churchrelevance.com

The Center for Missional Research conducted a study led by Ed Stetzer and Phillip Connor to research what characteristics were shared by growing churches plants. They discovered 10 factors associated high attendance.

1. Location
   >> Church plants that begin in school facilities have some obvious benefits, such as visibility, access, parking, classroom/worship space, and usually low costs.
   >> Longer-term—after the first year—church plants meeting in both schools and movie theaters exhibit higher attendance. They find these locations conducive to reaching people and accommodating continued growth.
2. Ministry
   >> High attendance church plants know that reaching children is one effective way to reach families. Special children’s events such as a fall festival or Easter egg hunt help church plants gain and sustain attendance.
   >> High attendance church plants also conduct block parties as an evangelistic outreach.
   >> High attendance church plants use holidays or other opportunities to attract people and to be attractive to those who are already attending.
3. Promotion
   >> High attendance church plants mail invitations to services, programs, and events. They keep community awareness high, which keeps their visitors, attendees, and members involved and informed.
4. Training
   >> High attendance church plants provide training for new members and communicate clearly the expectation that they participate.
5. Expectations
   >> High attendance church plants require new members to sign a church covenant. They know that it’s imperative for new members to take their commitment to the church seriously as soon as they’ve committed their lives to Christ.
6. Financial
   >> High attendance church plants are very intentional about financial stewardship.
   >> High attendance church planters receive financial compensation and health insurance, allowing them to focus on the church’s growth, not their own basic needs.
7. Staff
   >> High attendance church planters are assessed for their suitability and are full-time, not part- or half-time.
   >> High attendance church plants have multiple staff from the beginning, facilitating steady and more sustainable growth.
8. Missions
   >> High attendance church plants look for missional opportunities and start at least one church within three years of their own plant.
9. Leadership
   >> High attendance church plants conduct leadership training, build their leadership base, and delegate leadership roles to church members.
10. Achievement
    >> High attendance church planters have a vision of what God wants to do, and they don’t get distracted from the accomplishment of that vision.

[via The Christian Post]