Is it a good news, bad news thing? No. In the last several weeks our church website has done very well in terms of traffic. We’ve had a great number of visitors that includes several return visits. The word is getting out and people are responding. Now, your searches should lead you straight to our link. At this point, I’m not sure what venue has been the most beneficial for advertising. No method we’ve implemented has been anything over the top. I put in a usual church newsletter article, have kept a segment in the bulletin, put the address on the church marquis, placed the website in my email signature and also used Twitter. These are free, almost effortless ways I have used to display the site.
Conversely, this site has seen a decrease in traffic. I’m not comparing the sites. They have their own place and purpose. This decline has stretched over the last couple of months; Oak Haven’s site has only been up for about four weeks. The church website is new and I’ve made intentional efforts to get people to visit. I haven’t done that for this blog lately. More to the point, I haven’t consistently added any content. That is a duh! fact of blogging reality. Search for ways to build websites and you will most likely find a common rule found in many places. If you aren’t giving readers anything worth their time they won’t visit your church….website.
Ah, shall we? Why aren’t the doors of our churches being overwhelmed by guests and newcomers? Here’s an over simplistic opinion. Maybe they feel Church has nothing to offer. Regarding those who say they have faith in God and Christ, if people thought they were missing something they would be there, right?
I’m not suggesting we try to appease every person and the social group they belong to. However, learn a lesson from this little blog: if we aren’t trying to address needs, build connections and offer Christ what more can we expect but for people to stay away or remain uninvolved? I have my excuses of why I haven’t done such a great job with this blog. What excuses do our churches have?
At Oak Haven I’ve informed our leaders it is time to get out in the community and knock on some doors to introduce ourselves. Our community doesn’t know us. A lot of churches, I think, are set up in similar ways. There is a desire for growth; we want others to join us. But we aren’t doing anything differently than what we have been doing (which apparently hasn’t “worked”). Also, we are not ready to have an influx of new people in our congregations. We’re just hoping to get them there and that they will want to stick around.
The next thought I will offer the leaders is: What do we expect to happen when those in our neighborhoods start showing up? In other words, how do we demonstrate our desire for spiritual growth? That is what we’re concerned about, right? How many times have you heard that from a small church? “Well, numbers aren’t important” or “We’re not growing in numbers, but spiritually.” That’s fine to say and even build on. How much do the current activities of most churches truly reflect that ideal?
All this is to suggest that we should be looking for ways to expand how we are making disciples. And please don’t forget about those who are already in your church. Actually, that’s the place you should probably begin. It isn’t just newcomers that need to grow spiritually. Yes, you and I need a little work here, there and everywhere.
Don’t let it be daunting. Take it one disciple at a time. And let it begin with whoever is reading this right now. Stay blessed…john
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