Equipping Congregation to Reach Missing Congregants?

[KingDominick]

I recently began pastoring a small congregation. The pastor before me did a lot of things that hurt many people in the church, causing several to leave. During the interim time, feelings were further hurt by well-meaning church members. I've been here several months now, and I'm looking for a practical tool to equip members of the church to reach out to people who have left the church.

One idea I'm kicking around is a post-card campaign. The church would print off post cards and we could encourage the church to send to missing members. If each missing person received 3 or 4 cards (hopefully even more) I think it would make a statement to that person that says "this congregation cares about me."

Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[gideon123]

see my reply under Missions and Evangelism.

blessings,
Gideon

 

[parsley]

It's important to make it as personal as possible. If the cards look too contrived, the recipients will feel even more alienated.

I visited a church once where the sermon was on mutual support. At the end, they directed people to go hunt for little notes around the church, that people had pre-written.

Dozens of generous people had thoughtfully written kind and warm letters -- more than enough for each person attending. I unrolled mine and the warm appreciation soured as I read statements like "I will be there for you whenever you need anything." On and on. Unsigned.

I felt like finding out who it was, and giving them a call -- I need something-- just to test their sincerity.
What started out a nice gesture, with an inspiring sermon, left me feeling lied to and condescended to. I felt less supported than when I arrived not knowing anyone.

So... yes, it's a good idea. Just make sure it appears authentic.

 

[circuitrider]

I'm not saying you shouldn't invite back members who left but, I think you will find it is a lot easier to get new members than it is to get old members to return who have had hurt feelings.

You can spend a lot of trying trying to get back to where the church was instead of going forward with new people who weren't involved in all the conflict to begin with.

 

[Autumnleaf]

How about you pick up the phone yourself and lead from the front. Call these people yourself if you would lead them. Don't delegate such an important thing... unless it really isn't worth your time to handle personally.

 

[circuitrider]

How about you pick up the phone yourself and lead from the front. Call these people yourself if you would lead them. Don't delegate such an important thing... unless it really isn't worth your time to handle personally.

You are right. A phone call directly from the pastor is invaluable for talking to lapsed members. If they the pastors calls then she/he cares and they know it.

They still may not return but you have your best bet of making a positive contact doing it yourself. If you then have others to follow up that is great.

 

[freebiblelessons]

This sounds like a good idea...but I am more inclined to agree with circuitrider. Reach lost people...those people that left are probably still following God. Get some new baby Christians in there!

Doing this will build excitement and likely bring back your old members.

 

[parsley]

Usually people leave because they feel their voices weren't respected. You could have small group meetings where people are invited to make suggestions. Limit the group sizes to ten so it doesn't look like an annual meeting. Just invite them to vent, and take notes. It can be a healing ministry just to offer that kindness to them.

 

[Lovemybliss]

Definately do outreach to "baby" Christians, but for those members who left I think a phone call from the pastor would do so much more than attempting to equip your congregants.

 

[circuitrider]

Definately do outreach to "baby" Christians, but for those members who left I think a phone call from the pastor would do so much more than attempting to equip your congregants.

It is the most effective. But the sad truth is that most people who leave a church don't return. They are more likely to go to another church or no where at all.

 

[tturt]

Whether they expressed a desire to return or not, I would ask them to forgive me - since you are now the main church representative.

 

[circuitrider]

Whether they expressed a desire to return or not, I would ask them to forgive me - since you are now the main church representative.

I might ask someone to forgive the church. But I don't see that I take on the sins of my charge when just because I become their pastor.

 

[cling2thelamb]

My first thought when reading this is what I would do. I would get with folks in the church as I build relationships with them and then just tell them you're wanting to reconnect and build relationships with those that have left. If you can find out where they work or give them a call and don't try to do the work then..just ask them if you can meet with them one day. Invite them to dinner or something. Get some face time and show them that the church their friends are still at..has a leader that they can get along with and trust. Pray and God may even have you apologize on behalf of the church. Reconciliation could be soon to follow.

 

[parsley]

You might also put it in the form of a survey. Provide a dozen checkbox questions, with plenty of room to write paragraphs, and enclose a SASE. People leave for very diverse reasons, and it would be worth finding out what these were.

Reasons I have heard for people leaving:
- Medical hearing problems that caused music amplification to be painful
- Too many hours in the dark (with projection systems)
- No one talked to them (very common)
- No programs for children, strict SS teachers, irrelevant lessons (cutting out sheep)
- Times of services
- Church focus on requests for money
- Feeling burned out, doing too much volunteer work with no affirmation or compensation
- Employer requiring work hours on weekends
- Relocation, or too far to drive often
- The pastor did not let them implement any committee plans-- needing creative freedom
- Dangerous facilities: ice on the parking lot, walkway brittle, bathrooms dirty, doors not reliably unlocked/locked, strangers wandering through the building.
- A few rude people made critical or unscriptural statements, and it appeared that the whole church was saying it or stood behind those doctrines.
- Gossip out of hand.
- Too much drama, when they wanted the church to be a place of refreshment and inspiration after a busy week.