13 Church Growth Strategies That Actually Work

If you asked 100 church leaders about their priorities for the coming year, a huge percentage of them would say church growth.

Every Christian should want to see their church grow in healthy, Holy Spirit-driven ways.

But how do you make it happen? How do you draw people to your church and keep them coming back?

In this guide, we will explore various strategies for church growth that are both effective and biblically sound. 

Pray Hard

Let's start with an obvious, yet often overlooked element of church growth. If we want to see our churches grow, we must pray and ask God to give the growth. Because only He can grant true spiritual growth.

With enough PR and marketing, you can gather a crowd. With enough charisma, you can get people at least temporarily fired up and on board with the mission.

But that doesn't mean that your church has truly grown. In 1 Corinthians 3:8, Paul says, "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor."

Our job is to plant the seed and water it, but ultimately it is God who gives the growth. God is the one who leads unbelievers to believe in Him and transforms lives.

In John 15:5, Jesus reminds us that "apart from me you can do nothing." We must constantly seek God's guidance and direction for our churches. It is only through His power and grace that we can truly see growth in the spiritual sense.

So, let's never forget to pray and ask God for His guidance and provision in growing our churches. Let's make sure we are continually seeking God's guidance and blessings for our churches. Let's create a praying culture in our churches, believing that God answers prayer and will fulfill our desires for church growth.

Clarify Your Mission

Every church should have a clear mission that is based on things like where they're located, who is in their church, what God has called them to, etc. Authors Thom Rainey and Eric Geiger speak of the need for a strong, compelling mission statement that everyone in the church can rally around. In their book Simple Church, they say:

“...Designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth. The leadership and the church are clear about the process (clarity) and are committed to executing it. The process flows logically (movement) and is implemented in each area of the church (alignment). The church abandons everything that is not in the process (focus).”

Church growth happens when everyone in the church is clear about what the mission is and how they're going to achieve it. This requires clear and consistent communication about the church's purpose.

Don't assume that those in your church are clear on the mission. Rather, continually reinforce the mission and remind everyone why it's important. This will create a culture of purpose and direction, which is essential for church growth.

Focus On Growth

In most cases, church growth isn't easy. It requires concerted effort and persistence. Just like a farmer who tends to the soil, plants the seed, and waters it consistently, we must continually focus on growth in our churches. This means constantly evaluating and adjusting our strategies and methods, seeking new ways to reach people with the message of Christ.

Persistence is also required in order to achieve growth. In Galatians 6:9, it says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." It's important to remember that growth takes time and effort. We must never give up or lose hope, even when faced with challenges and setbacks.

Church growth requires an "all-in" mentality from the members of the church. If only a few leaders are focused on growth, it will be difficult to see significant progress. The entire church body must be passionate and dedicated to growing the church, both spiritually and numerically.

Embrace Change

As a church grows, it will inevitably change. This can be difficult for some to accept, but change is necessary for growth. We must be willing to adapt and modify our strategies as needed in order to reach new people and better serve our current members.

In 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, Paul says "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." This mindset of being willing to adapt and reach different types of people is crucial for church growth.

For example, as a church moves from being a small church to having several hundred members, more small groups will need to be added to accommodate the larger congregation. New leaders will be needed to lead these groups and existing small groups may need to multiply in order to accommodate the influx of new people.

The congregation and the leadership must both have the mentality that change happens and it can be a good thing. Church growth can be a sign that God is working and growing His people.  We must be open to change and willing to embrace it for the sake of reaching more people with the gospel.

Resist Program Bloat

You can only do so much as a church. You have limited time, resources, finances, and people. To stay on mission requires saying no to a lot of good things.

We see this principle at work in the life of Jesus. In order to fulfill His mission, He had to limit what He did. He didn't heal every person in Israel, nor did He preach to all the Samaritans. He was very focused on fulfilling the mission that God had given Him, even if it meant saying no to potentially good things.

Church growth can sometimes bring the temptation to add more and more programs in order to reach different groups of people or cater to different needs. While having a diverse range of ministries can be beneficial, it's important to resist "program bloat" - adding too many programs that end up spreading resources thin and causing burnout for leaders.

Instead, focus on quality over quantity. Make sure the programs in place are effective and meeting the needs of those they serve. And if a program is no longer serving its purpose or becoming too burdensome, don't be afraid to let it go and make room for new opportunities.

Preach About Church Growth

Church growth often starts with the pulpit. Specifically, it starts with preaching about church growth. Pastors and leaders have the responsibility to cast vision for growth and inspire their congregations to actively participate in it.

In the Bible, we see numerous examples of leaders preaching about growth and expansion. In Acts 2:47, after Peter's powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost, "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." In Acts 6:7, we see that "the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly."

Throughout history, God has used the preaching of His word to propel church growth. Many of the great revivals in years past were the result of specific sermons preached to local congregations.

Understand Your Community

You can't effectively grow your church if you don't understand your community. You need an understanding of what matters to the people in the community, what challenges they're facing, and what they most desire. You also need clarity regarding what the community needs and how your church can meet those needs.

The Apostle Paul serves as a great example of this. As we noted, in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, he talks about becoming all things to all people in order to reach them with the Gospel. He was able to do this because he took the time to understand the various cultures and backgrounds of the communities he ministered to.

Take time to get to know your community through surveys, focus groups, and personal conversations. This will not only help you tailor your outreach efforts, but it will also show the community that you truly care about their needs.

Now, to be clear, you don't want to serve your community just so you can grow your church. You should serve your community because each person is made in the image of God and is loved by God.

That being said, one of the natural outgrowths of serving a community is church growth. As your church invests in the community, expect to see growth as well.

Participate In Community Events

Community events are a great opportunity for your church to get out into the community and make a tangible difference in people's lives. Whether it's a food drive, a blood donation event, or a neighborhood cleanup project, participating in community events can be an effective way to connect with people and show the love of Christ.

In the Bible, we see Jesus constantly interacting with people in their daily lives – from eating meals with them to attending weddings and other celebrations. Following His example, your church can participate in community events and build relationships with people outside of the church walls.

Look for events that align with your church's values and mission. Also, don't be afraid to initiate your own events. This can help you reach out to specific groups within your community that may not be represented in other events.

Foster a Culture of Outreach

At the heart of church growth is outreach. Without outreach, there is no meaningful growth. It's important for church leaders to cultivate a culture of outreach within their congregations.

This means not just expecting the pastor or designated outreach team to be responsible for reaching new people, but encouraging and equipping every member of the church to share the gospel with those around them. 

This can be done through intentional training, small group discussions, and creating opportunities for members to invite their friends and family to church events.

In Romans 10:14, Paul asks, "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"

Creating a culture of outreach within a church means equipping each member to be a preacher and witness of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Establish An Outreach Ministry

In addition to creating a culture of outreach, it can be incredibly helpful to start an outreach ministry as a means of driving church growth.

This ministry can focus specifically on reaching out to the community and inviting them to church events, providing resources for those in need, and sharing the love of Christ through various service projects.

Not only does this show the community that your church cares about their needs, but it also allows members of the congregation to use their skills and talents for a greater purpose.

In James 2:14-17, it states, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

By starting an outreach ministry, your church can not only bring in new members but also show the love of Christ to those in need.

This can lead to a positive impact on both the community and the spiritual growth of your congregation.

Create A Clear Onboarding Process

Once new visitors are drawn in by the outreach efforts of a church, it's important to have a clear and welcoming onboarding process for them.

When someone attends a church for the first time, they want to know whether it's a good fit for them.

Church leaders should have a plan in place to help new visitors feel welcomed and informed about the church.

This can include having dedicated greeters, providing information packets, and having follow-up conversations after the service.

In 1 Corinthians 14:33, Paul says "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." By creating a clear onboarding process, churches can eliminate confusion and help new visitors feel comfortable and welcomed. 

A Church Management System (ChMS), like Breeze Church Management, can also help with onboarding by allowing churches to easily collect and organize visitor information, track attendance, and communicate with new visitors.

Having a ChMS in place can also help church leaders follow-up with new visitors and connect them with other members of the church for fellowship and discipleship opportunities.

Strengthen Your Small Groups

Let's be honest. It can be hard to get truly connected to people in a church, particularly if you're new. That's where small groups come in.

Small groups offer a more intimate setting for fellowship, discipleship, and accountability within a church community. They also allow for deeper relationships to form as members share their lives and faith journeys with one another.

In Acts 2:46-47, it says "Day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people." Small groups can provide this same sense of community and belonging within a church.

As a church leader, it's important to encourage members to join small groups and make sure there are enough options available for different interests and schedules. Consider offering small group studies on specific topics or hosting social events for small groups to mingle and get to know each other better.

By strengthening your small groups, you'll not only foster deeper relationships within your church, but also create a tighter-knit community that will attract and retain new members.  So don't overlook the power of small groups in your church growth strategy! Keep them strong and thriving.

Encourage Generosity

While not every church growth initiative costs money, many do. And in order to see growth and expansion, it's important to have the necessary financial resources. 

In 2 Corinthians 9:7, it says "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." As a church leader, it's important to create a culture of generosity within your church. This can be done through consistent teaching on the importance of giving, as well as providing opportunities for members to give back to their community and support various ministries within the church.

Additionally, it's important to communicate how donations are being used and the impact they are having on the growth of the church. This transparency will build trust and encourage even more generosity from members.

You can utilize church giving technology like Tithely to make giving as seamless and easy as possible for church members. It provides seamless integrations, user-friendly interfaces, and security measures for churches that want to make tithing and giving online donations and recurring gifts easy and convenient.

Depending On God For Church Growth

The reality is that none of these strategies will work apart from God. He's the one who creates church growth. Psalm 127:1 reminds us that "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

Should you pursue growth?

Yes, of course.

But do it in dependence on God. That's the only sure way to guarantee success.