Breaking the 200 Barrier

The existence of growth barriers has been observed for a number of years. Churches tend to stop growing at predictable points, or barriers, along their growth curve. Research conducted since the early 1970s suggests that churches stop growing when they reach an average worship attendance of . . .

35

85

125

200

400

800

1,200

3,000 and/or

6,000

The major barrier for most churches is when they begin to average 200 persons at worship. Hence the term “200 Barrier.”

 Basic Understanding

  In order to understand the 200 barrier, it is important to keep in mind three basic concepts.

  First, statistical studies demonstrate that between 80 and 85 percent of all churches in North America never average more than 200 people at their main worship service (or services) in a given year.

  Second, growth barriers are more perceptual than numerical. For example, no statistical studies have confirmed that a 200 barrier actually exists. It is a psychological, emotional, and physical barrier, more than a numerical one. 

  Third, numerical barriers are not block walls that a church must bust through, but long hills that a church must ascend. Breaking barriers requires continual effort to ascend the hill and reach the plateau at the top.

 The Sullivan Study

  Dr. Bill Sullivan, former director of Church Growth for the Church of the Nazarene, conducted the most extensive study of the 200 barrier ever completed. He found that . . .

  #1: Cracking the 200 barrier requires a fundamental change in the nature of the small church. Churches with less than 200 people at worship are by nature single-celled, i.e., they worship, fellowship, and care for each other as one family. In contrast churches that are larger than 200 tend to be multiple-celled, i.e., they contain multiple groups or congregations. Cracking the 200 barrier requires a church to change from being single to multiple-celled.

  #2: Cracking the 200 barrier must be done quickly. Churches that break through the 200 barrier normally take only two and a half years to do so. When a church begins to gain the momentum to grow larger than 200 people, it must get over 200 within two to three years, or the momentum is lost and the church settles back below 200 in attendance.

  #3: Cracking the 200 barrier requires a skilled pastor. As a church moves through the 200 barrier, it needs a pastor who is able to do two things at once. The pastor must be able to keep a growth vision and momentum alive, while also continuing to minister to the people who prefer a small church dynamic. Both must be done or the church will lose focus and decline back below 200 in worship attendance.

 General Guidelines 

To crack the 200 barrier permanently, a church has to do the following.

  > Add staff: Breaking the 200 barrier requires a second pastor be added when a church nears 200 in worship attendance. If a second pastor is not added, the attendance slips below 200 due to the inability of a single pastor to handle the extra workload. In order to grow, churches need to maintain a staffing ratio of one pastor for every 150 worshipers.

  > Expand groups: A basic Church Growth principle says, “New units bring new growth.” New units are small groups, classes, or creative programming where people gather for fun, fellowship, or learning. For a church to break through the 200 barrier, and stay there, new units must be added so that new people may be assimilated into the life of the church.

  > Adjust the pastor’s role: When a church is under 200 in size, the pastor functions as a shepherd, i.e., he cares for each and every member of the flock personally. While the responsibility of shepherding remains, the way it is accomplished must change as the church cracks the 200 barrier. Pastors must begin to delegate the shepherding role to others—elders, group leaders, assistant pastors—or the church will stop growing.

  > Mobilize laity: Pastors who serve churches under 200 in size find they are required to do a great deal of the ministry. For a church to crack the 200 barrier, more people must engage in using their spiritual gifts in ministry.

  > Expand facilities: Another major reason churches do not break through the 200 barrier relates to facilities. In the past century, church facilities were built with a small church in mind. The parking, sanctuary, classrooms, nursery, and lobby were all designed for a church of less than 200 people. It is no surprise that such churches find it difficult to crack the 200 barrier on a permanent basis.

  > Change the structure: Churches with less than 200 average worship attendance have an organizational system that requires lots of maintenance. Such a system provides lots of control, but limits the freedom of leaders to creatively guide the church toward a growth vision. To crack the 200 barrier, a church’s structure must provide for ministry rather than simply maintenance.

Is your church having trouble cracking the 200 barrier? If so, which of the above guidelines do you need to focus on today?

 —Dr. Gary L. McIntosh, Speaker, Writer, Professor.  For information about training workshops, seminars, and church consultations email cgnet@earthlink.net.