miletwo::network

In the wake of the recent slide, no… avalanche of real estate price drops I’ve begun to wonder what effect the current economy might have on church vitality, growth, and attendance. The question: “To what degree does the failing economy affect church marketing, attendance and giving, and is there anything we should be doing in response?”

Let’s look at the various factors below and see if I’m just a nut job or if there’s something here we should be thinking about.

Attendance

This one has been hard to locate any statistical data for but I wonder, when hard times hit do more people go to church or find faith? If so, it’s reasonable to assume we should be gearing up for an onslaught! I know from personal experience that there are many factors that drive people to the savior. Many times a personal awakening is triggered by unfortunate circumstances so be ready with the gauze and bandages. If you read this article and are a pastor at a church, let me know if you’ve seen attendance numbers affected by economy.

If this theory is true many of those newcomers we’re expecting will likely be looking for healing and not necessarily contributing to the bottom line. Did I just refer to the churches finances as a “bottom line?” Yes I did. The fact of the matter is, while we all know that the real bottom line is how many are saved from falling into the pit, the reality of how many we can reach is often tied very closely to our financial ability to care for them. All I’m saying is, don’t expect a rise in numbers during this period to be tied to an increase in giving. It woud be wise to closely monitor our financial vitality before engaging in new ministries especially those dependent up on budget expenses.

Giving

If the above theory is true many of those newcomers we’re expecting will likely be looking for healing and not necessarily contributing to the bottom line. Did I just refer to the church’s finances as a “bottom line?” Yes I did. The fact of the matter is, while we all know that the real bottom line is how many are saved from falling into the pit, the reality of how many we can reach is tied very closely to our financial ability to care for them. Now don’t think I’m not factoring in an allowance for God to miraculously provide all of our needs as we seek to save the lost, all I’m saying is, don’t expect a rise in numbers during this period to be tied to an increase in giving. It woud be wise to closely monitor our financial vitality before engaging in new ministries especially those dependent up on significant capital expenses.

According to research analysts The Barna Group, the proportion of households that tithe income to their church - that is, give at least ten percent of their income to that ministry - dropped by 62% from 2001 to 2002. In 2001 8% tithed 10% of their income compared to just 3% during 2002¹. Think back for a moment to that period in history and ask yourself what was happening during that time? Fresh off the heals of Black Friday, America saw the systematic elimination of thousands of lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. I remember hundreds of weeping and broken flocking to the church from every corner of our neighborhood. We had a fantastic opportunity to minister to the grieving and saw numbers surge over the weeks and months following that horrific date. That surge in visits created a net effect of only a small number of new members over the next year although the church’s relevance to the community and connection to culture grew at a fantastic rate. This factor, although difficult to quantify, is probably one of the most important outcomes of that period. The church, by being available and prepared for action, made a lasting impact on the community.

Outreach

Again, Barna says that there has been a 92% increase in the number of unchurched Americans in the last thirteen years. In 1991 there were 39 million unchurched Americans compared with 75 million currently². That means there will never a better time to invest in the community than now. Especially in difficult financial times people have real needs that can be met, some of them without spending a dime but others will require funding so plan on being creative in how you finance outreach. Invest in the community and people when they need it most to show them your faith is more than a show.

Conclusion

None of us can tell the future… duh! That said, we can always look to history for clues about how today’s events might affect our future. Regardless of these indicators the best probable course of action is to continue to invest in your community. Be available and compassionate for those suffering through this difficult time and don’t underestimate your impact on the community even though you may not see an immediate (or ever) impact on attendance growth or giving. While the net effect on your church may be minimal, the lasting impact on your community will be long lasting and the impact you have on individual lives will be eternal. You may actually be an improvement in the financial stability of your community and possibly even the region³ by encouraging the growth and development of the people in it. Those people own businesses, work at companies, and live in neighborhoods. The people whose lives you impact may change the course of history and you’ll never even know it until the end. That would still be cool though, huh?

Citations:

1. The Barna Group: Barna By Topic: Stewardship
   http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=36
2. The Barna Group: Barna By Topic: Unchurched
   http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=Topic&TopicID=38
3. The Heritage Foundation: Religious Faith and Economic Growth: What Matters Most—Belief or Belonging?
   http://www.heritage.org/Research/Religion/hl841.cfm