6 Ways Churches Reverse A Decline

At the Church in Toronto we have been experiencing blessed growth by God. We are thrilled that God is bringing people to be among us. Over the past number of years we have changed the way we do church, and those changes may very well be part of the reason why people are coming to be among us and staying to make our church their new church home.

Below, Thom Rainer, points to 6 things that help declining churches to turn things around. You will find some of the changes we have made recently are on his list. --- Ian Brinsman

By Thom Rainer

1. 
   They enter a time of corporate prayer and fasting. Sometimes the period is a short duration, such as 24 hours. But in that time, many members of the body agree to pray and fast to seek God’s face for His will for His church. In some churches the number of members who participate is relatively small compared to the whole membership. In other situations, a large number may participate. In each case, those who do pray and fast understand that only God can ultimately give the increase to a congregation.
    
2. They start new groups. Churches that start new small groups, new Sunday school classes, new home groups, new discipleship groups, and a plethora of other possible groups often experience turnaround growth. More often than not, the approach to starting these groups is more strategic than haphazard, and more intentional than incidental.
    
3. They start new worship services. These worship services may be on Sunday morning, but they could be on other days and times as well. They could be new campuses or new venues. Like those that start new groups, many of the breakout churches strategically and intentionally make the starting of new worship services a vital part of the present and future of the congregation.
    
4. 
   They emphasize the power of inviting. The pastor emphasizes it from the pulpit. Printed and web information constantly reminds members to invite others. The leadership of the church seeks to make the act of inviting others part of the DNA of the congregation.
    
5. They emphasize the importance of groups growing. Not only do breakout churches place a high priority of creating new groups, they often emphasize the importance of the groups themselves growing. Leaders attempt to instill a Great Commission mindset not only for the church as a whole, but also for each group individually.
    
6. They truly serve the community. Many churches break their cycles of decline or plateau by providing means for members to serve the community. This service is far more than inviting persons to come to the church facilities. It involves such activities as painting public school classrooms, resourcing indigent school children, providing free refreshments at community events, and being a force for mobilization to meet needs expressed by community leaders.

http://www.thomrainer.com/2012/09/six-ways-churches-reverse-a-decline.php