7 Ways to Respond to People Who Attend Church Less Often
Rev. Carey Nieuwhof, the popular Canadian pastor and church consultant has written, "7 Ways to Respond As People Attend Church Less Often." It echoes many long-held opinions here at Rotation.org about the quality of church offerings. Nieuwhof gives them fresh language with new insights.
I think they work both for members who are attending less often, and those looking for a church.
Here are his 7 Ways to Respond...
1. Create an Awesome Online Presence
Keeping in mind that kids need adults to bring them to church, this one is mainly aimed at offerings to adults. One of his main points here is that many things that attracted adults to church, like great sermons, messages, and music, are now available online.
Kids are a bit different -- they will naturally compare us to every entertaining thing, which isn't fair, but it's real. I also think our biggest comparison is with their feelings and experience with "going to school" (which isn't great for many kids). We need to be different.
What's also true is that our online presence is the way MOST VISITORS first encounter and evaluate churches these days.
2. Elevate Personal Relationships
3. Love People
I put these two together because as Nieuwhof points out, people will always value and act on personal relationships, and that's something congregations and Sunday School can foster.
4. Create an Irresistible Experience
Of course! But how? Well.... this is one of the reasons we created the Workshop Rotation Model! It provides an ongoing organized approach to STAYING creative, rather keeping the special stuff for VBS and special occasions. The Rotation Model also helps with irregular attendance. Learn more
5. Offer Offline Surprises
This is another way of saying make Sunday a "don't miss" experience. Do special and surprising things that reward people for showing up.
6. Create a Culture of Serving
Churches are uniquely positioned to give people opportunities to serve, do justice, be kind, tackle problems. Humility and gratitude are two things many parents hope their children will develop.
7. Prioritize Kids and Teens
This one is so broad as to be unhelpful, but reading Nieuwhof's breakdown I think what he's driving at is helping parents see that we care about their children and have what most parents want for their kids and teens, which is caring and trustworthy "other" adults in their lives. The challenge is to actually do it and how to let new or visiting parents know that we are doing it.
Here's a Test for Your Church:
- If I were to visit your church website right now (like many visitors will do), will it show me that you are DOING THESE 7 THINGS?
- If visiting parents show up in your worship service next Sunday, would any of these 7 things be obvious to them beyond mere words?
These are my opinions, and not necessarily those of Rotation.org. Your feedback and insights are welcome. ~ Neil
