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Each day, about 100 ambulances rush people to our hospital where I serve as a Chaplain. Another 250 - 300 people come through the Emergency Room Waiting Room. Average wait to see a doctor, unless having chest pains, is six hours.Every last one of them is traumatized in some way or another. Just feeling so bad that they have to pick up the phone and call 911, is traumatic. Coming by car, even when someone else is driving, is traumatic too. When someone rushes in carrying a small child, one only has to see the worried look on their face, to know the fear they are having for their child.I am in nearly continuous discussion with people from all denominations, about faith. Even those who list a church affiliation on their entrance papers, when asked about it, most say, Well, we used to go to church but we haven't been in a long time.Atlanta surveys by Perimeter Church in Alpharetta, GA, one of the largest churches in the Atlanta area, show that in the Atlanta Metro area, only one county had more than 20 percent of the population attending church. Henry County, 15 miles South of the Atlanta Airport, showed a 23 percent rate of church attendance.When someone tells me they used to go to church, I often ask Would you mind sharing what happened that caused you to stop going? Thus far, almost none of them had negative things to say about God or church. Sure, a few say they think too much emphasis is put on money, but most just wandered away.They're not mad at God, church or preachers. Most are still very religious though not in church. Many ask, Chaplain, would you please pray for me and my family?Atlanta is the buckle of the Bible Belt. Even here, church attendance is plunging. Shouldn't we who care about that, be having emergency meetings to find out why and what can be done to turn that around?There was a time when God's attendance on earth was down to zero, but Scripture says, And Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. After 900 years since Adam and Eve, God's attendance was back up to one. If God's attendance ever gets down to one again, I want to be that one.As stated, on a daily basis, I'm with people from many denominational affiliations; Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterian, Catholic, Pentecostal and on and on. So, this is not intended to be a shot at the COG. But in most denominations, including ours, it seems more business-as-usual.OK, so we can't save church attendance everywhere, but we COG folk could meet and find out what we can do to reach out to those who have left our churches. [email protected]

I have a developing theory that I'm working out with my brother, perhaps we'll write a book.I have a lot of thoughts, stats, quotes, etc.. but if I had to sum it up in one statement it might be this..

The Frequency IssueStated simply, the number one reason for the decline in church attendance is that members attend with less frequency than they did just a few years ago. Allow me to explain.If the frequency of attendance changes, then attendance will respond accordingly. For example, if 200 members attend every week the average attendance is, obviously, 200. But if one-half of those members miss only one out of four weeks, the attendance drops to 175.Did you catch that? No members left the church. Everyone is still relatively active in the church. But attendance declined over 12 percent because half the members changed their attendance behavior slightly.

The church we attend has grown in the last five years from about 100 to almost 400.Our former church started in 2001 and has grown to about 400. This probably does not reflect the average church but a good testimony for the last two church we have been a part of. It would be nice to say I was responsible for the growth of these churches but the truth is it had nothing to do with it.It is rather heart breaking to hear that church attendance is on the decline. I need to get back to pastoring in a hurry. Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

check out this resource:Revolution...or Restorationwww.reclaimthemantle.com/single-post/2017/02/07/Revolution-%25E2%2580%25A6or-Restoration God-HonoringChrist-CenteredBible-BasedSpirit-Led

Uncle, you beat me to it. I do think a major issue is the move to the mega church. Unfortunately, I also see it at small churches. We left churches before and never received one inquiry as to why. This was a hot button issue with me a few years ago, under a different name, and was a major reason I ultimately banished myself. I was amazed at the lack of concern by the pastors on this board when people quit attending. Most seemed to have the attitude that it doesn't do any good to try to keep people from leaving. Perhaps they are correct that one can't persuade people already upset from leaving. But exit interviews could go a long way in determining systemic problems that solving common issues may prevent others from leaving. I hate to say most, but that was my recollection. Conversatively, I know it was significant number of pastors had a members fault mentality. I think it is a serious spiritual problem for pastors with such an attitude. What part of the one lost sheep did they miss? I am FULLY aware of problem parishoners, but I'm sorry, it is the pastors responsibility to be a shepherd. Indeed, it is not the sole responsibility of the pastor, but it DOES start at the top. The pastor sets the tone. If lower level pastors are in charge of visiting, then those assigned responsibility should visit. If Church small groups are in charge of visiting and ministering to those under them, then it is THEIR responsibility. Ultimately, though, the pastor sets the tone and if they don't make it a priority, I assure you, the lower levels that are suppose to do it, will NOT do it. If people are not asked why they left, how do you know if they are sick, discouraged, backslidden or whatever? I'd hate to be in the shoes of the pastor that just ignores those that left. If for no other reason, than business, pastors need to know WHAT do they can do to prevent others from doing the same. For goodness sake, the soul of people are at stake. It matters not one iota if the member left for silly reasons, the pastors ultimate responsibility is to be the chief shepherd. If you don't like that, talk to God, not me. I didn't write the rules.

Without being personal I know of folk who left and NO ONE contacted them. I think the idea in our GASTON COUNTY the pastors just assume the folks who left DIDN'T LIKE IT HERE AND MOVED ON to one of the many churches in the county, GOD BLESS 'EM.Not a good idea to ASSUME! Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

If most of a congregation drops from Sunday and two nights a week to Sunday only, that's a huge drop in attendance

It could also be what people are taught. In the buckle of the Bible Belt, a lot of people are taught that if they repeat a prayer after a pastor once, that they are eternally saved and anything else isn't important because it isn't a 'salvation issue.' They also hear that 'All that is important is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.' Well, if my personal relationship with Jesus Christ were all that is important, I wouldn't need any other Christians, or church, or anything else. Why would your personal relationship with Jesus be about going to church, if that's all that's important? I don't believe that way, but I would imagine a lot of non-church-attending professors of faith would say that what is important is their personal relationship with Jesus.I think mega-churches can make church a lot less personal, especially if most people aren't plugged into a small group.Usually, when something trends too far in one direction, there is a counter-trend in the other direction. So I'd expect there to be a huge 'demand' for churches where people really know each other, minister to one another, and experience strong fellowship and community

[quote=Link]It could also be what people are taught. In the buckle of the Bible Belt, a lot of people are taught that if they repeat a prayer after a pastor once, that they are eternally saved and anything else isn't important because it isn't a 'salvation issue.' Link makes a great point in the quote above. I also see the same thing happening in Pentecostal/Full Gospel churches. If one can repeat a prayer, profess belief and be told he/she is going to heaven without repentance from sin as part of the salvation experience why expect them to crucify the flesh later?I also believe competition among churches for Sunday morning attendance indirectly provides easier tickets to heaven. We know that when looking for a job most people are looking for the most money and benefits wit the least amount of time and responsibility. The law of supply and demand dictates what employers offer. Right now so many churches have a focus of Sunday morning attendance with this dwindling supply of participants. Therefore, I believe this gives people many options on the most rewards (your life now on this earth) and a ticket to heaven with the least amount of repentance, change and taking up the cross daily. When doing missions I spent months in villages overseas where one has one option concerning an evangelistic church. The pastors teach repentance from sin and the desire to let God change one's lifestyle completely upon conversion. One advantage of being a pastor there is that the whole village watches your every move if you become a believer. One is expected to be at every church service, prayer meeting etc. without options from other churches. When a person accepts Christ there one pattern exists concerning the commitment level of a Christian. Now we lead people to Christ here in America and they have few examples of people who are committed to more than Sunday mornings if that and very few drastic lifestyle changes upon accepting Christ.