What gets people to church for the first time?

Welcome to Theology Thursday! Theology is the study of God, his relation to the world, and our relation to him; it is "faith seeking understanding." I hope these newsletters help enhance your faith and deepen your love for God and his people, the church.

Today's question:
What gets newcomers to church for the first time?

Pastor Brady's thoughts:
What gets people to church for the first time?

It’s an important question because churches can spend an enormous amount of energy trying to answer it. We design programs, we send mailers, we knock on doors, we improve our websites and social media presence. Many churches gear their preaching, music, children’s ministries, facilities, and everything else toward the hope that someone might say, “I think I’ll give that church a try.”

And some of those things matter. But research on why people attend church for the first time tells a surprisingly simple story.

Only about 6–8% of newcomers attend a church for the first time because they decided on their own. Another 2–6% respond to organized evangelism - things like door-to-door outreach or mailed invitations. Roughly 8–10% are attracted by the pastor or the church’s programs.

But somewhere around 75–85% come because a friend or relative invited them. 75-85%!

That should get our attention.

It means that, for all the things we can build, advertise, organize, and improve, one of the most effective ways to help someone take a step toward church is remarkably ordinary: invite them.

This shouldn’t surprise us when we read the New Testament. When Andrew met Jesus, one of the first things he did was find his brother Simon and bring him to Jesus (John 1:40–42). Philip did essentially the same thing with Nathanael: “Come and see” (John 1:46).

Not everyone is called to preach a sermon, not everyone knows how to explain the doctrine of justification, and not everyone feels comfortable knocking on a stranger’s door.

But every Christian can say, “Come and see.”

That’s the power of personal invitation. It isn’t primarily about having the perfect sales pitch. It’s about relationship.

You already know people who may be far from God. You have neighbors, coworkers, relatives, friends, classmates, and acquaintances who are carrying questions, disappointments, loneliness, guilt, grief, or curiosity about spiritual things.

These people need Jesus, but they may never walk through our doors unless someone they trust gives them a reason to.

Could God be calling you to give them a reason to?

Start by thinking of one person. Not your entire contact list; just one. Who is someone you already know who might benefit from being around God’s people? Who could you genuinely say to, “Hey, I’d love for you to come to church with me sometime”?

Do it!

You don’t have to pressure them or manipulate them, and there’s no need to pretend MCC is perfect. Coming to church won’t solve all their problems, but it could change their life.

And when your guest comes, don’t leave the rest to someone else. Sit with them. Introduce them to people. Help them find the nursery or children’s ministry. Grab coffee afterward. Remember their name. Invite them again.

The goal isn’t simply to get someone into a church building, the goal is to help create an opportunity for someone to encounter Christ, hear the gospel, see Christian community, and take another step toward God.

We should still work hard to make our churches welcoming. We should still pursue thoughtful evangelism and excellent ministry. But the reality is, this stuff isn’t all that complicated. Most people come to church because someone they know asked them to.

In other words, the church grows when Christians open their lives to people who aren’t there yet.

So this week, think of one person. Pray for them. Pray that God would soften their hearts to be receptive to an invitation.

Then, say to them: “Come and see, with me.”

TO KNOW GOD AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN!
- Pastor Brady

Have a question for Theology Thursday? Send an email to office@minierchristian.org and we'll respond, or we'll include in a future Theology Thursday Buffet.