By Abbie Mantor for Ed Bahler

In an ever- changing world, church leaders struggle to relevantly reach their community.  This is evident by recent statistics from groups like The Barna Group and the Gallup Organization.  But pastors don’t need research to tell them the church is in decline and lacking relevance to Christians and the unchurched alike.  They can see it in their own community.

Church growth can be depicted graphically with initial exponential growth.  A fresh mission compels others to join the movement.  Excitement is high.  Over time, though, culture changes and the mission can be replaced by programs and methods.  Growth slows, stops, and declines.  George Hunter III reported 30 years ago that only 20 percent of churches are growing.  Unfortunately, his statistic is still accurate today.  This means 80 percent of churches are on the backside of the s-curve. What’s a church to do?

When church growth begins to slow, a church needs to reevaluate their purpose and provide a fresh vision to impact their local community.  Pastors and leaders can wrestle with their passions and their congregation’s giftedness, but often understanding the need of the community around them can be difficult.  Considering these six trends in culture can help frame the discussion.

Six underlying movements

1. The Demands of the Digital Age
As part of the oral era, Jesus was a great storyteller.  Twice since then inventions have altered communication and subsequently human interaction.  First was the printing press in the 1500s, followed by television in the 1950s.  The Millennium Matrix by Rex Miller points to the next major shift: the Digital Age.

The church has found itself reaching out to a world controlled by the Internet, text messaging, and iPods with services and programs that are broadcast-based.  To remain relevant, Christians must learn the language of the Digital Age and adapt – quickly.

2. The Search to Belong
With the onset of the Digital Age, Americans are bombarded with information.  Statistics, advertisements, and dissenting opinions are plentiful, but only lead to a fragmented society.  In response, churches have prescribed small groups.  But, like all great programs, small groups can become the method that leads a church into decline.

Creating a sense of community is an organic process according to Joe Myers, author of The Search to Belong.  Churches must understand their community’s deep need for belonging and provide opportunities for meaningful public, social, personal, and intimate connections.

3. A Valuable Life Goal
While working on the screen-write for his upcoming movie, Don Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, discovered the elements that make a compelling story.  The protagonist in a great movie strives for a goal that is larger than him, something to die for.  Similarly, people want to join a community that has a mission bigger than them; something more compelling than good coffee and a large choir.

This was reaffirmed in research by Johnson & Johnson.  They discovered that consumers want to feel value and purpose in their life.  Churches that can cast an undeniable vision for their people will change lives.

4. Need for Navigators
In their research Johnson & Johnson also discovered that in our information-overloaded society, people are confused.  Americans are looking for groups or individuals to disseminate information in a meaningful way.  They want gurus with authentic lifestyles and attitudes to lead people’s thoughts and inspire them to action.

Churches that understand culture and the needs of their congregation and community can guide their community to deeper relationships with Christ and a passion to reach the unchurched.
 
5. Focus on Christ Centered Growth
For many years now, most churches have focused on moving congregants out of the pew and into service.  Recent research by Willow Creek revealed that involvement in church has little or no correlation to a Spirit-filled life.  Instead, only as church-goers mature in their spiritual walk will they experience a change in attitudes or behaviors; evidence of a Christ-led life.

A church that focuses only on the attractional model and ignores the missional model will fail to connect with the deepest needs of their congregants.  They will see a lack of genuine spiritual growth.

6. Missional Ministry Focus
The younger generation is very aware of the difference between going to church and being the church and they desire the latter.  They want to play an active role in displaying the love of Christ to their neighbors.

George Barna discovered the number one question middle income Americans ask when deciding to attend a church is, “Does this church impact local community?” To remain relevant churches must reach outside their walls and meet the needs of the unchurched around them.

These six movements provide a framework for rethinking how Americans understand church.  By considering these issues, discovering leadership passions, the talents of the congregation, and the needs of the community, a church can refresh a vision and re-engage with their community to change lives. 

Listen to audio of this message by Ed Bahler, President and CEO of the Aspen Group, on the Audio/Video page at www.TheCKN.com.

The Cornerstone Knowledge Network is a central source for fact-based, experience-tested information that can help churches clarify their missions, improve organizational leadership and successfully complete building projects. For more information call 1-888-595-7360 or visit www.theckn.com.

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