Breaking Attendance Barriers

All church plants, as in existing churches, will eventually run into “attendance barriers.” Groups of people as they gather encounter this sociological phenomenon, no matter why they exist. Church plants are wise to prepare for these potential barriers that can slow down the impact and effort the new church can make within the community, as least through their gathered worship experiences.

Since the weekend worship experience is the “front door” for most American church plants, critical attention needs to be given to make sure that it is not creating roadblocks or detours to others hearing the message of Christ and becoming fully devoted followers of our Lord. If it does, they may never hear the Gospel (at least multiple times), become a part of a small group for community and disciplemaking or eventually be able to help the church reach others that need to know about Jesus too.

With these things in mind, a few months ago, I undertook a project to put on video three different presentations about breaking attendance growth barriers in the life of a new church. The specific barriers selected were not arbitrary: research into the 160 church plants we’ve started in the past decade told us that these numbers became consistent places where our plants were plateauing and needed help to make further progress.

While much of the information contained in these presentations is applicable to existing churches that have been around a long time, they were created specifically with church plants in mind. My personal feeling is that there are additional (not different) dynamics that must be overcome with older churches, thus making it an even harder process overall. I would certainly encourage such a church to watch these presentations that are applicable to your situation, but search elsewhere for additional information that could help your church regarding age of church, predecessors, tradition, etc.

Barrier #1: 35-50 in size. This barrier is highly typical for ethnic, language works, rural settings and also for bivocational church planters whose “other job” is fulltime. The best way to get past this barrier to the break it on the first day the church meets and then, never look back. But when that doesn’t happen it needs specific attention. Click here to watch this presentation (58 minutes). In addition, when the click-through takes you to the site, if you go to the top right corner to register (no cost!) and log in, then you can download the presentation as an mp3 (audio only) and/or download the PowerPoint presentation.

Barrier #2: 100-125 in size. This barrier is often the most common barrier church planters experience in the early years, because it is the threshold (in most instances) of your personal, individual ability. The best way to get beyond this barrier is to “share the load.” Click here to go to the presentation; it is about 55 minutes long and can be downloaded if you register for free and log in.

Barrier #3: 200 in size. This is the most important barrier, according to experts and researchers, regarding church growth and development. A conservative evaluation suggests that IF you do not break this barrier in the first two years of the new church’s life, chances are it will never happen. Because of this reality, church plants have to determine early on whether such growth or alternative strategies–like extension through church planting or multisite–are the way to go. Click here to view this presentation; again it is about 57 minutes in length and can be downloaded if you register for free and log in.

At the end of each presentation, there is a list of additional resources that may help you in attacking these barriers in your own church plants. In addition, you will find my contact information, if you think I can be of any help to you, as well.

Fridays are for Friends & Family 08.14.09

Another week has come and gone, so with Friday upon us we turn our attention once again to what’s been happening of note around us on the Web this week. Let’s start with a very short video that has made every sports and news show this past week. The question everyone’s asking: is it real or not? What do you think?

On the denominational front this week, a new website has emerged authored by a handful of individuals, including our own BCM/D pastor/author David Phillips (see my blogroll on the side). The authors at missioscapes.com are all Southern Baptist pastors and leaders. They have started the site

Authors promise not to take selves too seriously

“with a series of posts designed to interact with a current important topic in SBC life, the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force.  This seven-part series, entitled ‘If We Were The Great Commission Task Force…’, will provide a means for us to share some ideas that we’ve had about the task force, providing positive fodder for discussion.  The purpose will not be to provide a critique of decisions made by the group (as evidenced by our writing in advance of decisions they will make), but what we would do if we were the group itself.”

You can check it out here. Search the Category “Denominationalism” for the GCR posts.

In church planting, if you’ve been following my blog for at least a few weeks you know that David Putman wrote a post about “mistakes” church planters make and I linked to it here. Following his post, I put up a couple of articles of my own dealing with this topic. Currently, others are writing on this too. Shaun King, planter of Courageous Church in Atlanta, a current practitioner, wrote on this from his perspective, too. His thoughts are different and will connect with some of you starting new churches. You can go to his article here.

In leadership this week, Leadership Network is hosting a unique training event called “The Nines” on September 9 (9/9/09, get it?), starting at 9:09am (that’s right).  It is

“a free one-day event that will take place totally on-line.  It is specifically designed for any church leaders who is interested in learning valuable things about church leadership….Leadership Network asked some of the church’s greatest communicators:  ‘If you had nine minutes to talk one-on-one with thousands of church leaders, what is the one thing that you would tell them?””

I’m planning to join the online training day and I want to encourage every church planter and pastoral leader to do the same. The lessons learned from over 50 key leaders in the American church will be invaluable. You can register for the FREE event here.

I’ll catch up with you all again next week!

Who Me, a Church Planter?!

Have you ever wondered that? I did, and in the early years of my ministry I laughed whenever anyone suggested church planting might be for me. But over the course of time, and through many lessons and experiences I learned, in fact, that this was exactly what God had created me to be.

Almost every day I deal with someone who is asking this very same question. They are wondering what it takes to be a planter and if who they are, as God has created and shaped them, makes them “church planting material.” As a result of these questions and the subsequent conversations, I put together a series of videos last month to address the items of interest that any potential planter needs to consider as they attempt to discern God’s will for them in regards to church planting. Each video presentation can be accessed by clicking on the hyperlinks (not the snapshot) below; they are each about 45 minutes in length.

Moreover, if you prefer to download the audio part of the presentation or the PowerPoint itself, you can do that too. However, here’s what you must do to make that happen.

1. Go to one of the presentations below.

2. Find the top right corner and “login now.” (Registration is free, but necessary since only registered viewers can do more than simply watch the video.)

3. Proceed to download the audio as an mp3 file AND/OR save the PowerPoint to your hard drive.

The three video presentations of “How to Know if Church Planting is for You“ are offered in a linear fashion, since the content in the first is the most essential part, and the second more essential than the third, at least in my estimation. Of course, you can view them in any order you desire.

Presentation One focuses on the Calling of a Church Planter…how to know if you’re called, the process calling can take, and some essential factors, “non-negotiables,” if you will, in nurturing and living out the “timing” of that call as a planter. You can access part one by clicking here.

Presentation Two focuses on the Character of a Church Planter…the proto-typical SHAPE of such planters, PLUS other strengths and vulnerabilities/limitations they face. In addition I address the process of character development God often uses and offer some words aimed at helping planters stay “healthy” in the process. You can access this presentation by clicking here.

Presentation Three focuses on the Competencies of a Church Planter…by reviewing essential behavioral skills and capacities that show themselves in a planter’s typical activity. In addition, there is a brief overview of the needed knowledge that lays the groundwork for the ministry of church planting. You can access this third presentation by clicking here.

At the end of each presentation there is contact information to reach me for follow-up, if you so desire. Of course, if you prefer, you can always connect with me by leaving a comment below. Here’s hoping these presentations enable you to do some self-assessment and discern under the Spirit’s guidance whether church planting is indeed for you.