April 28, 2025
“Numbers do not tell the whole story about a church or Christian ministry, but they do tell a story.” I have heard those words vocalized for years by one of our well-known Kentucky Baptist leaders, and I agree with him.
For instance, if a church has annual undesignated financial receipts averaging $400K per year and then the next year giving increases to $600K and the following year to $800K and the next year to $900K, there is a story being told through those numbers — a story worth investigating and understanding.
The same is true with the number of people in worship attendance. If Sunday morning worship attendance for a church hovers around 125 for 10 years and then the following year it drops to 70, then there is a story being told by those numbers.
The story could include a nationwide pandemic, the transition of a beloved long-tenured pastor, the closing of a local factory, the deployment of military troops living in the community or something else — but it is a story worth looking into.
One of the great stories in Southern Baptist life today is the number of churches that are experiencing new life as evidenced by increased attendance, greater missions engagement, growth in giving, baptisms, small groups, and more.
But what can pastors, elders and church leadership teams do when church attendance is in decline? Here are some suggestions:
1. Pray and ask God for wisdom: James 1:5 points believers to an incredible promise from God. God will give wisdom to all who ask in faith. James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” Samuel Dickey Gordon, author of more than 25 devotional books, said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” When worship attendance is in decline, consider gathering a group of key church leaders together and pray, asking for wisdom from God.
2. Grieve but do not despair: It is a sad reality when a church building that seats 800 people has only 80 in attendance for Sunday morning services. That building is a resource built to accommodate a ministry helping people connect with God in worship, hear His word preached, grow spiritually, invite friends to hear the gospel and more. It is okay to grieve when attendance is low and there is little sign of gospel multiplication taking place in the church building. But do not despair —80% of your neighbors do not attend any church anywhere, so there are plenty of people you can reach with the gospel.
3. Evaluate your property and ministry: Which part of your facility needs updating? What is the first impression when guests visit your property? Facilities that are clean with greeters who are friendly and inviting will create a positive impression when guests visit your church services. Once the service begins, are the leaders prepared to help congregants worship the Lord, hear His word and respond to His calling on their lives? If the goal of our gatherings is to worship God and make disciples who will advance the Great Commission, then it is completely appropriate to evaluate how we are doing.
4. Invite outside counsel: Proverbs 11:14 reminds the reader, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” In the Old Testament, counsel often refers to a war plan. If the church sees itself as an army of soldiers of Christ engaged against spiritual forces for advancing the mission of Christ, then it may be wise to invite in outside counsel to help a church improve upon its plan. Do not be thin-skinned when you receive helpful feedback.
5. Make the necessary changes: You do not have to change everything about your church or ministry to move forward with greater missional effectiveness, but it is likely you will need to change something. KBC’s own Harold Best, in his “Five to Thrive” training, encourages church leaders to identify one key thing they will do in each of the next quarters to move forward with their ministry. Sometimes a few simple steps can help a church build momentum and begin to see new life.
6. Develop a plan for outreach: Every church must intentionally share the gospel with its community outside the church walls. We are commanded to do so in Mark 16:15 and other places in the Bible. If the only thing you do is go door-to-door to all the homes twice a year and invite people to Easter and Christmas services, then that is a good start.
7. Be faithful and trust the Lord: God builds His church, and He leads and empowers humble and faithful leaders to lead plateaued or declining churches to experience His power in fresh ways. At the end of the day every pastor, elder and ministry leader must seek the Lord, gather needed counsel, implement changes and trust God to make the work flourish.
Imagine a day when every Southern Baptist church is a thriving church and every leader a cared-for leader. What an impact we could have on our state and the world for Christ! May God guide you to hear the story being told by the numbers in your church or ministry, and may He empower you to lead His people to faithfully fulfill His mission.
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Todd Gray is executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. This commentary appeared in Kentucky Today.
