7 Reasons Why Large Churches Get Stuck - Episode 296
May 17, 2023
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Learn practical ideas on how to overcome challenges faced by larger churches approaching the 2-3,000 attendance mark. Challenges faced include complex organizational structures, lack of defined spiritual formation path, too many competing programs, difficulties in multi-site churches, and need for developed systems and strategies. Importance of reaching new people and fostering relationships through small groups. Implementation of a three-step process for transition to a discipleship pathway. Challenges of transitioning to a staff-led structure and clarifying roles and responsibilities between board and staff. Challenge of large churches lacking clear digital ministry strategy and relying on basic online service videos without dedicating resources to digital ministry.
Large churches should develop a unified board that empowers staff to lead the day-to-day ministry, ensuring the right leaders join the board and guide the ministry.
Large churches should clearly define a discipleship path, supported by systems and leadership, and effectively communicate it to ensure people understand their next steps in their spiritual journeys.
Deep dives
Challenge 1: Complex Organizational Structure
Large churches often face the challenge of having a complex organizational structure. Over time, these churches add boards and committees, which can lead to a lack of unification and clarity of roles. To overcome this, large churches should develop a unified board that empowers staff to lead the day-to-day ministry, ensuring the right leaders join the board and guide the ministry.
Challenge 2: Undefined Spiritual Formation Path
Large churches struggle with defining a clear spiritual formation path. In smaller churches, next steps are driven relationally, but in large churches, people may need to take a step before developing relationships. To address this challenge, large churches should clearly define a discipleship path, supported by systems and leadership, and effectively communicate it to ensure people understand their next steps in their spiritual journeys.
Challenge 3: Overprogramming
Large churches often have too many programs and events competing for people's time and attention. While programs and events can play a role in discipleship, research shows that attending them alone does not lead to real spiritual growth. To overcome this challenge, large churches should be intentional in their programming, ensuring that every event is tied to a specific next step or ministry goal, and focus on helping people become more like Jesus, rather than just filling up spaces with events.
Some common issues hold true for churches of all denominations and expressions as they grow beyond 1,000 and face an entirely new set of challenges as they near 2-3,000 mark.
In this episode, we'll discuss breaking the 2-3,000 barrier by exploring the common challenges that hold large churches back from future growth with some practical ideas on how to approach them.
Planning Center is an all-in-one church management system that gives you the tools you need to organize your ministries and give your congregants a place to engage. Go to planningcenter.com and start your 30-day free trial today.
If your ministry has hit a plateau or you feel there’s something holding your church back from the next level of growth, this webinar is designed to help you identify that core issue and find your next step towards health. Register now.
For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode296.
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If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook.
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