Surely you have heard the organizational management idea that you want to get the wrong people off of the bus and the right people on the bus. Well, this is an article on why the right people stay on the bus.
It is a follow-up to the overview article entitled Why People Are NOT Leaving Your Church.
Panic for pastors, staff persons, and key lay leaders is when you hear that a highly dedicated and positive family is moving out of town and thus leaving your church. If they are tithers, the panic runs deeper. But this is nothing compared to the same family leaving the church because they are angry or dissatisfied and joining a nearby church.
The typical congregation would love to emphasize those characteristics of their church that continually cause people to know this is the very best church for them. What are those characteristics? I am not absolutely sure, but here in priority order are the ten my network of ministry colleagues gave thumbs up.
The top positive, healthy reason by far is relationships. People who have deep, strong, long-term relationships that exhibit openness and acceptance within the church are not leaving your church. This is home to them. They want to be a continual part of this church. They are unlikely to consider going anywhere else.
Second, when there is high quality, exceptional preaching and teaching in the church people want to continue to be a part. People want inspiration and information that is clearly presented and fits their learning style. They want to know God’s Word in its written and living expressions.
This is coupled with the third reason. When there is genuine, exciting, engaging, and uplifting worship people want to continue being a part of your church. Life is tough. People want to reconnect with God and one another through authentic worship of a substance, structure, and style that appeals to them.
Fourth, is a strong sense of community, love, and unity. Obviously this compliments the top priority of relationships. I suspect the difference is that relationships are talking about the close network of a person, and community is talking about the overall sense of the congregation. Community in a disorienting world is crucial.
A commitment to and involvement in missional service to the surrounding community and the world is a fifth characteristic. People want to be part of something that is accomplishing something and making a difference in God’s world. Serving others really is part of the atmosphere of love that helps people deepen their own faith.
Sixth, are the opportunities, support, and encouragement to grow as a Christian disciple. You just cannot beat genuine, meaningful disciplemaking as part of the adhesive that keeps people connected. Maturing disciples who serve God by encouraging new people to become disciples are an invaluable resource and love being part of a church that supports them in these efforts.
If the congregation is captivated by an empowering vision of the future coupled with intentional actions to fulfill that God-given vision, then this is a seventh reason people want to remain connected. The joy of being in the center of God’s will for a congregation is a powerful magnet that draws and keeps people.
Eighth, if you teach children to worship God through programs that project a positive Christian faith, then families want to remain a part of your fellowship. Many people feel this is the number one reason. It is a great reason, but eighth is probably its right location. Focus on children because they are worth it, rather than using them as a vehicle to grow the church.
Family heritage within the life of the congregation keeps people. If this is their spiritual home, and that of their family, and especially if some of their relatives were founders of this congregation, then this is a ninth reason for continual connection. These people are often very proud of their family heritage. As long as this pride stays in check, it is a great strength.
Why is it that a sense of God’s leadership rated tenth in this survey? People will remain with a congregation if they have a strong belief that God led them here as their place of worship. People want preaching, teaching, and meaningful worship. To get them to see these as a genuine encounter with the Triune God, however, is more difficult.
Next: Top Ten Unhealthy Negative Reasons People are NOT Leaving Your Church