Customer Reviews

44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance

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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

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).

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.

I have always liked this book and have given a couple out to pastors who are friends. If you are a pastor or church leaders and don't know what to do to make your church more inviting, you will want this book. It has 44 practical ideas that all churches need to look at. You won't implement them all but all of them make improvements to the quality of your ministry.