44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance [Paperback]

Lyle E Schaller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1987

Are you still suffering over the sight of empty pews? Have your efforts been more than exhaustive in expanding your congregation? Have you maximized your brainstorming potential for bringing in new members?

If you have reached what appears to be your limit, then no longer fret, 44 Ways To Increase Church Attendance can open the doors of both your church and mind. With proven techniques for building a body for Christ, church leaders can increase their membership and then free themselves to focus on other important missions for God. Schaller's suggestions will energize leaders and put their churches on the road of abundance.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Abingdon Press (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0687132878
• ISBN-13: 978-0687132874
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for the church leader looking for ideas, January 20, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance (Paperback)

I frequently tell my students who are preparing for church ministry, "If Lyle Schaller wrote it, sell your shirt, buy it, and read it." This is especially true of his "44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance." What Schaller has done is provide the reader with the equivalent of a cafeteria. He lists a multitude of ideas from the simple (plan more "special" services) to the complex (adding an additional worship service). Like moving through the line at a cafeteria, you choose the ideas/entrées that appeal to you. Will all the ideas that Schaller suggests work in your situation? No. But some will. As is usually the case for Schaller, the good information is presented with his flair for illustrating with stories. A good read! K. David Hines, Chair, Department of Religion, Mount Olive College

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great idea for growth, April 9, 2000

By 

Luquillu (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance (Paperback)

FIRST. The book is great in presenting a variety of good ideas that many times are forgotten by congregations as time goes by, and these ideas hold the key for the initial and continuous growth of a congregation. Is a book that applies to any faith or Christian denomination. SECOND. This book presents more than wonderful ideas. Brings the concept of status quo. Are we really interested in growing? Do we really mean this? Or do we say this but are really happy and confortable the way things are. THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING POINT, A POSSIBLE REALITY. Something to think about. THIRD. Finally, the book presents suggestions in what to do next. One thing is to identify ideas, but selling those to a group, happy in the status of current affairs is difficult. What to do, so that ideas will not be simply set aside again. In summary: Great book, don't think twice, buy one for you, your pastor and the management group. We need to take literally and seriously the Great Commission of the Lord (Matt 28:19-20).

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I've tried these ideas and they work, August 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance (Paperback)

I've been able to use many of the ideas Schaller presents here quite successfully in my parish. Another book that I'd recommend as a companion to this one is Entertaining Angels: Hospitality Programs for the Caring Church by Elizabeth Rankin Geitz. It contains a great 6-session workshop to introduce the biblical reasons for church growth as well as the practical tools to do it. Geitz's book is a great companion to Schaller's, giving more ideas than any one church can use.