The Lead Pastor’s Church Growth Strategies (How-To, Practical Tips, and Pitfalls) for 2024
Remember embarking on a new venture, perhaps the start of a new ministry or church? Remember the excitement, anticipation, and hope for the future? That is how we felt, as leaders, as we planted New Life Fellowship in 2019. All of us were (and still are!) passionate about church: growth, strategies for engaging with the community, and discipleship development. We had no clue what was coming.
My dreams of us growing in leaps and bounds skidded into the brick wall of COVID, and the world shut down. We were forced to re-imagine everything.
Our church growth strategies had to adapt — and they did (aided in no small part by the church management tools we used.) Today, we are more convinced than ever that Jesus is the answer to the problems each individual faces, and we want our church to grow in influence, impact, and strength.
Churches today face some misconceptions about church growth strategies.
- What is the best way to go about growing the church?
- How do we tell if we are being successful?
I have some insight and strategies for you that will help you and your church keep the main thing the main thing — to spread the GREAT news of Jesus as far and wide as possible.
How important are numbers?
Numbers are key, of course. Over and over throughout the New Testament, we see evidence that Jesus/the disciples tracked numbers (baskets of bread, number of disciples sent out, size of crowds, etc). Good management of your church business requires keeping a close eye on your numbers... choosing to turn a blind eye to the numbers can result the worst case scenario (closing down your church).
Pure numerical growth is a red herring, as Mark Banyard writes in this article exploring the most important church metrics. Just because you're seeing more people come through your doors doesn't automatically mean you are reaching more people for Jesus.
This is exactly why so many church growth strategies are a dime a dozen and don’t yield the results you hope for.
I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Jesus (matthew 16:18)
Question: "What Is A Church Growth Strategy?"
Short(ish) Answer: A church growth strategy is a systematic, well-crafted plan for increasing your church’s vibrancy and impact, centered on the transformational power of Jesus Christ.
Church growth is what happens when we, as pastors, faithfully teach the Word of God, equip our church body to actively make disciples, and foster a grace-based community. In that environment, both old and new believers are equipped to trust Jesus more every day and follow Him more closely.
Longer Answer: First, we must answer the question, 'What is church growth?' Then, we can define a church growth strategy. Church growth can happen in three ways: new generations born into the church, believers changing churches, and conversion growth (ie. new believers making decisions for Christ).
According to Outreach Magazine, conversion growth is the most effective form of church growth. In the words of Alan and Billy McMahan, “By far, conversion growth revitalizes the church more than any other source. Unfortunately, only 3–5% of all U.S. churches are growing primarily through conversion.”
Crossroad Church in Corona, California is a great example of this. Crossroads was ranked the 7th fastest growing American church in 2022. They have assessed the needs of their community and formed a growth strategy which includes in person and online church services. Crossroads has consistently focused on reaching the families in their community and as a result they are consistently seeing a 16% conversion rate.
For every 100 new people in attendance at Crossroads, there are 16 new decisions for Christ.
This type of numerical growth happens as a by-product of intentional activities to evangelize and disciple new believers. An effective church growth strategy should include measurable benchmarks that help to assess its effectiveness. Some suggestions:
- Conversion/Baptism ratio: Look at the number of salvation and/or baptisms per 100 in attendance annually.
- Small Group Participation: Measure the percentage of members involved in small groups.
- Volunteer Engagement: Monitor the number of active volunteers and their hours served.
- Financial Health: Track giving trends, per capita giving, and budget allocation.
Community Impact: Measure outreach efforts and community service projects.
Debunking Common Church Growth Myths
I’ve been around in the church long enough to see how some common church growth strategies simply don’t work. Here is my shortlist of the most common myths:
Myth #1: Growth Always Equals Health.
Just because your numbers are going up, doesn’t mean the church is healthy. Remember we are looking for members who are growing in their maturity and walk with Jesus. Don’t just look at the numbers. Get to know your churchgoers, where they are struggling, and what their strengths are.
Myth #2: Leadership is Always to Blame.
This one will hopefully take some of the pressure off your shoulders. While leadership plays a crucial role, just because there are growth issues does not necessarily mean it’s because of the leadership. There are external factors to consider, such as demographics, local culture, and societal trends.
Myth #3: Focusing on Holidays Drives Growth.
You may see an uptick in attendance over certain holidays, but this doesn’t guarantee authentic long-term church growth. Focusing too much on these holiday campaigns can distract away from other strategies that focus on the real needs of the church and the specific demographic you’re trying to reach.
Myth #4: If you build it, they will come.
A beautiful church facility does not equal immediate growth. I’m not here to squash your dreams, but a brand-new building will not solve all your problems. Yes, a great location is an important part of the church’s operations, but without a thriving church community to go along with it, you might see temporary growth, but it won’t be sustainable.
The 'Seeker Sensitive' Movement (& How It Was Wrong)
One of the most widespread movements in the evangelical church over the past 50 years has been the 'seeker-friendly' service. While this idea certainly attracted many new Christians to church, the ‘seeker-sensitive’ movement cloaks an inherent danger.
Seeker sensitivity fosters a culture of consumerism within the church. People come to church wanting to be entertained and have their needs met, rather than to grow spiritually and serve the local body.
One of the leaders of this movement was Willow Creek Church in Chicago. Led by Lead Pastor Bill Hybels, Willow Creek focussed on attracting spiritual seekers who were dissatisfied with traditional church. While this isn't bad in itself, Hybels comments that they made a mistake:
When people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started teaching them to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should taught people, how to read their bible between services, how to do practice spiritual habits on their own.
Further to the point: a 'seeker sensitive' culture piles enormous pressure on YOU, the pastor. Your weekly sermon becomes a performance. Your ministry becomes a performance. And the standard is a dangerous one: did people like it?
It's conclusive: focusing on growing the church for the sake of numbers is a shortcut to burnout and a shallow church.
Build a foundation of maturing your congregation in Christ. Without sanctification and growth, your church will grow stagnant and you will find your Sunday morning services are filled with people who are consumer Christians, wanting to be fed every week but not walking with Him day by day.
How To Lead Church Growth Initiatives
The Great Commission is a mandate for everyone (pastors, church leaders, and members alike) to go and make disciples. As we seek to disciple more people, the number of those who encounter the Gospel will grow.
Most importantly, Jesus is the Author and Perfector of our faith. He said that if HE is lifted up, HE will draw all to Himself. Our job is to lift Him up, and He draws the crowds and does the transformation.
When I [Jesus] am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to Myself.”
John 12:32
1. Start with Jesus.
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6
Yes, we can learn many valuable skills from core marketing strategies, like how to start a podcast, take your church worship experience to a new level, understand SEO, and define a clear online and offline process for church visitors. Do a quick Google search, and you'll find other common church growth strategies, like:
- Making attractive church websites
- Doing plenty of outreach and other church events
- Creating or volunteering with nonprofits and community events
- Focusing on your social media presence.
While these things are great and can help us to make significant inroads into the world, they are ultimately meaningless if Jesus is not front and center.
2. Look for Needs in Your Community
Our communities are filled with hurting people, and Jesus came to heal and save the lost and broken (Luke 19:10). Identifying and addressing these needs is crucial for meaningful impact. By engaging with the community, you reflect Jesus’ love and compassion.
3. Love People the Best You Know How
Prayerfully consider, with your leadership team and church, how you can best show love to those in your community (John 13:34-35). Demonstrating genuine love can transform lives and build lasting relationships.
4. Employ Small-Scale Strategies
There are countless low-cost ideas that can make a big impact..
- Create personal invitation cards for your congregation to hand out to friends. In addition, try creating fun and engaging digital content that will show of your church’s heart and personality. Make it engaging so people will want to know more about you, and maybe even join your for a Sunday service.
- Ensure your sermons and public messaging consistently point to Jesus as the ultimate source for life transformation.
- Make discipleship a major focus of your church activity. (Veteran pastor and church leader Ed Underwood wrote an excellent article for us, Build to Send, about developing a culture of discipleship.)
- Allocate time during your week to meet with other community leaders. Take them for coffee, and ask about their needs and concerns.
5. Utilize Mid-Scale Strategies
In addition to enhancing the church’s digital presence and improving signage, some community-focused ideas could include the following:
- Spend time serving meals or assisting at a homeless shelter. Look for specific areas that your church could help.
- Spend several weeks walking through your community, praying for the Holy Spirit to reveal ways you and your church can have an impact.
- Host a free barbecue to build relationships with neighbors.
- Assemble and distribute care packages with essential items for specific groups in need.
- Provide practical classes, like budgeting or job skills, to help community members.
6. Explore Large-Scale Strategies
Want to go even bigger? Maybe your next step is to consider planting a new church or making entrepreneurial efforts. This could include:
- Opening a cafe or restaurant open during the week for gathering and community outreach.
- If you have some great music, form a worship label and get your music out to the masses over online streaming platforms.
- Start a private Christian school that teaches the message of life and grace in Jesus.
- Work with your leadership team and members to brainstorm more ideas…
Breakthrough Tip: Engage visitors quickly
When I talk with new people at our church, I consistently hear that what brings them back a second time is that they feel welcome the moment they walk in the door.
Of course, a friendly greeting team is a must, but don’t stop there. We have a few “unofficial greeters” at our church. These are people who aren’t assigned to the role of greeter, but they always seem to notice the newcomers and have a heart to welcome them.
Create a welcome packet or card so they can learn more about the church and how to get involved. If they fill out a welcome card, make sure someone follows up with them in a timely manner to introduce themselves and help them get connected.
Make digital tools (eg. free ebook) and social media readily available so they can get connected and stay connected throughout the week. As an example, our church has an online community through social media, but we also send out a midweek devotional email with announcements.
Breakthrough Tip: Strengthen community involvement
See how you can meet the needs of the community around you with some community service. This benefits your church by giving your members an outward focus, but it also provides opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus, loving the community He has placed you in.
Hope House in Guelph, Ontario has done an amazing job at this. It started in 2011 with a mission to meet the immediate physical needs of those living in poverty in their community. Over the last 13 years, they have expanded their programs and in 2024, they supported 5,913 individuals. Considering the population of their city is 120,000 - that’s incredibly impressive.
Breakthrough Tip: Invest in Children and Youth Ministries
A vibrant and nurturing children and youth ministries will attract young families. Parents need to feel their children will be safe when they are in your care and that the teaching is sound and presented in a way that is engaging and fun.
Work with your board of directors to develop and implement good safety protocols and check-in systems to ensure the security of the children. Parents coming for the first time to put their kids in the program will be looking for these measures to be in place.
Understanding the Stages Of Church Growth
From planting a church to figuring out how to manage a church that has been around for over a century, the work of figuring out effective church growth strategies is no easy task. Good church management, though, means digging deeper and discovering what core values we can cultivate in our local churches to grow no matter the season of life churchgoers may be in.
The most important factor in church growth is not the size of the church, but the quality of the people in the church.
Thom Rainer, 'Church Growth: Strategies That Work'
According to Rainer and studies by Barna Group, the most important factor for churches that grow is the quality of church members that make up that church community. This means that no matter the stage of church growth you may find yourself in, investing in people will continue that growth beyond your current situation.
Now, let’s walk through the average stages of church growth and growing pains which all churches have to go through at some point. From conception to alignment, to multiplication, to stagnation, and, sometimes, to decline.
Growth Stage 1: Conception
The conception stage doesn’t have to refer to church planting, but it does refer to the point at which staff members, church leadership, or an inspired lead pastor decide that things must change to keep growing. During this stage, staff members are largely non-existent, worship services are run and organized by teams of volunteers, and church needs are minimal.
As a church moves through the conception stage, it starts to grow from small groups of determined and fired-up volunteers to churches of 200+. For churches re-entering the conception stage, this looks like stripping all church activities down to the bare minimum and reassessing every action to determine whether it stays or goes (use accurate, regular church finance reports to help assess this).
As a bit of a rabbit trail (hey, it's a fat rabbit!), here is a double handful of this year's best church leadership conferences. )
Growth Stage 2: Alignment
The alignment stage is characterized by the point when vision and mission statements become more important to sustaining the church as it becomes more difficult to make the church community feel like a cohesive unit.
This can present itself as growing pains when people start to trickle out, but the unchurched are continuing to join the community faster than people are leaving. For established churches working back through this growth cycle, this is when long-attending church members become frustrated and leave or double down and become your most valuable volunteers.
Growth Stage 3: Multiplication
The multiplication stage is the part of church growth everyone looks to as the pinnacle of the entire church growth process. Attendance is trending ever upward, fundraising is a breeze for every mission trip, and you are at the stage where you can start dreaming of planting more churches.
However, this is when, if you aren’t careful, your front door becomes a revolving door of churched and unchurched alike just coming and going at a constant rate. The church community can start to unravel here if church leadership isn't on top of things.
Growth Stage 4: Stagnation
The stagnation stage is where many church communities begin to realize that their church growth strategies are no longer working. People aren’t as involved, they aren’t as plugged in, and attendance begins to start to dip downward.
As long as you are still catering to the hurt, the lost, and the broken, then things are going to be okay in this stage, but it’s time to start thinking through how to change direction before hitting the final stage of church growth.
Growth Stage 5: Decline
This is, definitively, the opposite of church growth. There may still be small groups and bible studies going on, but people are checking out and have completely lost interest in outreach, evangelism, or discipleship.
Churches in the decline stage can either start stripping things away, asking difficult questions, and move back into the conception stage or they can choose to close up shop and pass along their knowledge and stories to the next generation of churches. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. Find out more about how to close a church here.
8 Effective, Biblical Church Growth Strategies
1. Continually Remind Your Leadership of the Big Picture.
Every church growth strategy starts with clear goals. For us, Jesus set these goals explicitly: to make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey His commands (Matthew 28:19-20).
This foundation ensures that our efforts align with His mission, focusing on spiritual growth and faithful obedience rather than just increasing numbers. By keeping Jesus’ instructions at the forefront, our strategies are rooted in biblical truth and aimed at true transformation.
Practical 'Big Picture' Tips:
- Don't fall for the 'copy-paste' approach to church growth, the 'strategy' of copying another church's approach or tactics. Prayerfully consider, with your leadership team, what God is leading you into for YOUR community.
- Define 'growth' for your specific church. What is the next step your members need to take? Develop your plans around equipping them to carry Jesus into their everyday lives.
Clearly defining what you count as successes and failures throughout this process is often overlooked and underrated. Spend time discussing goals and successes, so you have areas to push toward rather than some ambiguous idea of “growth.”
2. Invest In People: Build a Culture of Discipleship
Investing in people requires prioritizing relationships over programs. Focus on personal discipleship, mentorship, and community involvement. Equip and empower church members to grow in their faith and serve others. By building strong, supportive relationships, the church fosters a caring environment where individuals feel valued and motivated to contribute. This investment in people nurtures spiritual growth and creates a ripple effect, encouraging others to join and engage with the church community.
Practical 'Investing in People' Tips:
- Pair experienced members with new or younger attendees for spiritual guidance and support. This fosters personal growth and strong relationships. (An excellent resource for this is "Beginning in Grace", a discipleship manual available on Amazon.)
- Create small group meetings for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. These intimate settings encourage deeper connections and mutual support.
- Provide training for members to develop their leadership skills. Empowering individuals to take on roles within the church nurtures a sense of ownership and investment in the community.
3. Be Easy to Find! Open Your Digital Front Door.
If someone looks you up on Google or social media, will they find you? If you think people aren’t checking out your church via the website and deciding if they are going to visit in person, think again. Increasingly, social media and a church website are your church's first impression.
When you realize that your website, your online content, and the online interactions of your church members are typically the first point of contact with the unchurched, then you can start making plans to adjust and course correct. Spending extra time on your digital front door is a great first step for churches at any stage of growth.
This means learning how to utilize tools like SEO (search engine optimization), social media, and content marketing (think blog posts, newsletters, podcasts, etc.).
Practical 'Be Easy to Find' Tips:
- Develop an attractive church website, and use common SEO tools to rank in Google searches for churches in your local area.
- Record your Sunday Sermons and splice them into short videos for posting on social media.
4. Create Unique Online Experiences
In-person events and worship services are essential to the church (and should be supported by a robust church event management team). However, recognizing that some people can’t or won’t attend in person necessitates creating engaging online experiences. These can cater to both remote attendees and regular members, offering live-streamed services, interactive Bible studies, virtual prayer meetings, and engaging social media content. By investing in online platforms, the church can extend its reach, fostering community and spiritual growth regardless of physical attendance.
Practical 'Online Experience' Tips:
- Provide high-quality live streams of worship services, including interactive chat options for engagement.
- Facilitate virtual small groups or Bible study sessions using platforms like Zoom or Google Meet.
- Regularly post devotional content, updates, and interactive posts on social media to keep the community connected.
5. Partner With Other Organizations
American churches have often competed rather than collaborated. Partner with like-minded, growth-focused, discipleship-oriented local churches to host joint community events, mission trips, and outreach programs. A united front showcases a strong, supportive community, encouraging the unchurched to participate.
Practical 'Church Partnership' Tips:
- Plan and host events such as food drives, festivals, and service projects together.
- Collaborate on mission trips to pool resources and impact more lives.
- Create small groups with members from different churches to foster broader community ties.
6. Define a Discipleship Pathway
An organized discipleship process is vital for church growth. This clear pathway for spiritual growth motivates people to join and stay engaged. It helps individuals grow in their faith, which in turn fuels overall church growth.
Practical 'Discipleship Pathway' Tips:
- Develop clear steps for new believers to progress in their faith journey.
- Pair new members with seasoned believers for personal guidance.
- Continuously evaluate and adjust the discipleship process to ensure it meets the needs of the congregation.
7. Offer Services Tailored to Your Community
Traditional Sunday services may not suit every community. Consider tailoring your service schedule and format to fit the needs of your local community. Perhaps there is a specific need in your community (ie: a different language group, or other need) that an alternative service type may reach.
Practical 'Community Worship' Tips:
- Provide services at different times, such as evenings or weekdays.
- Offer both large community worship services and smaller, intimate gatherings.
- Regularly seek input from your congregation to better meet their needs.
8. Adopt a Local Mission Mindset
One of Jesus' final mandates for us was to 'go into all the world'... today, though, the world has come to us. Reach out to your community and engage with the various people groups. Hurting people are everywhere, and that is where we as the church can shine. This approach inspires members, leading to natural church growth.
Practical 'Local Mission' Tips:
- Community Projects: Engage in local projects like park cleanups, tutoring programs, or health clinics.
- Support Local Causes: Partner with local organizations to address pressing community needs.
- Visibility and Presence: Be a consistent and positive presence in community events and initiatives.
Setting SMART goals and tracking church growth metrics
Setting SMART goals can help you see quickly how you are doing with your church growth strategies. Make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Some examples of these SMART goals might be:
- "We'll work to increase our baptism ratio to 7 baptisms per 100 attendees over the next 12 months."
- "We'll work to increase small group participation by 30% over the next 12 months."
- "We'll work to have 60% of attendees being part of a volunteer team."
These goals provide clear direction and focus for strategies. They allow for tracking of progress and will help translate vague ideas into actionable plans.
Four All-Too-Common Church Growth Pitfalls
While you are figuring out and adjusting to strategies you are implementing, make sure you aren’t falling into some of the most common pitfalls for those who are growth-focused.
1. Don’t Lose Sight of Your Mission
Churches find themselves in the stagnation phase because they stopped focusing on their mission and vision. Keep reiterating your mission until people are sick of hearing about it. Make sure every church member knows the goals of their church and can share them with others.
2. Don't Chase Trends
One of the activities that halt church growth in its tracks is trying to use the same strategy as the church down the street. What worked for them may not work for you. What worked for a bigger church in another state also won’t work for you.
Churches like Willow Creek and Saddleback became the template for success and many churches replicated their methods. BUT: church growth is not one-size-fits-all. Yes, it is important to learn from other churches but don’t copy and paste what they are doing.
Trust the Holy Spirit, look to fill local needs, and love people.
3. Don't Chase Numbers
When numbers become the primary goal, it’s easy to compromise on core values and dilute the message to appeal to a broader audience. This can result in a congregation that’s large but lacks depth in discipleship and community. Moreover, chasing numbers can create a consumer culture within the church, where attendees view their participation as transactional rather than transformational.
Authentic growth, rooted in spiritual maturity and genuine community, often suffers when the emphasis shifts from faithful ministry to mere attendance metrics. Prioritizing numbers over substance undermines the church’s mission and can ultimately hinder long-term growth and health.
4. Never Neglect Prayer
When prayer is sidelined, the church operates on human effort rather than divine guidance, often resulting in burnout and ineffective ministry. A prayerful foundation ensures that decisions and actions are aligned with God’s will, fostering a community that relies on His power rather than their own. By prioritizing prayer, churches cultivate a culture of dependence on God, leading to authentic growth and spiritual vitality.
Growing your church comes down to 1) trusting the Holy Spirit, 2) looking for the needs in your local community, and 3)loving people the best you know how.
Joshua Gordon
Final Thoughts
Make use of the tools and technology available today to manage growth and track visitors. This way you can measure and know whether your efforts are paying off or if you need to shift your strategy to be more effective. By investing in people, partnering with other churches, and embracing online tools, you can foster a vibrant and impactful community.
My sincere hope for you and the church you’re pastoring is that you focus on true, biblical growth rather than merely chasing numbers. Remember to keep prayer at the center of all your efforts and to develop a clear discipleship process that nurtures spiritual maturity. Through these strategies, your church can grow authentically, deeply rooted in faith and service to your community.
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