male and female (always have a woman)
Balance of ages
youth = vitality; age = stability
older people love young people

Along with your nursery workers and childrens teachers, these are
your best evangelists.
4. Nursery
Clean
Secure procedures (children registered)
Consistent trained workers
Greeting team stationed
Brochure explaining the procedures
5. Atmosphere
The atmosphere should reflect the tone of the parish.
Will there be pre-service music? Prelude? Reflective or upbeat?
Lighting: Is it appropriate to the mood desired at each particular service?
Pace / Moods: The service should move smoothly and efficiently, without feeling rushed. Watch
transitions between parts of service. How does mood change from Worship space to other
Sunday programs? Are clergy and staff mindful of special needs?
Smell: Coffee brewing? Incense? Flowers? Make sure any smells are positive and inviting. Not
musty, Not offensive
Decor
o What do people see when they first walk in the door? Is any information up to date and
an accurate portrayal of the current church communitys values and diversity.
o What are the decorations and symbols saying about your parish?
Seating and space (Callahans distinction) Is it comfortable?
o A church feels full when 80% of the seats are taken.
o Newcomers want the back pews and aisle seats. Train ushers and regular attendees to
a few of these free.
6. Clergy and other worship leaders
Warmth and enthusiasm: match the person with the assignment
Genuine
Attire: not fashion, but grooming; coordinated; mirrors audience (formal to informal)
Clergy or other speakers should assume that theres always somebody in the audience who
doesnt know who youre talking about
Whats the difference between these two statements?
Michael Jordan says vs. Pro-basketball superstar Michael Jordan
says

7. Enthusiastic Childrens Workers and Programs

Three of four parents say a church that provides religious training
for their children would be of interest to them.
George Barna, Evangelism That Works
8. Language and Labels
Evaluate Church terms in relation to your mission and cultural context. Is it good to keep labels
such as Sunday School or Childrens Chapel or to use different terms such as Christian
Formation, Promise Land, KidsZone, Church School or whatever terms will speak to the
demographics.
Avoid insider language. Dont assume people know how church works, or what the Book of
Common Prayer is.
9. Music Communicates
More than any other factor, music defines you as a church.
Match the listening tastes of the audience
Energy: Shape music to match heights and depths of energy during a service. (for example,
dont sing Lift High the Cross during communion)
Lyrics (must be able to hear the vocals)
Competence (cant compromise in this area)
Dont assume. Contrary to what you may think, non-Christians dont make a habit to listen to
Christian music, sing hymns in their home, or pray out loud.
10. Expectations Explain without patronizing
Try bridging parts of the service with simple explanations either spoken or written in the
bulletin. (Having heard about Gods goodness in the scripture and sermon, let us now
proclaim our faith in God in the words of the Nicene Creed.
Do they know when to stand, sit, kneel?
Singing: Any parts of the service to be sung by the congregation should be easily found in the
bulletin or hymnal. Consider printing some music in bulletin.
Praying: Do people know when to join in corporate prayer?
Giving: Will you invite visitors to not give.*
*One of the biggest complaints by non-church goers, is that church is just after your money. Consider
an announcement, spoken or written that says, At this time, those who are committed to the mission
and ministry of God in this parish offer back to God some of what God has given them. For anyone
new or visiting, this worship service is our gift to you, and you are not expected to give.
11. Other communication forms
(The
sermon
is
not
the
only
medium)
All people respond well to beauty in art. Consider how other forms could be used in your worship
service or in other aspects of church life.
Drama
Videos
Slides
Evokes emotion
Is non-threatening
Paints pictures
12. Use of the Bible

A symbol of truth and authority.

Dont assume people know how to use a Bible.
14. Pastor
After 22 minutes, you lose your audience!
Understand your audiences world: exegete the culture
Dont give somebody elses message
Spend time preparing
Verbiage Do you use language that the common person understands?
Disclosure Are you human? Do you let your people know you struggle with sin too?
15. Service Times
Would changing your service times attract the people you are trying to reach? For example, is the
childrens oriented service too early or too late in the day?
16. Genuinely Experience God
People want to see that Christ makes a difference.
FOR FURTHER READING
1. Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary, by Lee Strobel
2. Worship Evangelism, by Sally Morgenthaler
3. Evangelism That Works, by George Barna
4. Twelve Keys to an Effective Church, by Kennon Callahan
First Impressions material is used by permission of the author, Jim Griffith, who serves as an Atlarge Consultant to Episcopal Congregations. It has been modified by the Commission on Church
Development to reflect the Episcopal ethos.
Jim Griffith may be contacted electronically at Jim@GriffithCoaching.com
FIRST IMPRESSIONS CHECKLIST
OK

NOT

Answering Machine /
Receptionist
Warm, friendly
Clear information
Professional sounding
Signage

Clearly seen from the street

Updated logo
Use of colors
Bulletin no typos, good
grammar
Facility
Parking adequate,
accessible
Exterior clean, well cared

for
Interior inviting and
attractive
Bathrooms well marked
Extra supplies on hand
Nursery well marked
Special info highlighted

Ushers and Greeters

Friendly and informed
Balance of male and female
Balance of ages

Nursery
Clean
Secure procedures (children
registered)
Consistent trained workers
Greeting team stationed
Brochure explaining
procedures
Atmosphere
Background music upbeat,
energetic
Lighting
Smell: coffee brewing
Conversation silence is
threatening
Decor any symbols
Comfortable seating and
space
Up-Fronters
Warmth and enthusiasm
Genuine
Appropriate attire

Childrens Workers &

Programs
Enthusiastic workers
Room set up and ready for
children early
Materials: fun and age
appropriate

Labels (use 90s terms)

NOT Sunday School
Avoid insider language
Clear and all-inclusive

Music Communicates
Match listening tastes of
audience
Energy
Lyrics (must hear vocals)
Competence, skill (a must)

Expectations Explain
without patronizing
Singing
Praying
Giving
Standing, shaking, raising

Other Communication
Forms
Drama
Video
Slides
Service Times
Pace/Moods

Reflect community
preferences

Best suited for family

schedules

Well paced

Pastor
Understands audiences world
Spends time preparing
Uses Bible
Bibles available or text printed
Uses language common
language
Disclosure
Sermon length

Genuinely Experience God

People see that Christ makes
a difference!