With the threat of COVID-19 easing, the country continues to take steps toward reopening, however, pastors are now faced with the challenge of encouraging congregants to come back to church.
When the pandemic forced houses of worship to end in-person services, many changed course and switched to online streaming. Some churches adapted successfully while others struggled to conform and had to close their doors for good. Church leaders who survived the changeover say they’re trying to figure out how to grow in-person attendance once again.
Pastor Nate Hogan with The Journey Church in Chesapeake, Virginia told CBN News that the change in church attendance has led pastors to reassess their discipleship practices. “Where before, the number of persons who gather on Sunday was an indication of a church’s discipleship success, that can no longer apply,” he explained.
“Churches must now consider how they create ‘engagement.’ It is the current buzzword in church leadership. It is defined as creating clear pathways for a person to take action in their discipleship journey – whether participating in sacramental worship, doing justice activities (what many call missions), exercising personal spiritual disciplines, or serving the community of believers.” Hogan said prior to the pandemic, attendance at his church ranged between 100-155 people for Sunday service, however, an average of 50 churchgoers typically show up now. READ MORE
