Church attendance numbers were already falling—then the pandemic accelerated the trend. Some of the church dropouts maintain their Christian convictions but many do not, as the rising numbers of “nones” (people claiming no religion) shows us. But you probably don’t need to see statistics to grasp what’s happening; if you’re like me, you’ve seen the trend play out among family and friends who were once in the fold but who, for one reason or another, dropped out.
As Matthew Bates observes, ‘Conscious Uncoupling’ from the Church is the New Temptation. He offers a helpful analysis of the trend and a hopeful look at what returning might look like.
As crucial is as it to call back those who leave, it’s equally important to encourage members to stay. Making Members Stick is a 19-page resource that explains why many church attenders never commit or drop out over time. The solution isn't to compromise and drop to the lowest common denominator. Rather, you must make your church a healthy place where believers thrive.
