Thanks For Coming!

Dear Pastors

Thanks For Coming!

It is now well known that ‘The Dones’ are a present day reality, certainly in the Western World. The Dones are Christians who no longer go to Church at least not on a typical Sunday morning to a typical conservative evangelical church. I have quite a few friends in that category. They have previously been committed and active in former days but have chosen to opt out. Please note, the Dones are Christians. I have a few other friends who still go but are rather ho hum about it all. Certainly not enthusiastic.

Today I don’t want to diagnose this problem¹ but rather offer a few thoughts that may offer some ideas that will slow the exit down.

1. What is your disposition, Pastor? Are you happy to see people who have come on Sunday morning OR grumpy toward those who haven’t come (and worse still you know they haven’t gone away for the weekend).
   Reality Check. People have choices on Sunday morning and lots of them. Not only are there other activities to choose from but there are other churches in town to choose from and then beyond all that there are a truck load of online options as well. The sooner you express genuine gratitude to the people that have shown up the better it will be for everyone. Why not say every week in your welcome words like “welcome folks and thanks so much for coming” OR “welcome everybody, its so good to see you” OR welcome to this family called XYZ Church, please feel right at home”. OR………..
2. What is the Content of your typical Sunday morning like, Pastor? The research clearly indicates that this is a big issue for all age groups but especially the millennials. Church going folks are far less forgiving these days when it comes to content that is shall we say….sub-par. And here’s the thing. Kiwi’s typically don’t complain. They eventually just leave.
   Reality Check. Focus groups are a great way to get quality and honest feedback. Once a year arrange 3-4 small groups of attenders and at least one group of irregular attenders to answer the question, what do you like about Sunday mornings and where do I and where do we need to improve? If you do this carefully the responses you get are pure gold…….yes pure gold. Pastor, please remember you are immersed in church life day in and day out and it is very easy to end up so close to the tree that you no longer see the forest. Feedback that is invited and initiated by you is so important especially in a day of weakening weekly attendance.
3. Are you squeaky clean, Pastor? This is in some ways a new issue and in other ways its been around for 2000 years. Again, this deserves a much fuller treatment but suffice to say for now I am hearing Christian people say in the light of recent scandals, who is safe these days? Is my pastor morally upright, is he/she above reproach, are the church finances in tip top shape and is there full and honest disclosure? Are my kids and teenagers (and now young adults) safe going to my church? Etc etc etc.
   Reality Check. I hardly need to say it. All is not well in the local church. This is a time for great humility (and even lament). It is no time for hubris. No, this is a time for deep reflection by all pastors, elders and key volunteer leaders, asking ourselves some hard questions. My advise is simple. Do it pastor, please for your sake, the sake of your congregation and for the sake of the testimony of Christ please just do it. Do a heart check, do a audit on your decision making processes, do an audit on your volunteer hours, and certainly ensure that your finances are squeaky clean.

A congregation of God’s people that meets together week in and week out is a beautiful thing……..it really is. Let’s do all we can to ensure it stays that way.

Blessings
Alan

¹ I have previously written about The Dones and I am currently updating my research and writing a longer paper on this subject.