Forget about First Time Guests
“Yeah, we don’t really care about first-time guests…”
“Am I actually hearing this correctly?” I thought to myself as I dialogued with a pastor of a thriving church. This comment had me stunned and confused. Unlike the traditional focus on first-time guests, this church's unique approach prioritizes life-stage groups, a strategy that has been the cornerstone of their growth. Since writing The Fold, the focus has been on helping churches convert people from first-time guests to faithful participants. So, what have I been missing? How can a church maintain consistent growth when new families and guests are not the main priority? Let’s delve into what sets this church apart from most churches and how we can incorporate their innovative philosophies into our ministries.
As it turns out, they have a process for first-time guests; it’s just not their focus. Instead, this church focuses on groups, which are at the center of their growth strategy. For most of us, groups are activity-based; they’re a weekly event we go to, something we do, a place we show up to, like a Bible study, basketball, etc. However, this church’s strategy revolves around what they call 'life-stage groups.’ Life-stage groups are not defined by specific activities. Rather, they are grouped by age or stage of life. At this church, you are assigned to a life-stage group, and this group becomes your lifelong community. Think of it more like a graduating class. I will always be in the class of 2007. The older I get, my graduation year does not change. The same people I graduated with will always be my classmates. Life stage groups are the same. It’s a community of people that live life together — each group having an independent identity and defined purpose.
As they do life together (bible studies, outings, community service, etc.), they connect with friends and neighbors. First-time guests find the church via a personal connection from a member of the church. It’s not the traditional guest who was driven to service by a social media marketing campaign. As a result, new families and individuals are invited to church by word of mouth. They are already connected to someone, allowing them to get plugged in a bit faster. As these new guests are plugged into their respective groups, the cycle continues.
In addition to this group’s driven church growth strategy, the church grows because of its ministry initiatives, such as pastoral care and counseling ministries. As people seek help from the church, they are invited to come and participate in the weekly services. The combination of groups and ministry means people build a connection to the church through relationships, a key factor in their decision to stay and contribute to the church's growth.
While this church’s growth strategy may be countercultural to the modern church’s digital strategies, it’s working. When we peel back the curtains and look at why it’s successful, it comes down to impact. The church, through its congregation, shows up for people — creating a place of belonging where discipleship is a primary focus. The church community has a presence in the area, and that presence alone is turning heads and bringing people to Christ. It’s pretty incredible. This strategy not only fosters a sense of belonging and discipleship but also attracts new members through its community presence. It's a testament to the power of group ministry in church growth.
This same group's driven growth strategy isn’t just a fluke. It can be found at the church out of which Jason and I launched Threefold, Gateway Church. Early in the church’s history, groups were everything. You could not leave a church service without someone asking you which group you were in and, if you said none, being asked to join their group. There is something really sticky about creating a culture where groups are at the center. Take a few moments this week to think over what's working in your group's ministry and if it’s having the impact you envision. We have seen firsthand the power of groups and how group ministry is a pillar of engagement for churches.
If you have any questions about groups, group strategy, or anything in general, please shoot us an email at info@threefold.solutions. Not only will we look to answer your questions, but, who knows, your question may become the topic of the next newsletter.
