Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. I’m talking with Chris Pappalardo and Clayton Greene from The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina. Chris is Editor on the Creative Arts team and Clayton is the Summit Collaborative Director. Have you started planning for Christmas yet at your church? Are you looking for a way to help […]

Nurturing the Spirit of Advent with Families at Your Church: Chris Pappalardo & Clayton Greene on the GoodKind Approach

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Setting Roots, Spurring Growth: Thriving New Campus Location Growth with Aaron Stanski & Aaron Mora

The Discipleship Opportunity: Blueprint for a Post-Everything Church with Daniel Im

The Staff Health Puzzle: How Central Christian Operationalizes Alignment with Joe Platania

This is part four of an ongoing series where we explore the “Goldilocks growth rate”—a concept aimed at helping churches grow at a pace that’s impactful yet sustainable.



Understanding the Goldilocks Growth Rate



The Goldilocks growth rate is all about balancing rapid growth with the ability to effectively integrate new members into your church community. The goal is to grow faster than the natural population increase in your community while avoiding burnout among your team. To maintain momentum, churches must address the inevitable 15% attrition rate caused by people moving away, disagreements, or life changes.



Three Crucial Metrics




15% Attrition Rate: This is a baseline assumption. Every church loses about 15% of its members annually due to various reasons.



3% Documented New Guests Weekly: For a church of 1,000, this means capturing contact information for 30 new guests each week.



26% Retention Rate: Retaining 26% of new guests to become regular attendees is essential. This helps achieve an overall growth rate of 26%.




When these metrics are met consistently over 1,000 days, a church can effectively double its size.



Focus on the Front Door



Many churches concentrate on retention (the back door) but often overlook the importance of attracting new visitors (the front door). Most churches need to increase their efforts on inviting and documenting new guests to ensure sustainable growth. Simple yet effective strategies to enhance your church’s invite culture include:




Shareable Weekend Teaching: Make your weekend messages compelling and easily shareable to encourage congregants to invite their friends.



Eventful Big Days: Leverage special events like Christmas and Easter when people are more likely to invite their friends.



Captivating Online Conversations: Engage with your community online to spark discussions and keep people connected.



Magnetic Community Service: Organize community service events that attract both volunteers and attendees.



Appealing Volunteer Experience: Create volunteer opportunities that are enjoyable and fulfilling, encouraging participants to invite others.




Resources to Boost Your Church’s Growth



To support churches in these efforts, we offer two key resources:




“Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture“: This book provides a primer on the five gears of invite culture, offering practical examples and strategies.



Church Growth Incubator: A year-long program featuring bi-monthly calls, quarterly intensives, and two in-person retreats to equip church leaders with the latest research and proven tactics for growth.




Success Stories and Proven Results



Churches participating in the Church Growth Incubator have seen remarkable results, with an average of 4.22% documented new guests weekly, far surpassing the 3% target. This significant increase translates to over 2,000 new guests annually for a church of 1,000 members, showcasing the effectiveness of sustained, strategic efforts.



Read the Book



Unlock the potential of your church’s invite culture with our latest book, “Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture“. This book is designed to be a practical guide for you and your team, offering a primer on the five gears of invite culture. Packed with actionable examples and strategies, it’s an essential resource for any church leader looking to make a real impact. You can purchase your copy at unlockinviteculture.com or on Amazon.



Join the Cohort



Take your church growth strategy to the next level by joining the Church Growth Incubator. This year-long program includes bi-monthly calls, quarterly intensives, and two in-person retreats, providing you with the latest research and proven tactics for growth. Collaborate with like-minded leaders, gain direct access to expert advice, and see measurable results. Interested in joining? Email me with the subject line “Church Growth Incubator” to secure your spot this summer. Let’s work together to achieve your church’s growth goals!

From 1,000 to 2,000 in 1,000 Days: Most Churches’ First Steps

Beyond Accessibility: Gail Ewell’s Vision for Church Inclusivity

unSeminary Podcast

Nurturing the Spirit of Advent with Families at Your Church: Chris Pappalardo & Clayton Greene on the GoodKind Approach

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