Five Ways to Bring Families Back to Church . . . Eventually

— VIEWPOINT —

By Lianne Pierce

Until a year ago, I had attended church services pretty much every week my entire life. I was the new mom who brought in her 3-day-old newborn. I valued corporate worship on Sunday morning in a building, learning and being with other Christians. Because of that, it amazed me how unconcerned I was when everything shut down and the church I was working for decided to follow state recommendations and stop meeting physically in the building for a while in the spring of 2020.

In the process of making videos for children, organizing Google meets, and calling parents to check in, I better understood why I wasn’t so concerned. Meeting in person on Sunday ended (for a time), but my relationship with Jesus did not. I realized that meeting in a building on Sunday is not the most important thing. It is good. It is helpful in growing and learning and being a community, but it is not the most important thing.

I also discovered five healthy ways to view people who are not physically at the church building, along with ways to help bring families back.

1. Assume people who are not at church services have the same amount of faith as people who are there. There are many reasons people in a relationship with Jesus do not go to church services. (That was the case even before the pandemic.) Maybe they or a family member were hurt by the church or someone in it. Maybe they can’t find a church that represents Jesus the way they know him. Or maybe the reason is a pandemic, and they are concerned about getting sick if they attend services.

I read an article from a prominent church leader who seemed to say we should forget the people who aren’t coming to church because they aren’t strong Christians anyway. In my opinion, this is not the way to approach people who do not attend corporate worship each Sunday. Instead, let’s assume they have a strong and growing relationship with Jesus just like those who do attend each week.

2. Stay in relationship with people who were regular attenders in the past but stopped for a big known reason . . . like a pandemic. Give them a call, text them, or email them every once in a while. Ask how they are doing; engage in what you know. Ask them how they are growing and what they are learning. Maybe they will tell you about how they are listening to three different church sermons every week, are reading a good book, and have decided to read through the Bible as a family.

Maybe they will tell you they joined a Zoom Bible study and that their group has prayed and cared for each other from all over the world for almost a year.

3. Don’t invite them to the church building on Sunday. I know you want them to come to church services. You want them to experience what you do at church and to be growing and learning. Eventually—after you have listened to them a dozen times—then you can ask what would make them more comfortable coming back to church. You can let them know about opportunities to give and serve and grow at your church. For example, you might say, “I am glad you are enjoying our online service. . . . I wanted to let you know that we are doing a food drive to help a local mission—you are welcome to drop off food at . . .” Or, “We have a variety of small groups, if you are interested. We have options that meet inside, outside, or online.” Mention how your church currently follows CDC guidelines with regard to mask-wearing, and that it wants to prioritize protecting people at all in-person activities.

4. Assume they are still part of your church. Unless someone tells you they have left, don’t automatically count families out if they are not in a seat on Sunday morning. Include them as part of the church. One of the most unwelcoming things leaders can do is to “count out” people who want to be involved at church but are not able to at the time.

5. Pray for them. After you open up regular communication, ask families how you can pray for them. Maybe someone has changed jobs, is dealing with a family illness, or has lost a parent or grandparent. Regularly praying for people connects you to them and keeps them connected to the church.

Lianne Pierce grew up in the ministry and earned two degrees from Cincinnati Christian University. She has spent the last 15 years working with children and families in public school and church settings.  She is currently home with her two children as they navigate life in a pandemic.