There is no easy way to create growth in a church. Growth is the result of a cooperative effort between the Lord, church leaders, and the members of the congregation. The needs of each congregation are different and because of this there is no “one size fits all” approach to guiding a church toward growth. It is unlikely that a leader will find a three or five step plan that they can implement once they identify the needs in their congregation. That being said, in this article I have a suggestion to offer that I think will help contribute toward creating growth in a local church. In fact this suggestion has the potential to help foster vitality in a number of areas that churches typically struggle with.

If you are a pastor or church leader, church growth is probably one of your concerns. In one church the concern may be increasing the number of people who attend services. In another congregation there may be concerns about increasing financial giving. In yet another church, leaders may be interested in pursuing a more effective way to create genuine disciples of Jesus Christ. A pastor may very well have concerns like these even if he or she is in a healthy, thriving church. The reason of course is that as believers we know that things can always be improved. With God there is always more!

As we begin our consideration of this subject we must acknowledge that God is the one who ultimately causes the church to grow. After the large influx of new converts on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, we are told that it was the Lord who daily added to the church (Acts 2:47). The apostle Paul tells us that God is the one who causes growth; in 1 Corinthians 3:6 he pointed out that though he planted and Apollos watered, God was the one who prospered their labors and caused growth. Jesus also told us that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). All of these texts confirm the same truth. In fact the mission of the church cannot be carried out without divine help; Jesus said believers need the power of the Holy Spirit in order to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8). 

But it is also clear from Scripture that believers have some responsibility for the growth of the church. As Christians we are called to apply ourselves to it; we are called to be disciples and make disciples (Matt. 28:19) and to witness for the Lord (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). We are also called to build up the church by using the spiritual gifts that the Lord has entrusted to each of us (1 Cor 12:7, 11; 1 Pet. 4:10). In order to do these things there are investments we need to make; we need to invest time, commitment, and money.  

Many things have been tried in order to bring about growth in churches. Some churches have put an increased emphasis on prayer and fasting. Others have started programs like “bring a friend to church Sundays.” Still others have started visitation programs. In order to introduce or bolster these emphases many pastors have crafted sermon series to address the needs of their particular congregation. These sermons may focus on prayer, Bible study, evangelism, discipleship, or financial giving. All of these things are good and have a biblical basis. I am sure that many have seen positive results from pursuing improvement in these areas. I say this somewhat confidently. First, because all of these things are near to the heart of God; stated differently, they are His will. Second, as people intentionally pursue His will the Lord will honor that. However, I have another thought to offer, one that you might not normally think of: Send the members of your congregation on a mission trip! Of course they all can’t go but some can.

This may seem like a strange idea to you, but please bear with me. I believe there is great benefit in mission trips both for the individuals who go and for the rest of the congregation. If you want to change your own life or the life of your church for the good, encourage your people to take a mission trip. In fact, if you can, plan one from your church. If possible set up a fund to help people who want to go but cannot afford it on their own. It does not have to be one large group that goes. Small parties of two or three who perhaps go to different locations will also work. The important thing is to get momentum in this direction. If you are a pastor or leader it is important for you to take the lead in this. By that I mean it is important for you to be one of the people who goes on one of these trips. 

In selecting the destination for the trip, pick a place that is ethnically and culturally different than most of the people in your church. Also, make sure that the people have something to do when they get there. It does not even have to be evangelism but it should be some kind of Christian service. People could work with orphans, be involved in a construction project, or, if qualified teach in a church or Bible school. In view of the need to have some type of ministry lined up, it is important to have a contact in the host country. If you do not have such a contact I would suggest working through connections that your denomination may have. Be assured there are opportunities out there! You might say, “How will sending people from the church I serve help my local church grow?” I will answer that question below.

Stepping out into the world is a venture that will be blessed because it is dear to the heart of God. God loves the world (John 3:16) and has given the church a worldwide mission (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8); this includes caring for the physical needs of people as well (Matt. 25). God’s desire is for the nations to worship Him (Ps.33:8; 117:1). Engaging the world is something that God wants done. If we do this there are other benefits that we partake of as well.

The desire of many pastors and congregations is to make an impact on the world. In order to do this the church needs prayerful, dedicated, and giving disciples of Jesus Christ who take action. Paul and his companions did not turn the world upside down by sitting in the church in Antioch (Acts 17:6)! A mission trip has the potential to enhance the spiritual life of any believer who will go with a willing heart. A mission trip will create, or foster, spiritual vitality in the life of the individual. This exposure to the mission field can potentially increase the devotional life of the participant. It can also expand their vision and capacity to serve (some may even receive a call to missions through this experience). These positive changes in the lives of the participants can impact the whole congregation when the missionary team reports back to the church to share their experiences. 

I was not always a fan of missions. When I was a relatively new Christian I did not like hearing that we were going to have missionaries visit the church. When they visited I knew the service would not be what I was used to and wanted. There probably would not be a regular sermon. What there probably would be instead was slides and stories from the mission field, which I had little interest in at that time. God loved the world (John 3:16) but I was focused on my little part of it and did not really want to know about the rest. Later in life I still did not take much of an interest in missions because I still focused on my little part of the word and I was afraid of flying (I never took an airplane until I was in my 50s). Having people from another culture in the church I pastored helped change that.

I have come to see that there is great value in being exposed to the church in another culture. These brothers and sisters may be far removed from us geographically but they are part of the one body with us (Eph. 4:4). They have much to teach us. For example, I visited a country in Africa that was very poor. When I was asked to write a brief statement for a mission report I said that one of the things that impressed me about this African nation was the great joy that these African believers had, even though they did not have much of the world’s goods. They proved the truth of James 2:5 which says that God has caused the poor of the world to be rich in faith. I have also been to a country in Asia. The vibrancy of the church there is truly amazing. Their tenderness and zeal for the Lord is, in fact, convicting. Experiences like these can deeply impress the members of our congregations. If you want to impact the world and positively impact your church consider planning a mission trip. 

John P. Lathrop is a graduate of Zion Bible Institute and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is an ordained minister with the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. He has written articles and book reviews for a number of publications including: the Pneuma Review, the Africanus Journal of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Christian Trends Magazine, in India, and  Berita Mujizat and Jurnal Jaffray, both in Indonesia. He is also the author of four books.