church growth

5 Wildly Effective Ways to Connect with Families Not Regularly at Church

One of our amazing readers wrote to us wanting to connect with families who aren’t regularly at church. We hear you! This can be a tough thing. Read on for our five wildly effective ways to stay connected.

Do you have even more ideas to share? Tell us in the comments below!

Why You Need to Connect with Families

There are so many reasons why families may not be at church regularly. As a ministry leader, it may be easy to assume it’s because they don’t like something you’re doing. However, this is most likely not the case.

Families may not be attending church regularly because…

Parents are working long hours or traveling a lot for their job.
Families are navigating co-parenting and children living in two homes.
Children have scheduling conflicts with their extra-curricular activities.
Parents feel unsure while contemplating their own theology and religious affiliation.
New babies are throwing off their mornings and/or evenings.
Homework is keeping kids home.
Families feel disconnected from the community because they aren’t there often. So, they attend even less.

Keep in mind how busy families are and remember that context. Packed schedules and complex dynamics make it difficult to say yes, even to the things we really want to be doing in our lives.

Connect with Families Purposefully

So, what’s your role given that some of this may be true? You need to be doing two main things: connecting to the families and connecting the families to the community.

And here’s the cool thing. The families who aren’t at church regularly are going to feel more a part of the church. But, so are the families who are there regularly. Everyone will feel the improvement when these efforts are made.

How can you do this effectively? Read on for a few ideas we hope will help in both of these efforts!

Connect with Families Even When Apart

Stay in touch.

Families who aren’t present regularly can feel forgotten. So, be sure to connect with families regularly even if they aren’t at church. Send a text checking in. Be sure they’re on the email blast. Send birthday and holiday cards to them. Invite them personally to special events.

Vary contact.

If families are hearing from you in only one way, it can feel contrived. They may feel like there’s a list they’re on (which is probably true, but still…) and they’re only getting contacted because of that.

So, vary in your contact with them. Text, email, snail mail are all great options. Also, vary the person who contacts them. Share this responsibility across several people. For example, perhaps the pastor sends an email checking in. Then the ministry director sends the email blast and sets up a lunch date. And the Sunday school teacher comments on their social media posts. And a friend of the family invites them to a special upcoming event.

Post consistently.

If your church doesn’t have an online presence, that needs to change. It just does. Too many of our churches don’t have a person heading up digital communications. If your church is one of them, just create a profile for your ministry to connect with families.

Your families are online all the time. It’s an easy way to connect to all of them with little effort.

Learn how to use social media to communicate with your families. And post 1-3 times a day.

Communicate service opportunities.

Most families aren’t finding ways to serve others. And this is a value for so many parents, especially in their children’s development. However, it can be hard to know where to look for opportunities. So, connect with families around service.

For this reason, events where families can serve together and make a difference tend to be well-attended. This is great news for everyone. It connects the congregation and the congregation to the community.

Share education resources.

Parents very often have little to no idea how to do spiritual formation with their children. As a result, if families aren’t at church, the kids aren’t learning about their faith.

So, share resources with them. Send them a new book to read together each month. Send a weekly email with the Sunday School topic and discussion questions for them to use at home.

We Want to Hear From You!

Do you have more ideas to share with the IM community? We’d love to hear from you! In the comments below tell us how you connect with families who aren’t regularly at church.

Ministry Growth: Start Here First with a Solid Foundation

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

As you turn your focus to ministry growth, take some time to lay a solid foundation and watch your group flourish!

Share in the comments below! What are your thoughts on growth and where is your ministry headed?

Get Clear

Clarify what you mean by growth. First, consider the types of growth that are possible. Often in our churches, we associate growth with numbers. This is one form of growth. Maybe that is the growth your group is primed for.

But, ask yourself and your leaders: What other ways is our group longing to grow?

Perhaps your group needs to grow in vulnerability. Or maybe your group needs to grow in service. Maybe your group needs to grow in biblical literacy.

When we become focused on one form of growth, we lose our ability to see what other invitations to growth are present. And the exciting thing is that one type of growth will affect all the others.

For example, when we grow in numbers, the depth of relationships will be more difficult to maintain. Then, a new form of growth is necessary for finding new ways to connect within a larger group.

You Matter

Often we talk about how our unique gifts prepare and guide us. This is so true. We are equipped with a specific fingerprint, so to speak, that colors our work. Let’s go a step deeper to where your beliefs reside. After all, it is our beliefs that influence the way we use our gifts.

What do you believe and feel about group size? Without any judgment, ask yourself this question. Do this assessment, because whatever you think and feel about group size impacts how you interact with your group’s growth.

For example, imagine that a leader believes a small ministry is better because it’s unique, higher quality, distinctive, and more deeply connected. That belief will limit the possibility of the ministry to get larger.

On the other hand, a leader may see a small ministry as embarrassing, sad, pathetic, and pointless. If numbers start dropping, shame and fear will begin to drive leadership in their decisions. And shame and fear will never lead to health in ministry.

Either/Or

It’s easy to get into an either/or mindset. But, the truth is neither small nor large is better. Lean into the faithfulness of God to be already at work no matter what the numbers are. There is no wrong direction. Large and small ministries both have their value and gifts.

The small ministry, for example, does make for more natural connection in the group. You, as a leader, get to know the families and kids on a more personal level. Coordinating events and trips is often more straightforward with a ministry on the small side.

A larger ministry offers more possibility in terms of programming. The momentum and size give it social currency, especially when kids invite their friends. And kids who want to be a part of something but don’t want to be too noticed can feel more comfortable.

Let Go, Remain Open

What do you believe about your own ability to lead? If your group is currently small and you wish it was bigger, think about this: do you think you have what is necessary within you to lead a larger group of kids? If you don’t think you’ll be able, you will find ways to minimize growth to stay in the safe zone.

Growing a ministry can feel like a big responsibility. And there are a lot of plates to keep spinning, especially in the stage of growth. There are several reasons for this. One, during growth, most churches haven’t yet invested the funding for a larger group. Two, enough leadership is hard to come by when the church is used to doing very little. Three, the ministry head is responsible for doing most everything.

So, wondering if you have what it takes is a good question and one worth asking. If you believe you can’t lead a larger ministry than you have now, an increase in numbers will be difficult. On the other hand, if you think you are prepared and able, growth will happen more easily.

If you find yourself limiting the potential of your ministry because you’re afraid of growth, what would it look like to let go of expectations and fear? How about finding motivation in the purpose of your ministry rather than an external indicator of success, such as numbers.

And if breaking into smaller groups from one larger group is where you’re ministry is at, follow that path. What if we all let go of the fear that change won’t work or that one size of group or another is worse?

Follow the Spirit’s Leading

Without judgment, get still and ask God where your ministry is being called. The Spirit’s leading doesn’t always align with our rational mind, so be open and ready to follow. Where we end up heading isn’t always what we assume. And remember it isn’t either/or.

Size is not the point, to be entirely honest. God is moving always everywhere. Be open to where you’re heading, but stay present to what is. Enjoy the beauty and gifts that are held within your group now. Invest in those, because they will help your group flourish no matter the size.

And don’t forget! We want to hear from you. So, share in the comments below. What are your thoughts on growth and where is your ministry headed?

6 Ways to Welcome Visitors at Your Church This Christmas Eve

Alissa Ellett Leave a Comment

Welcoming visitors effectively to church on Christmas Eve takes a good deal of forethought and a multi-faceted approach. Here’s our list to help you!

christmas eve visitors 101

During the holidays more visitors come through the doors of the church than any other time of the year. It’s a great opportunity to welcome them with greater intention.

We’ve put together a list of five easy ways to help newcomers feel cared for and acknowledged.

We hope our ideas help to create a culture of welcome and hospitality within your community this season and throughout the year.

How are you welcoming newcomers this Christmas Eve? Tell us in the comments below!

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Have name tags. On a table near the entrance to the sanctuary, set out name tags and markers. Calling each other by name creates a sense of community and belonging. This helps visitors as well as those who’ve been in the pew for decades.

Make clear what your church stands for. Put in writing what your mission statement is and how your church includes the marginalized. This is important in order for all of us to feel safe and know if we’re a part of the faith family.

Say hello, Pastor. If a personal greeting from the pastor isn’t possible, create a team of leaders who keep an eye out for those who are new. Don’t assume it’s someone’s first time; it might not be. If you say something to indicate you think it’s their first time when it isn’t, things get awkward for you and them. Say hello, tell them you’re happy to see them.

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Have quality refreshments. This goes for any worship service, in my opinion. If you have yummy stuff out, make it good. Most people have become familiar with boutique coffee and high-quality bakes. So, throw out the coffee in a giant can that goes beyond earthiness into muddiness. Also, offer tasty allergy-free options, too.

Additionally, think of families who would rather not have their kid on their way down from a sugar high as they drive home. Perhaps put out some festive cranberry granola instead of sugar cookies, for example.

Provide information for biblical passages. When reading scripture, describe where the text is located in the Bible. Additionally, give context for the passage. Consequently, people are more likely to feel there isn’t insider knowledge they don’t have. This is helpful for all of us, whether newcomers or long-time members.

Leaders, introduce yourselves up front. Have those who are up front speaking in any capacity give their name and role in the church. Do this whether the person is giving announcements, singing, or preaching. This helps visitors get to know who’s who. And it makes getting involved easier for them, too.

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Hospitality as Community Culture

Welcoming visitors to church is more than checking boxes. Hospitality is for all of us. When we live out our faith through care with intention, we actually help those who are already regular attendees feel more connected, too.

Furthermore, we communicate our common humanity, our personhood as individuals, and worthiness as children of Creation. We hope you discover ways to welcome visitors to church this Christmas Eve as an expression of your unique faith community and continue them the whole year through.

Do you have more ideas? How are you welcoming visitors this Christmas Eve? Don’t forget to share with us in the comments!