Can ANY Church Grow?

A recent article in Christian Standard Magazine says, “Yes, any church can grow.” Steve Hinton challenges churches in decline to turn it around by making some changes and commitments. His directives for “Growth for ANY Church” include the following:

1. Change
Churches do not decline by accident. Sure, there are external factors beyond the control of a congregation and its leaders (factories close, jobs move out of the area, a new highway cuts through town, economic factors limit resources for ministry, etc.). But, internal factors are more often responsible for killing churches. Hinton says, “The old saying is true: doctrine never changes, but practice does.” Churches that want to grow must be willing to jettison ineffective practices, however cherished they may be, and make the changes that lead to growth. A professor in seminary warned us students,

All churches say, “We want to grow.” But, what many churches really mean is, “We want you to figure out how to convince people that our church is fine just the way it is.”

2. Expectation
Churches that have experienced decline for a long time are likely to be discouraged. They want to grow, but they do not really expect to grow. Rationalizations for church decline set up a cycle of discouragement and defeat, ensuring the churches ultimate demise.

· We don’t have enough money, staff, volunteers, etc.

· We can’t compete with the big churches across town

· People aren’t really interested in church anymore (i.e., there’s no market for the gospel)

· What’s the point in trying when we never get any results

Churches must be convinced that the gospel is THE Good News! Leaders and congregations must believe with all their hearts that the church is the best hope for the world. And, churches must EXPECT growth, trusting God to give the increase.

3. Hard Work
We believe God works in us (Eph. 3:20). And so, we must give God something to work with. We have to put our faith into action and do the hard work of ministry. We can’t just pray and wait. We must pray and work.

4. TEAM
Hinton also says that a team spirit and identity is essential to “Growth for ANY Church.” Churches have to remember that we are all in this thing together. We need all hands on deck. In the body, we need “each part doing its share” (Eph. 4:16).

5. Taking the Offensive
Using a sports illustration, Hinton says, “It’s hard to score—and nearly impossible to win—when you hang back in a defensive position.”

At some point, a declining church must admit that they’ve got nothing to lose. Go for it! What’s the worst that could happen? But, more importantly, churches must get beyond the fortress mentality. The defensive and defeated church operates out of fear, and clutches onto what little they have left. They circle the wagons and take their posts on the perimeter, poised defensively. Is it any wonder that declining churches are resistant to change? The essentially defensive posture of such churches sets them at odds with the changes necessary for growth.

6. Following the Leader
Hinton writes,

We understand this in our society, for the most part. We promote this principle when it comes to athletics, business, the armed forces, and education, but we are a bit squeamish at the idea when it comes to church. However, the Bible exhorts us to follow our leaders—and Paul was even forward enough to tell the first Christians to “obey your leaders and submit to them . . . as those who will give an account” (Hebrews 13:17, emphasis added).

This does not mean we should adhere to a system of blind obedience, or ignore the precedent the Berean church set in examining the Scriptures to ensure that what Paul was teaching was accurate (see Acts 17:10ff). But it does shed some light on one of the problems inherent in many Western churches today. Struggling churches often hire a well-educated, experienced, devoted, committed, passionate minister, and then choose to ignore or even fight against his leadership.

We don’t see those issues in the corporate, military, athletic, and educational worlds; rather, leaders are put in place in those cultures with the expectation the team will follow.

If we recognize leadership in those arenas, then the church should practice this principle in its life as well, because it is far more important than these other institutions. For the local church to advance, it must remember it is not a democratic community club, but rather the body of Christ charged with making disciples.

Steve Hinton’s advice about turning around churches in decline makes good sense. And, he’s proven it in his own ministry. According to the CS article, Hinton and his wife came to Cypress Crossings Christian Church in 2009. The church averaged 45-50 in Sunday attendance. Today, the church averages 135 in Sunday attendance.

I'm blessed to work with a small church that is dedicated and willing to turn-it-around. In many ways, we've already made some significant turn-arounds, and we are continuing to do so. And, God is giving the increase! I agree, "Yes, any church can grow." But, just as no church declines by accident, no church will grow by accident either.