FAITH Communities TODAY ( FACT)

For the latest in what's happening
in the Churches of Christ.

How Our Congregations Reach Out

• Most common outreach strategies are:

• Encouraging personal witness
• Ministerial calls
• Member calling programs
• Newspaper ads or stories
• Gospel meetings
• Special services for the unchurched ("seekers")

Outreach Efforts that Characterize Growing Congregations

• Fastest growing churches use special worship for the unchurched ("bring a friend," "Seeker services") more
• Fastest growing churches use special programs to attract the unchurched (parenting, young singles) more
• Mail ad campaigns are used more often by fastest growing churches

Outreach Patterns of Fastest Declining Congregations

• Fastest declining congregations depend more on less personal approaches (newspapers, radio)
• Declining congregations tend to use member calling programs less
• Declining churches use mail ads less effectively than growing churches