BIG TIME CHURCH GROWTH AS EXAMPLED BY ONE OF THE BIGGEST, FASTEST GROWING CHURCH IN THE USA....
My older brother attends this church. It has literally thousands in worship each weekend. I've been to it 3 or 4 times with my brother (although this was at least 5 years ago, it's probably doubled in size since then)..... Here's what is OBVIOUS and could easily be copied by any other church....
1. Have LOTS and LOTS of options. MANY worship times in lots of different venues. People like choices and convenience. Some like crowds, some like intimacy; some like stadium seating and others sofas. Some like it "live" and some on huge video monitors. Some like to drink soft drinks or coffee during worship, some don't. Some want to worship in the morning, some in the afternoon, some in the evening; some on Friday, some on Saturday, some on Sunday. CHOICES.
2. Have a HUGE welcoming area (they call it "The Gathering"). Nice, inviting, HUGE.... Have a welcome desk with lots of information and maps and schedules... and if they've never registered online (giving their name and email addy) they can do it here and get a coupon for FREE Starbucks drinks (any variety, any size) for they and all in their party (This works.... they even bought my info).
3. Have your own full Starbucks. Really nice. Friendly seating inside and out. Big draw. I suppose it wouldn't have to be Starbucks; it could be Peets or something.
4. NO beliefs. They divide and trouble and raise questions. Just don't have any. "We are about love!" "We lift up the God of love!" "We believe in JESUS!" Frown on denominations, doctrine, teachings.
5. Have no morality, just "look in your heart!"
6. Have LOTS of single, good-looking girls (it brings in the boys..... probably works the other way, too). My brother first went to this church as an alternative to the bar scene. He's HARDLY alone. I'd say at least 2/3's of the worshippers are in the 15 - 35 age group.
6. Dress your preacher in jeans and an ahola shirt. Obviously, no pulpit (he must walk around a lot mic'ed). No holding some leather-bound floppy Bible.
7. LOTS of music..... none of which can be found in any Christian hymnal.... done VERY, VERY professionally, complete will all the high tech and background tricks. And (here's the essential thing) LOUD. I don't mean high volumn, I mean shakes the chairs, vibrates the floor, can't-hear-the-baby-crying-next-to-you L.O.U.D. Been to any heavy metal rock concerts???? You got the idea. In your church, you might need to install a couple hundred more speakers but you can do it.
8. Tell the preacher to make the people laugh and make the cry and mention God and Jesus now and then.... but don't teach (It divides, it troubles, it raises questions, it makes you sound like your grandpas church).
9. No Communion. No Baptism. It divides. It troubles. It raises questions. It makes it seem like grandpa's church. Worse, it takes time away from the music. And since they don't do anything, why do them? If you REALLY want to get baptized, go to the Welcome counter and they'll give you the email addy of the Methodist Church across the street.
10. Have lots of studies (that choice thing again). Doesn't matter what the topics are, what the titles are - as long as the first two words in the title are "HOW TO....."
Works. This mega church really brings 'em in.
- Josiah
[Admission: a bit of exaggeration has been employed - but not that much, lol]
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