Why is it some churches draw all kinds of visitors, while others never have anyone besides their regular attendees?
My guess is that the answer to such questions was fashioned over a period of time.
Churches with lots of visitors now, started talking about this issue quite a while ago. They wrestled with questions such as, “What is it that keeps our people from inviting others?” These were not just staff discussions; they also involved numerous members of the congregation.
If changes were made in certain areas, would we feel more comfortable inviting friends? For example, is the service too long? Do outsiders feel comfortable when they come? Why or why not? Is the music a positive or a negative? Are the church sermon topics relevant? Do we know how to make people feel at home?
I’m willing to bet that churches where such open and honest discussions were never held, are also the ones that now show little growth. Desperate challenges from the pulpit to “please invite your friends” really don’t help all that much.
Do our people feel comfortable inviting non-Christian friends to a church service? Do they even have non-Christian friends? That could be a significant problem, if they don’t!
With critical matters like this, there is a great need for open and honest discussion between pastors and their people, with the bottom line being workable “how-to’s” that most everyone agrees on.
