OT: Asking sixpack

[preacher_dawg]

I've gone from being a pastor to being a church planter with about 5 people in the core group. I wanted to ask you guys what would attract you to a church? And what might get you to visit? Word of mouth? Advertisements on radio? Sermons on radio? Flyers on store Windows? Facebook? Meeting me by coming to your door asking for prayer requests? Anything else? I'm looking for answers from everybody, religious and not religious. Thanks in advance.

 

[willi13]

Keep "recruiting" 5 star players

 

[Grove Sh*tter]

Love, kindness, authenticity, the holy spirit, sound doctrine.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

Invite Hugh Freeze to preach and baptize**

 

[aTotal360]

Honesty, authenticity, and free food.

 

[RivaDawg]

I'm Episcopalian, so wine and beer would get me there.

 

[aerodawg.sixpack]

Authenticity really. I might have the worst luck ever, but the last two churches I attended had some pretty big drama go down involving the preachers themselves. The first one called out members by name and shamed them for voting to allow liquor and beer sales because it was still a dry county. He was transferred very soon after. The last involved the married preacher and a deacon's wife. Same thing happened. I consider myself religious, but incidents like those have made me somewhat cynical. Hopefully there weren't any people in there that were at a point where that turned them away completely.

 

[msugrad2003]

I have always thought it would be a great idea to start a men's group called, Bible and a beer". Nothing crazy. But a chance for men to discuss the Word, our responsibilities as men, fathers, husbands, and most importantly, followers of Christ. LD's beer run would be a great meeting spot

 

[1msucub]

Sound doctrine is the only thing that matters.

 

[RivaDawg]

Sound doctrine is the only thing that matters.

Your "sound doctrine" is my heresy and vice versa.

 

[fishwater99]

A place where you are welcome just as you are. Come as you are!!
We are all sinners in our daily lives. People want to hear a sermon on Sunday that shares the gospel in a way that they can relate to in their own lives. People also want to go to a church where the members really love, care and pray for one another as one family of God. Leave the judgment at the door, none of us are free of sin.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Somewhere you don't have to wear your 'Sunday's best' and a very engaging pastor. I haven't found a church I enjoy where I live now (Methodist) so I go to church with my wife (Catholic). I go to support her basically, because I don't get anything out of it. My favorite pastor I ever had was fresh out of the Seminary, probably late 20s. His sermons were always funny and very, very passionate. His passion is what made me, and the whole community, fill that church up every time her gave a sermon. It was a Baptist too. My parents still haven't forgiven me **

 

[ShrubDog]

Right now I am churchless and have been for a very long time. I still go to a Methodist service a handful times a year. I have been to every kind of church under the sun in numerous states. Out of all of those I can think of two preachers/churches I liked.

Feeling comfortable and hearing the real word is what I cherish the most. A traditional service seems to be my comfort zone not large rock star shows and people waving their hands.

 

[1msucub]

Your "sound doctrine" is my heresy and vice versa.

Meant no offense, friend. Just answering the OP's question honestly.

If the members are following sound doctrine, the church will, by nature, be inviting and loving and benevolent, etc...

 

[RivaDawg]

Meant no offense, friend. Just answering the OP's question honestly.

If the members are following sound doctrine, the church will, by nature, be inviting and loving and benevolent, etc...

No offense taken. When it comes to religion I am pretty "liberal". I think it's more about how you live than what you believe.

 

[Moe Cabelle]

That sounds like any regular "men's club" meeting at a Catholic parish. Okay, maybe not so heavy on the word as some Protestants, but good Christian fellowship nonetheless.

 

[preacher_dawg]

What's difficult is when the church views itself as having "sound doctrine" and becomes prideful in that, in which case, they have lost the "sound doctrine."

 

[msu84grad]

I have been one of those "searchers," I grew up in the largest Methodist church in Mississippi from when I was five years old until after I got back from MSU. I now attend Pinelake Reservoir because in addition to getting a good message from Chip Henderson, the service is based on celebrating our faith in Christ. The biggest problem I had with the UM church is too much procedure and not enough prayer. A church, to me, should be a place that uplifts you each week and lets you feel the spirit. When everything is so planned that you don't need the hymnal to know the words of the hymns or ceremonies (which is what happened to me), then it is time to leave. Faith should be a joy to discover, not meaningless repetition. BTW I consider myself a little bit liberal when it comes to my faith, so that's why I probably will remain a visitor than a member for now.

 

[WayboDawg]

I have been one of those "searchers," I grew up in the largest Methodist church in Mississippi from when I was five years old until after I got back from MSU. I now attend Pinelake Reservoir because in addition to getting a good message from Chip Henderson, the service is based on celebrating our faith in Christ. The biggest problem I had with the UM church is too much procedure and not enough prayer. A church, to me, should be a place that uplifts you each week and lets you feel the spirit. When everything is so planned that you don't need the hymnal to know the words of the hymns or ceremonies (which is what happened to me), then it is time to leave. Faith should be a joy to discover, not meaningless repetition. BTW I consider myself a little bit liberal when it comes to my faith, so that's why I probably will remain a visitor than a member for now.

I'm kind of the opposite I guess. My wife and I joined our local United Methodist Church right after we were married, both of us coming from Baptist congregations that were very unstructured. Granted, each Methodist church I have ever been to is usually its own "flavor" of the UMC, but for the most part I have enjoyed the structure of the service and sermons in all of them. Methodist worship services aren't for everyone, especially if you enjoy more charismatic styles, but my wife and I are both pretty quiet/reserved personalities, so it fit us perfectly. We both get a lot out of a structured/predictable service, and I think our walk with Christ has been strengthened because of the service being a right fit for us.

As for the original question to this thread, I would say that ultimately you should pray and seek God's will about how he wants to use your small congregation. Sometimes we as Christians believe that a small congregation is an indication of a new or failing church, when God may want that congregation to be just the size that it is. Just an example, but one of my relatives has an adult daughter with down syndrome, and her family has attended a small Pentecostal church for several decades now, with her daughter growing up in that church. For them, a smaller church helped their family be more comfortable, and they felt the other members of that small church were going to be more understanding with their needs. My advice is to keep your doctrine sound, your faith real, and allow God to use your church as he sees fit. It sounds like you already have some good ideas as far as outreach is concerned.

 

[dickiedawg]

I don't think radio ads or flyers are moving the needle, at least for me personally.
What separates your church from the 6 around the corner from it? I don't say that to be cynical or to say that there are too many churches, but as a genuine question.
Based on your question, it seems almost like you're approaching this like a business looking for customers, not as if you are trying to meet people's needs in a way they aren't being met.

I read a blog post last week (I don't know when it was written, but that's when I read it) about what people hate about small churches. Big churches can certainly suffer from the same flaws. At the risk of oversimplifying it, it boils down what people are looking for in a church to 6 points:

Innovative
Friendly
Outward-looking
Missional
Generous
Worshipful

http://newsmallchurch.com/i-dont-like-the-same-small-churches-you-dont-like/


I'd love it if my church produced regular mini-podcasts that I could listen to on my way to work or while having my morning coffee or whatever. Not an hour-long sermon or anything but 10 minutes of relevant, thought-provoking or inspirational material.

 

[o_MojoJojo]

From my experience being involved with a very successful mid-sized Methodist church in Alabama: focus more on "love your neighbor" than "you're going to hell if you don't interpret the Bible the way I do." Then, find some mission projects locally, stuff that will help your community. Build wheelchair ramps for the elderly, pick up garbage, volunteer to staff food kitchens or deliver meals to the shut-ins, or grocery shop for them, and make up some church T-shirts and wear those T-shirts when you're out making your community a better place. Get the youth involved...host free kid movie nights at the church so their parents can go out on a date and advertise that to the community--get people in the doors of the church with events and dinners that are non-Sunday morning, non-religious type events. Some of those people will then feel more comfortable, make friends, and they'll come back on Sunday mornings. Then they'll help with local missions, tell their friends, and you just keep snowballing from there...

 

[GoToHellOleMiss.sixpack]

I think it's more about how you live than what you believe.

If your not living what you believe then you're doing it wrong. Yeah, it can be a struggle....but that's the point.

 

[lasher8]

Nothing.

I've gone from being a pastor to being a church planter with about 5 people in the core group. I wanted to ask you guys what would attract you to a church? And what might get you to visit? Word of mouth? Advertisements on radio? Sermons on radio? Flyers on store Windows? Facebook? Meeting me by coming to your door asking for prayer requests? Anything else? I'm looking for answers from everybody, religious and not religious. Thanks in advance.

 

[GloryDawg]

I'm happy with my church.

 

[Bucky Dog]

No judgement but preach the gospel. Make sermons relevant to each person in today's world and make it inspirational. Don't talk down to congregation as the almighty non sinner, be one with them.

I grew up a southern baptist in 70's and early 80's and became disenfranchised with all of the fire and brimstone and he'll and high water, then watching and seeing all of the hypocrisy. I go to Ponelake now and it is because Chip does those things in my first paragraph.

Dont knock on doors around here, maybe in small towns, but I don't think showing up at someone's door unannounced is the way to go. Facebook and word of mouth is the way to go. Community involvement and volunteer work will be a good way to "advertise" the church.

 

[EurekaDog]

Do you want to be a pastor or an entertainer? Seriously.

Entertainment may draw the crowds, but it's not discipleship... and it doesn't edify the saints.
Catering to the tares, doesn't help the wheat.
Free giveaways, free food, lavish productions = human methods = lack of faith in Jesus' commands.
Do you value big numbers (majority of tares) or do you value a strong church (usually, much smaller numbers with a majority of wheat)
Gatherings of the saints should be aimed at teaching, edifying, and supporting the saints, not the tares. Thus, evangelism should not be the primary focus in the gatherings of the saints.
When asked about the strengths of "your" church, do you emphasize the choir, the youth group, etc.? If you cannot honestly say that the leadership (pastor and elders) are individually spiritually strong, the other ministries will not be strong. Making someone an elder "because we need one" is not appropriate and weakens the leadership.

I'll stop there.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

Well, since you asked...

religious and not religious.

Free food and a lack of pressuring me to do, feel, or believe things would make it more bearable when I go for the sake of pleasing a family member. I like stories about why we should be good people and encouragement to do so, but not threats and "because the book says so."

Nothing would make me go on my own. Non religious and all.

 

[121Josey]

If your first goal is to get people "to church" (e.g., to the church) then you're doing it wrong. How would you look for a wife? How would you get a commitment from a 5* player? You need to try on some new hats first. People don't care about the message until they care about the messenger.

And if you aren't living near a Walmart, you're doing it wrong.

ETA: and if you aren't targeting young couples with children, you're doing it wrong.

 

[BiscuitEater]

I have moved a lot but have always been attracted to churches that try to follow the philosophy quoted by Augustine .. “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

My translation .. we agree on major doctrine (salvation through faith, not works; all have sinned, etc) On non-major issues, we can agree to disagree (if you want to be sprinkled instead of dunked, the pastor is fine with it. The point is to be Baptized, not 'how') In all things charity, love and acceptance (the church turns away no one and has several recovery groups; one of which is led by an elder who has himself been in 'recovery' for over 25 years)

 

[xxxWalkTheDawg]

I've gone from being a pastor to being a church planter with about 5 people in the core group. I wanted to ask you guys what would attract you to a church? And what might get you to visit? Word of mouth? Advertisements on radio? Sermons on radio? Flyers on store Windows? Facebook? Meeting me by coming to your door asking for prayer requests? Anything else? I'm looking for answers from everybody, religious and not religious. Thanks in advance.

Locate churches that have grown faster than others and pay a visit. Take note of what they are doing and what they have done. Ask questions. If you feel like their path isn't for you, note what you may copy and move to the next one.

Give some sermons in series. Multiple Sunday's for the main subject of a sermon but break it into specific sub-parts. You would be surprised at some people that may would have skipped a Sunday but wanted to hear the next part.

Market yourself. Can anyone do a website? It's not hard with some of your own website generators. Update it weekly. Develop a logo for your church that identifies and represents you. Look at larger churches and how they developed one. It works for Coca-Cola doesn't it? Put Church directories in papers.... Small add in community paper to announce an upcoming subject of a sermon... make it easy for someone that's not a member to contact u for pastoral advice (separate phone from your own).... Informative and attractive church bulletins....etc. how does a successful local business market itself? Find similar ways to get your name out. Yes you are going to have to deligate some of this to your congregation.

even if it's just you and five people, think big picture now and not as you go.

 

[Bham_Guitardawg]

Know your demographics.
I assume that you planted the church in an area with a particular demographic. What attracts hipsters is different from baby boomers. I wouldn't use gimmicks. Stay grounded in doctrine and meet the physical and emotional needs of people.

 

[aTotal360]

Also need a vow that no one will look at my hypocritical Twitter feed.

 

[sipDawg98]

Obviously your marketing would vary based on your target market.

Me personally, a church that actually appreciates the younger crowd rather than labeling them all lazy entitled millennials. A church that has a great traditional service but also a church that has a great contemporary service. Music is big with me. My wife and I moved to a new city about 2 years ago. We tried our hardest to stick to Methodist churches in town because our beliefs align mostly with Methodism. However, what we ran into all the time was that the Methodist churches down here are full of older people that have apparently half assed implemented a contemporary service just to please the younger people. In return, the contemporary service sucks and nobody knows what they're doing. I've played in worship bands for about 12 years now so it drives me crazy when a contemporary service has so much potential, yet has no leadership from the top.

With that said, maybe just pick one age group and go with it?

I do websites on the side as well if you need any help with that. Just PM me.

 

[dotcomdawg]

Just follow the WWASD? (What Would Andy Stanley DO?) rule.

 

[jaxaldawg]

Fellow pastor and former church planter here. I just PM'd you.

 

[seshomoru]

Don't ask people to come get food. Take it to them.

In other words, go into the community, don't just ask them to come to you. Show them who you are before you tell them who you are.

And a nursery is a bonus.

 

[dorndawg]

This is absolutely 100% not directed at you personally, but my 2 cents: from the outside looking in, starting a new church seems a bit odd to me. Especially in a larger population area where there's going to be most any "flavor" of all denominations, and plenty non-denominations. While I can certainly see how they could start with good intentions/ideas/mission/doctrine/etc & continue on that way, I guess to me it's just as likely starting a new one is about the ego of the "founding fathers", and even more so about the one(s) writing checks. Maybe that's just the one's I've noticed. And I realize every church under the sun started sometime or another.

That all probably sounds more judgmental & cynical than I intend, and again not personal to you preacher, always enjoyed your posts.

 

[FQDawg]

What's a "church planter?"

Does that mean you just go around starting new churches?

If so, and I ask this honestly, are you sure there's a need for a new church wherever you're thinking of starting one? Most places I've been don't really suffer from a lack of religious options.

 

[johnson86-1]

I've gone from being a pastor to being a church planter with about 5 people in the core group. I wanted to ask you guys what would attract you to a church? And what might get you to visit? Word of mouth? Advertisements on radio? Sermons on radio? Flyers on store Windows? Facebook? Meeting me by coming to your door asking for prayer requests? Anything else? I'm looking for answers from everybody, religious and not religious. Thanks in advance.

I'm guessing this is probably the wrong crowd to give you helpful tips, the reason being that I think the group that would potentially got to a new church is fairly limited. As people have mentioned, most places where people on this message board live do not lack for church options. Most will have an option for every major and semi-major denomination, and often multiple choices for each of the major denominations. The potential for new churches to me seems to me to be with people looking for churches more committed to doctrine (know lots of people that have left the episcopal church for this reason, but also know people that have left methodist and baptist churches for the same reason), people that are looking for a sense of community that they don't get from larger churches (either because it's nto there or because personality-wise they are not well suited to finding a smaller core group within a church), people who have been un-churched all their life (and so the idea of walking into a hundred person plus congregation is simply foreign and unappealing, where as being approached by a member of a small congregation seems more like an invitation to a supper club), and people who are simply overlooked by existing churches (typically because they are lower socioeconomic class and somewhat invisible to many of the typically more affluent members of many mainstream churches). It seems to me like the way to hit all four areas of potential is to really focus on good works within the community.

But this is all mostly educated guesses based on my own experience. But I suspect it is similar to a lot of the posters on thsi board.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Depends on the demographics of the area age wise. If there are young couples around with kids nothing will grow a church like good youth programs. Teaching, music, activities etc.. For the older crowd a friendly congregation and church services they can relate to.