Pastor, you may have a large crowd of attendees on Sunday morning – and still not have a congregation. The fact is that the crowd must become a church. They must be assimilated. Assimilation is simply the task of moving people from an awareness of your church to attendance at your church, and then to active membership in your church.
The community talks about “that church.” The crowd talks about “this church.” But the congregation talks about “our church.” Members have a sense of ownership. They are contributors, not just consumers.
What you’re battling, in this culture, is America’s rampant individualism. You rarely find “Lone Ranger” Christians in other countries. But America is full of “floating believers” – Christians who hop from one church to another without any identity, accountability, or commitment. They have not been taught that the Christian life involves more than just believing – it also includes belonging. We grow in Christ by being in relationship with other Christians.
Since the incorporation of new members into your church fellowship does not happen automatically, you have to develop a system and structure to assimilate and keep the people you reach.
Before people commit to joining your church, they want to know the answers to five unspoken question.... Read More
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