Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
People go to church to have their spiritual and social needs met. However, identifying ways to recruit new church members can be a challenge.
For some, finding the right church can be a challenging quest.
People may not know how to find a church compatible with their culture and doctrinal beliefs.
Some people will church shop until they find a church that is the right fit for them.
But what about those people who might be open to joining a church but don’t know how?
Most churches welcome new members but don’t do anything proactively to recruit them.
If people show up, they welcome them, but they don’t necessarily do anything to get them there. This creates a gap between opportunity and met needs.
7 Ways to Recruit New Church Members
1. Community Involvement
As the church, we are called to reach our community.
Churches are called to participate in the community where they reside. Take advantage of community events to interact and socialize with neighbors and demonstrate the love of Christ.
Community involvement not only benefits the community but may also be a great way to expose people to your church.
For example, get involved with blood drives, disaster recovery, or volunteer for community-sponsored events.
Use these occasions to help the community, meet people, and share information about your church and what it has to offer.
2. Host Community Events
Every community has more needs than it has resources. Reach out into your neighborhood by hosting events that help the community and use your volunteers to support initiatives that can better the community.
For example, find a local park or neighborhood and take a day to clean it up or freshen up the landscape.
People need to witness the church demonstrate humble servanthood. And that is done by helping the community in which it resides.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” St. Francis of Assisi
We are the church, and reaching out to our community is how we show others the life-changing experience of our Christian walk.
3. Member Recruitment
Take a few Sundays a year and ask members to invite family or friends.
People tend to do this for Christmas and Easter but take a different Sunday and create a special message geared toward visitors.
Focus on helping them understand the church’s mission and vision and what you are trying to achieve.
4. Create Diverse Culture-Friendly Services
People with hearing impairments or language barriers are always looking for a place of worship that meets their needs.
Target the diverse population in your area and create a church service that not only speaks their language but also honors their culture.
Advertise a hearing-impaired service, have someone available to sign for it, and watch how many people you attract!
Or, if you have a large Hispanic community, dedicate one service to a Spanish interpreted service.
5. Create Interest Based Groups
Saddleback Church sets the standard for creating interest-based groups and ministries that cater to any interest or passion.
Create groups around member interests and have congregants invite their family and friends with like-minded interests to participate. This is a great way to build relationships.
For example, create a golf group for the men and use it as a forum to meet other men in the church.
These kinds of groups will require some structure and oversight, so use a volunteer to help coordinate and train volunteer leaders for the groups.
6. Social Media Outreach
Social media has changed how we communicate and share ideas. Use social platforms to share compelling and thought-provoking ideas.
For instance, share a snippet from a church service, an inspiring Bible verse, or a compelling news story that shares your mission and values.
Create a team to manage your social media and use their skills to create and post content that inspires the community.
7. Host Summer Camps For Kids
Summer is a difficult time for parents. They are always looking for a safe place to leave their children during the summer months.
Host a summer vacation Bible school and invite children within your community.
Make the event something that the kids will remember and host a parent’s night on the last day of the camp.
Have the children perform a song they learned or share the highlights of the event. Use this opportunity to engage with the parents and share other events and church activities that they might consider.
Brainstorm Other Ideas
Use a team of volunteers and brainstorm other ways to recruit new members to your church.
Also, remember to pay attention to those things that church visitors will evaluate as they enter your doors so that their first experience is a great one.
For instance, ask yourself, what adjectives would visitors use to describe our church?
The goal of growing your church should be solely to share the life-changing message of the Bible with people who may not have otherwise been exposed to it.
So, when you engage with your community and provide a compelling message in an inviting atmosphere, you will naturally recruit new church members.
In what ways do you recruit new people to your church?
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