Willow Creek Restarts Search for Its Next Bill Hybels
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“After months of delays in the process, the church’s interim pastor announces plans to resign.” - Christianity Today
Niche Marketing Now Gives Us Micro-Churches
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“The Church Growth Movement of a few decades ago promoted the use of marketing techniques to attract as many people as possible to form a ‘mega-church.’ But today’s marketing philosophy, enabled by online technology, focuses not on reaching vast numbers but on identifying individuals with highly specific interests and targeting them with tailor-made appeals…creating not ‘mega-’ but ‘micro-churches.’” -
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From the Archives – Ministry Success & The Great Commission
A two-fold assumption is often evident when believers are evaluating the effectiveness of churches, ministries, movements, and denominations. The assumption is, first, that the Great Commission is the standard of measurement and, second, that the way to apply the standard is to count the number of people who are hearing the gospel or are being brought into worship services.
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"...numbers can tell us only part of the story concerning our churches"
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“I know that growth is important and matters to God. However, if we’re not careful, it can consume our souls and become an idol that competes with our ultimate calling as ministers.” - Facts & Trends
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Documentary: the world's fastest-growing church is in Iran, has no buildings, and is mostly led by women
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“A new film tells the story of the ‘fastest-growing church’ in the world, an underground, persecuted Christian movement in a country known for exporting radical Islamic terrorism.” - Fox
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Online churches don't hurt local church growth: study
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“According to ‘State of the Online Church,’ led by Saddleback Church’s Online Campus Pastor Jay Kranda, 59 percent of churches have seen physical growth since launching an online ministry.” - Christian Post
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The Church Growth Gap: The Big Get Bigger While the Small Get Smaller
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“A new study from Exponential by LifeWay … gives a clear picture of the state of Protestant churches in America today. Most have fewer than 100 people attending services each Sunday (57%), including 21 percent who average fewer than 50. Around 1 in 10 churches (11%) average 250 or more for their worship services.” - Christianity Today
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Literal interpretation of Bible 'helps increase church attendance'
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“The authors of Theology Matters: Comparing the Traits of Growing and Declining Mainline Protestant Church Attendees and Clergy surveyed 2,225 churchgoers in Ontario, Canada, and conducted interviews with 29 clergy and 195 congregants.
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