With many churches across the US beset with financial uncertainty due to declining church attendance, it’s easy to see why growing church attendance should be a key aspiration among church leaders. However, growth should be viewed in a more nuanced way. Expanding churches aren’t just those whose pews are packed with attendees. They are also places where congregants are growing in faith and capable of articulating their discipleship as well as sharing the joy of their faith with others. In other words, growth is a multifaceted notion, which makes it hard to measure and pursue. Even so, churches that view growth as a top priority need effective strategies for pursuing it. Technology’s power to help create connections as well as cultivate relationships makes it an invaluable tool that churches should use in their pursuit of growth. The best technology for church growth include:
Social Media
Over 4 billion people (over half of the global population) now use social media. Social media technology allows us to connect with people at any time and with few boundary restrictions. Churches in a quest for growth can tap into social media’s powerful algorithms to reach people (both in their locality and globally) at all times. This means, your church needs an effective social media strategy that can help you connect meaningfully with individuals both in your community and outside your community.
Big Data Analytics Tools
The ability to capitalize on the tremendous amount of data that’s now available increases exponentially, year after year. As society becomes more inclined not only thoughtfully share but also leverage data in all aspects of life, churches should be aware of how to leverage data in useful ways including:
• Use geographic data from online worship resources to determine the ideal location to build a best technology for church.
• Use online user behaviors and search data to assess the potential topics on which to build online content. If there are 20 times more local searches for the keyword phrase “how to find meaning in life” than there are of “church near me,” that should give you an idea about the needs of the people in a particular community.
Information Sharing Platforms
Today, there are numerous and effective ways of sharing free information online. Your church can use these information-sharing platforms to share the gospel, as well as to train members on evangelism.
Conclusion
Over time, social media platforms will likely evolve, smartphones will keep improving, and the processing speed of computers will keep doubling. Your church can leverage all these changes to reach more people and grow attendance.
