Going from one to two services

Hope your meeting goes well.

 

As do I .. I also agree that once a church reaches 75% - 80% something needs to be done, if not it will swing into the bungee cord effect..

For the last 2 years our church has bounced from around 90% back to 70% back to 90% and so on.. We have had newcomers that didn't stick around because it was too crowded..

And you can't count the front row...lol

I'm not saying two services are the answer, but if a church wants to continue to grow, they have to do something.. Right now our church is land locked, so a building program is out of the question.

 

There's no doubt it causes more work for the members...

We currently have two AM services and two Sunday schools. Easter will mean three AM services (and we may end up keeping all 3 going because of space issues).

A hassle? Sometimes. But praise God, we're reaching twice as many folks with the good news on Wednesday nights as we used to on Sunday morning...I'm glad that God is giving us this amazing opportunity.

 

Large churches have the tendency to follow the example of the rich man in Luke 12:16-20. They want to tear down their barns [worship centers] and build bigger ones.

This idea that bigger is better and cheaper is not only adversely affecting our churches but our schools, colleges, and government.

 

Thanks for those disparaging words, OldRegular.

I'm glad you are an expert on all large-church behaviors.

We are growing because God is blessing us, folks are reaching out, and the Word is being preached. Our growth this last year was evenly split among baptisms and new member transfers. Please don't insult my church.

The only part of your post I agree with is that "bigger is better" is a poor mantra to live by...JUST LIKE "smaller is better." How 'bout "better is better?"

Besides all that, you're taking Jesus' parable totally out of context to prove your point. Nice job.

 

Joseph, look - I wouldn't go so far as to say you're letting your feelings get the better of you here, but the way you've written your posts makes it seem like "the leadership" has purposefully done something diabolical. That may not be your intention, but that's the way it reads.

I'll say this to you: Your church's leadership intention was not to divide the church, but to see it grow. Perhaps you don't agree with the method.

My last church had two services. In many respects, it was divided by generation at first. But as time went by, both service attendances began to reflect the other better. It just took a little time.

The other thing was that we worked extra hard on our common Sunday School time, so that many people got a chance to know each other. A result of the common Sunday School hour was that it was the largest attendance - combining folks from both services.

Beside, how much "fellowship" do you do in worship service anyway? Isn't it more properly placed in Sunday School - as well as places outside the meetinghouse and throughout the week? I would say that if fellowship is a primary concern for you in this matter, take steps to strengthen your church's Sunday School program. In doing that, you will become a valuable resource to your pastor and your church.

 

Coming from a church that has done both a second service and then built bigger, I have some idea of the chore both options can bring. Two morning services is hard on the preacher. Our congregation didn't really like it much. So they built. (the above happened just before I joined, but I've heard the stories)

I joined just after the new santuary was added. I've watched as the church has tried to pay down it's debt of about $1.5 million. (I've helped some too) It has been hard, but was going well until various church events happened (losing our preacher under less than desirable circumstances that were not entirely his fault). Now the building fund is the strongest part of the budget and that ain't saying much. Attendence is down, giving is about half what is needed to support the church. We're going through a trial at the moment.

The point I'm trying to make is this. No one knows the future. When the building project was started the church was growing. In hindsight, maybe we should have stuck with two services. Each congregation must do what it thinks best and the input from the membership should be taken into consideration.

Of course there was the option of planting a new church but, there are already two First Baptist's, Northside, Westside, Eastside, Grace, Central, New Prospect, Farmstead, Glory Fellowship, Shiloh, Mt. Olive, Mt Vernon, Mt Zion, New Canaan, New Jerusalem, Philadelphia, Samaria, Sixth Ave, and Twentysixth Street Baptist Churches in our town and I didn't include the Free Will's or those that are out of the city but within 20 minutes driving time. Don't believe we need anymore churches in this area. (believe rather that the ones we have need to get to work, or back to work, and fill them up)

 

I see pros and cons whichever path is chosen, Joseph. But the choir should not be locked into both services if two are chosen. If there are enough people to have split services, then there are enough people to have a split choir.

 

Go back to church on Sunday night and you won't "miss" those other members that you don't get to see in the morning because the "church has been divided."

Two services offers another way to reach more people for Jesus Christ. It is not contrary to the Word of God and it is not sacreligious. It is change which is why many have a problem with it.

Whether you have 100 or 1000 members, the most you will ever build and intimate relationship with will be no more than 50. Stay in SS and come back on Sunday night, and you will meet new people and make new acquaintances- guaranteed!

Anyway you slice it or dissect it, multiple services can be a great help in your church ministering to the surrounding community.

 

50 isn't necessarily the magic number. We're twice that + with thriving relationships, no split services. Because of where we are geographically located, our church would be better off to plant a church than break into two services. Of course, this is not the case everywhere.

Yeah, what he said.

 

Well, I tell ya' I'd surely like for my church to have to tackle the problem of too many people for our church to handle. We'll have the benefit of all your posts to help us avoid mistakes.

Tom B.

 

Oldregular
When a Church becomes large enough that two services are required they need to split the comgregation and form a second Church. That is what you have anyway as you point out.

Yep, I agree. we build a new church appro: one mile from the old, it now serves the local community and has members who possibly otherwise couldn't come to the old.

There's a lot to be said, and known, about living/working "in a community".

 

We, too are beginning to look at having two services, due to growth. And as I seem to recall, the pastor, the music director, the pianist, the organist and the sound man are the only ones who will have to stick around for both services. I'm trying to remember where the Scripture is that states that, not having my Bible real handy, as I type. I belive it is found in Chapter 4, verse 13 of the book of II Calamiti...
Ed

 

I have been in a Church that did decide to go to two services to accomadate more people. 8:30 am and 11:00 am (with Sunday School in between) I was a Deacon at that time (the Military has moved be to another location that is why I'm not there) but we decided to have certain goals with the creation of the two services. First, was the two services was for a limited basis while we kicked off our building program, and second, we implemented a volunteer program that served coffee and donuts between the services and Sunday School that fostered our fellowship not just with those in the service with you but also those arriving for the next service. So we didn't feel that we lost any fellowship among the believers by having a plan and a time set aside for further fellowship. I think that splitting the services for us helped to create two choirs and double the oppurtunities for service...we were able to start training more workers and this has been a blessing because now that they are in the new building with a bigger choir (combined the two and they fit together now) and more workers for everything from Altar Counselors to Sunday School & Children's Church workers.

So it can be a blessing and a benefit to the Church. I would say that if you feel this way about losing the fellowship amongst the Believers and such then develop a plan to include more fellowship also instead of focusing on the negatives use this to motivate the Church to Build a new building to suport the growth.

I pray for the Lord to continue to bless your Church with growth and oppurtunities for more service and discipleship!!

 

Our church has three Sunday morning services and a Saturday night service at the main campus and another service on Sunday morning across town in a school. The Saturday night service is somewhat contempory; The early service has no orchestra and a small choir; The later two services have a full orchestra and choir. The service in the school is like a small church of about 250 and there everyone knows each other.

What we like about it is you can pick the type and time of service that you want. Some go to the early service because they are not musically inclined and do not like the orchestra and large choir. Personally, we loved the large choir and orchestra during worship, so we attend a later service.

Our group in the church is our Bible study class of about 60 people. We know others in the church through other ministries we participate in.

Some people can't handle going to a large church because they think they should know everybody in the church and participate in all activities.

In our large church, new people from smaller churches are told up front that they should not try to participate in all activities. They are not in a small church anymore. They should pick and choose what is right for them. Yes, that was an adjustment for us 14 years ago, but we got used to it and we love it.

As our churches grow, we need to get away from the idea that we need to know everyone else and everyone else needs to know us. When people keep this need to know everyone attitude, the church is hindered from growing.

My sister and her family are small church christians. They told us that their old church got so big that they did not know everyone, so they found a small church to attend where they know everyone and get the personal attention of the pastor every service. That is important to them.

 

Amen, Drfuss. We lost two deacons this past year that felt it important to be in a small church setting. God bless both of these great men of God. We also gained thirteen men who have served as deacons at other churches and felt led to come here, because they liked what God was doing here and wanted to be a part of it. God bless these guys as well.

For some, the small church atmosphere is paramount...others like the options and programming of a larger family of faith. The key for both is involving themselves with a small group of believers that involves ministry, accountability, and fellowship.