Hey all,
Hope you are enjoying this brisk morning. Sherry and I got up early this morning to work out and because we both had places to be early we didn’t get to enjoy our morning coffee on the back porch but we would have needed a blanket that’s for sure.
Today is not really a “rewind” but more of a “forecast.” We are headed towards the annual business meeting in November as our church “business” calendar runs November to October. We will soon begin a new year and it will be the first “year” that I will be with you from the start! Sherry and I came in January and you were already two months into your church year.
I want to thank you all for the gift card yesterday as part of pastor appreciation month. I have a surprise for you all next Sunday as part of my appreciation for the church! You all have been open to new things and new ideas for which I am thankful. When I was a head coach in football or even track, at the end of the year we would do an evaluation of the things we accomplished, what we didn’t get done and if we needed to change our processes or our goals. With that in mind I want to share with you some markers that are widely recognized for “healthy churches.”
Healthy churches are those that are those that have the greatest staying power and don’t have to fear aging out or closing. According to research, these are keys to the revitalization of the church as we move forward:
1. The number of children and students in a healthy church. Of overall attendance, 1 in 5 should be children and 1 in 10 should be students (HS/MS). It is said that in a healthy church, one-third should be under 18 years of age.
2. Small groups and discipleship. It is said a healthy church has 60-80% of its overall attendance in small groups. The Southern Baptists, where Christian Ed is a priority, have always held that 70% is healthy.
3. The conversion ratio in a healthy church, There should be 1 conversion for every 20 people for average attendance on Sundays.
4. Year-over-year growth. Most churches took a great hit in the COVID year but since then has the church grown? From 2020 to 2023 has the church grown?
5. One area we excel in is per capita giving. The median average amount for giving in a healthy church is approximately $33/attendee. Off the top of my head figuring on our annual projected giving, with 60 people in attendance, we are averaging in the neighborhood of $50/attendee per week.
After reading that, you might expect me to push even a little more next year in terms of outreach! Surprise, huh! Remember, when we gave our lives to Christ, our lives became his and his mission which was to “seek and save the lost.” It is no longer about “I” or “me.”
Next week, I want to look at the expectations of a member in healthy growing churches. Some of those thoughts might not sit well with you but if we want to see MABC grow and thrive not just now but so that our legacy is a church that is alive and well in 10 years…20 years…30 years…then we will need to at least have some hard discussions!
Pastor Rick