Church Attendance Has Taken a Huge Hit (Across the Board)

[Littlelambseativy]

Why were the “old” hymns rejected as out if date and step with the young? They tell the message of God’s love, sacrifice, forgiveness, protection, etc. in such beautiful ways despite our own stubbornness, longing, sin, and pain, yet knowing that we are not alone but we have a parent, a loving Heavenly Father and Saviour who is there no matter the heartache or joy of life. All missing in the modern ‘ don’t offend’ songs and repetitive phrases sung to music that cannot touch the soul like the “old hymns” born of heartache, tragedy and hope. All that changed to bring in the young…but the young did not come. Why? They went to certain churches…what else did they want? What is missing in today’s churches? We do not talk about sin, the end times….yet is that not what we as Christian’s have answers for? Why are we afraid to tell what is coming? Churches have lost members and they are seeking answers wherever they can…whether right or wrong they will find answers..to salvation and joy eternal or emptiness and damnation.

Yes... I am frustrated with church leaders and the mainline churches that had the members and finances and now are closing churches and selling not only the brick and mortar but losing souls. These pious leaders have much for which to answer.

[Fidei Defensor]

26 minutes ago, Littlelambseativy said:

Why were the “old” hymns rejected as out if date and step with the young? They tell the message of God’s love, sacrifice, forgiveness, protection, etc. in such beautiful ways despite our own stubbornness, longing, sin, and pain, yet knowing that we are not alone but we have a parent, a loving Heavenly Father and Saviour who is there no matter the heartache or joy of life. All missing in the modern ‘ don’t offend’ songs and repetitive phrases sung to music that cannot touch the soul like the “old hymns” born of heartache, tragedy and hope. All that changed to bring in the young…but the young did not come. Why? They went to certain churches…what else did they want? What is missing in today’s churches? We do not talk about sin, the end times….yet is that not what we as Christian’s have answers for? Why are we afraid to tell what is coming? Churches have lost members and they are seeking answers wherever they can…whether right or wrong they will find answers..to salvation and joy eternal or emptiness and damnation.

Yes... I am frustrated with church leaders and the mainline churches that had the members and finances and now are closing churches and selling not only the brick and mortar but losing souls. These pious leaders have much for which to answer.

Yeah who knew The Seeker Friendly Movement would lead to closures? (Sarcasm). If one builds a Church on trends and what’s popular, then no one should be surprised when that church founded in the sand sinks when the waves come. 

[Marathoner]

We worship the Lord where we are, doing what we do, for when all things are done as unto the Lord, what does this tell us? 

One of the finest musical moments I've shared with brothers and sisters was in the kitchen washing pots and pans after a communal meal. There was quite a bit of work to do and seeing as how all of us were musicians anyway, it started with striking a stock pot with a spoon. It produced quote a lovely ringing tone...

"It's clean!" 

We managed to weave a musical symphony into the task of laboring in the kitchen. Pots... pans... drinking glasses... everything was an instrument. Just as the crockery is our instrument, so too are we instruments of the Lord.  

[TJGospels]

As a brief update, I'm completely burned out with just about every "local" church I've attended. 

When I drive out of town, there are certainly far better services to be sure, but even there, attendance has taken a very big hit. Services which used to be filled are now near empty auditoriums in some cases, often only a quarter full. 

Every church I've attended locally and out of town is very seriously compromised. As in, none are really christian churches with serious pastors. Mainly, the pastors are grinding away tending to their oldest, most devoted followers who keep the coffers filled (mostly). 

[Starise]

TJ What boxes would you check if you could have everything you were looking for?

[TJGospels]

Anyone looking for a wonky, feel good counter at this point is engaging in wishful thinking. 

Attendance TANKED over the past 2 and a half years. And it will not recover anytime soon. The most likely scenario is that churches bleed more and more members and attendees over time. 

They've capitulated to a far greater degree than they needed to (which was not at all), and deliberately attempted to keep members aways physically so what else could they have expected?

Even with their emphasis on revenue vs substance, they still can't seem to make wise decisions. 

A few mega churches will remain, maybe for 20 years, maybe 30, but they've already shown their weak underbelly. They are willing to close their doors at the drop of a hat. They are literally willing to lose 19,000 attendees on the pointless whim of corrupt government officials. 

When returning in 2021ish, churches had dropped so sharply in what they could or would offer, it was chilling. 

The only option now is to watch the slow decline as the carnival barkers go kaput. And they have no-one to blame but themselves.  

[TJGospels]

On 9/15/2022 at 8:40 AM, Starise said:

TJ What boxes would you check if you could have everything you were looking for?

I'd like to find a church where I'm not overwhelmed by a sense of boredom and repetition before during and after.

Edited October 1, 2022 by TJGospels

[ayin jade]

55 minutes ago, TJGospels said:

I'd like to find a church where I'm not overwhelmed by a sense of boredom and repetition before during and after.

Then you are going to church for the wrong reasons. You want to be entertained rather than worship.

[Dirt Eaters]

On 5/17/2022 at 10:30 PM, TJGospels said:

As you all know, I'v been doing a lot of research on which church I would feel comfortable and enjoy attending. 

I actually think I've found several. The thing is, I'm enjoying attending different churches and seeing if I "click" with one or several. In doing so, I've noticed that just about every church has taken a major hit in live attendance. Obviously, through no fault of their own. However, this does tend to lend a 'somber' rather than festive feel with so many empty seats most anywhere you go. 

Clearly, there are people watching a live stream, watching outdoors in some cases, in their cars, listening to a podcast later when they have time, etc. But when I compare current attendance with photos of from years past, it's hard to ignore the fact that almost every room has far fewer people in 2022 compared to 2020 and prior. 

One of the larger churches in our area is likely down at least by a third. I wouldn't be surprised if live attendance was down by closer to 50%. They claim that there has been no decline if online viewership is counted, but I seriously doubt this claim. This church initiated some severe reductions in staff salary and I doubt that they've been able to recoup enough revenue to return to their previous incomes. It's likely that the pastors were all making at least $100K, as they were all able to afford expensive luxury sports equipment reserved for people in that income bracket. 

I'm wondering what churches are doing to strategize in light of this ongoing and likely future long term decline in attendance and accompanying decline in revenue. Perhaps we all just need to organize christian meetings ourselves, sans offices, buildings and salaries. 

There are many, many, many corrupt churches and I don't feel the least bit sorry for the decline in revenue they experience. However, there are also tons of churches with the highest levels of integrity and those are the churches I feel badly for. I'm hoping these are the churches that pull through these trying times. 

I have been a Christian for just over 4.5 months. And i can tell you a few reasons why church attendance is down.

1st , and in my opinion the most important. There is no somber call to Holiness. Show me one preacher who prays a lot. Who encourages fasting. 

2) Then there is the value of tithing. That seems to have a higher president than hearing the Word.

3) in a time when chuches need to get off thier duff and come together. There seems to be more division than ever.

I can not tell you how many times i have met people who will say, i dont go to a man made church. ( how ridiculous is that statement because they themselves have made a man-made Church)

God calls us His children, we call God father. I think it is high time we get over our petty differances, because the wolves are coming, and we are too consumed with pettiness to stop them.

[Dirt Eaters]

1 hour ago, TJGospels said:

I'd like to find a church where I'm not overwhelmed by a sense of boredom and repetition before during and after.

Are you going to the fun house? Or to worship God ?