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Dying churches often don’t realize their problem until it’s too late. Today we look at the reasons why.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM BRANDON
Why do dying churches not realize they are dying?
Episode Highlights:
- Dying churches die because they refuse to confront reality.
- Church members in dying churches often don’t realize the church is dying because their relational patterns have not been upset yet.
- Church assessments give you perceptions of the members so that leaders can have a better view of the church.
- “We aren’t as bad as that church” is not really a reason to be proud of your church.
The six reasons we discuss are:
- They are in denial
- They still have most of their friends in the church
- They have not done a church assessment
- They don’t see the decline day by day
- They think smaller is better
- They compare themselves to a church in worse condition
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- Church Health Report
- ChurchReplanters.com
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
A study of ACP reports of SBC congregations shows that local churches declining in attendance and baptisms can increase annually (YOY :-} ) in general fund revenue at least for a time–as if those congregations are shrinking to their giving cores that will dig deeper to give more financially. That can look like all is fairly OK, or at least that there is more time . . .
Dear Mr. Rainier;
I have left several church congregations. My experience, has left me feeling alienated, unwelcome, and wondering to most Pastoral staff and its members, as my being someone they would prefer not as part of their congregation. I am an older single woman. I usually don’t know anyone affiliated with them. I don’t know very many people where I live. After years of this experience, I have come to the realization that I might just as well watch religious programming. I can have the zame experience, as what I have, or haven’t received by walking into a great majority of congregations. I have heard some of the same things from other single people. I don’t have to search for people. Somewhere in my community, a conversation will take place. A question or inquiry as to whether there are any churches where a single person can feel as they belong. Unfortunately, I don’t have a real valid answer; and others who are unmarried have pretty much have the same answer or conclusion. Furthermore, this is a subject I have discovered people do not want to acknowledge. To discuss solutions, you first have to admit there is a valid issue. I shared this with this thought; “Maybe there is a remnant of people who are truly concerned as here is another example of why the church is dying.”
Have you read Church Refugees by Josh Packard. A sociologist does what churches should have been doing for decades: exit interviews. He discovers the surprising truth: People aren’t leaving church because they don’t care; people are leaving church because they care too much.
Agree. And churches make a goshawful mess of faith
Dear Rainer,
Thanks for the insights that have been a blessing to me whenever I read your posts. I am a pastor for the last twenty years in the slums Kibera Nairobi Kenya and planted churches not only in Nairobi but other parts of the country. Unfortunately this churches either join other Ministries or the numbers in these churches never grow to one hundred neither reduce to thirty. what could be the problem? I am asking these because I would like to know if the number matters alot in the Ministry. Thanks in advance and may the Lord’s favour be upon you and your Ministry.
Where can I get a church assessment ?
ChurchHealthReport.com
It is sad folks think bigger is better. Paul emphasized increasing FAITH. Jesus was not surprised when many did not follow him. The narrow way… Certainly sick of modern day religion. Give me a simple, friendly, faithful church over a massive mood altering, mind and ear shattering experience any day of the week. So sad.