When Attendance Declines, Don’t Automatically Blow Everything Up
I heard of it happening again not far away from where I live. As is always the case, it led to some hurt feelings and a great deal of confusion, even though I am certain such was not the intent.
It followed a particular pattern that is so often seen. Some program or series of events begins to hit a lull in attendance. Leaders, out of what I believe is typically a great place in their hearts, begin to try to figure out what is going on. And, in an effort to stem the tide of losing numbers, they choose to completely change things up. Basically, they blow up the program or the way things were done.
For example, maybe it is sagging attendance on Wednesday nights for midweek Bible study. Since the numbers aren’t what they once were, and since it seems as if we are not having good attendance among young singles and younger families, we will just abandon the typically “midweek Bible class” method and put in an alternate activity. Maybe we meet for a meal. Maybe we meet for some fun activity with a devotional. But, since it is obvious that people don’t want to come to midweek Bible study any longer, we will just blow it up.
Look, I’m not an elder. I do not know the weight of that responsibility. I am also not saying that it would be wrong to eventually end up having made some major change (so long as it is not trying to change doctrine).
What I am saying is that we too often look for the quick fix and end up with a whole new set of issues by blowing things up. In the example of the Wednesday night classes, what about those who love those classes? What about those families who are bringing their precious children to learn about Jesus?
Here’s a radical idea: when the numbers begin to sag, and we start to think about just blowing things up, how about we step back and ask if we are doing what we are doing to our very best ability! In other words, maybe it is not a lack of interest by some; maybe it is a lack of effort to do our very best with what we are already doing!
Go back to the Wednesday night example. Instead of blowing it up, how about providing teachers with some training and better study materials? How about letting them know far in advance what they will be teaching, so they have time for prayer and preparation? How about advertising and “building up” to new classes in a fresh and new way?
Yes, these take effort, and you may not see much of a change quickly. However, over time, quality typically wins! People begin to hear about how good a series or event of class is. Word spreads about the quality and interest in the event.
And you don’t have to answer all the “why did we change everything?” questions.
It’s not that we keep doing things just to keep doing them. There is a time to kill a program. There is a time to let a program die. There is a time to blow something up.
But those should not be the default. Sometimes, we need to put forward extra effort and do what we do…just better.
(And when we do, those sagging numbers might just “magically” turn around.)
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
