The Secret To Growing Your Church
Church Systems 101
I’ve helped start two churches that have grown to 200+ people. I’ve assisted countless other churches through consulting and coaching that have achieved similar results. It’s not by chance — there is a process.
Here’s an uncomfortable truth: “Every system is perfectly designed to get the result that it does.”
This is especially true in the context of church growth. In fact, pastor Andy Stanley often uses this phrase to emphasize the critical importance of church systems.
You can’t expect a church to grow consistently without implementing some basic church systems to support the growth. If you want to grow beyond a few dozen people, you need to develop systems.
Dunbar’s Number suggests that natural social group sizes tend to cap at around 150 people, emphasizing the need for structured systems to facilitate growth beyond this limit.
Some may argue that church systems aren’t biblical and that we should simply follow the Spirit. While the sentiment is understandable, it’s not entirely accurate. The Apostle Paul emphasized the need for structure, clear patterns, and practices for believers. The early church would not have grown to include billions of believers today if the original disciples had just casually hung out without design or structure.
5 Parts of a Healthy Church System:
1) Outreach
The first step is outreach and evangelism. It’s essential to ensure that people hear about your church through community engagement, a strong online presence, and effective marketing. Participating in local events and maintaining an active and engaging presence on social media helps to reach a broader audience.
Beyond this, it’s important to empower your congregation to reach their friends, families, and co-workers. If you want to grow your church, it needs to have a culture of invitation. Some of Jesus’ initial disciples came through a word-of-mouth approach, like when Philip told Nathanael to “come and see.”
2) Greeting
Once people decide to visit, the next critical step is making them feel welcome. This involves having a dedicated greeting team that offers a warm welcome and provides clear directions and information about the service, childcare, and other information. A clear and friendly initial experience can make a lasting impression.
Research has shown that first-time guests decide whether or not to return to a church in the first 10 minutes, so having an effective greeting team is key.
3) Follow Up
After their first visit, follow-up is essential to make visitors feel valued and encourage them to get involved. Using connect cards to gather contact information allows you to reach out personally after their visit. It’s best to reach out within 48 hours. Inviting them to a meal or coffee with a church member or leader helps build a connection and makes visitors feel valued.
4) Small Groups
Small groups are about finding a spiritual family that you can go deeper with. They provide a space for more intimate connections, fostering deeper relationships and spiritual growth. Encouraging visitors to join small groups helps them integrate into the church community and find support and fellowship.
5) Serving
Serving will increase a sense of ownership and involvement in the church. By offering various opportunities for visitors to help and serve within the church, you not only meet practical needs but also empower members to contribute and feel valued in the church community.
When someone visits your church, they are bringing gifts, skills, and talents that God desires them to steward. By having a clear pathway for serving, you are helping them steward those gifts and grow the church.
☝All of this should be able to happen within a few months of a visitor coming to your church. By guiding a first-time guest through this process, they should feel like a part of the church family.
There are other essential systems not mentioned here, such as worship planning, discipleship pathways, giving, and leadership development. Each system plays a crucial role in the overall health and growth of the church. To support these systems, it’s crucial that your church staff is aligned with the vision and goals of growth. Regular meetings and clear communication help ensure everyone is on the same page.
Additionally, measuring success through attendance metrics, engagement levels, and feedback from newcomers is vital. Evaluate the growth and health of small groups and serving teams to fine-tune your systems and ensure continuous improvement. With staff alignment and diligent tracking, your church can create an environment where the Spirit can work through an orderly and welcoming community.
Church growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentional systems and processes to guide people from first-time visitors to fully integrated members of the church community. By focusing on outreach, greeting, follow-up, and integration into small groups and serving opportunities, your church can consistently grow and thrive.
