“Pastor, you talk about reaching new people all the time, but what about the members we already have? Shouldn’t we take care of them? Don’t we care?”
Those words were spoken to me years ago when I was the pastor of another church. We had been experiencing a good season of growth. I was excited to see new people at our church each week. To be honest, I was stunned by the questions as it never entered my mind that someone might not be happy with the growth we were experiencing. I am sure I croaked out some answers, but I honestly do not remember how I answered that church member all of those years ago. However, I do want to answer these questions for all Christians today who love their church and care about its future.
THE SHORT ANSWER: Of course, we should care for the members we already have. If we are not a church that cares for each other, we are not a Biblical church. Scripture compares the church to a flock that needs to be shepherded. Scripture says the church is a family. It is not an “either/or” proposition. A biblical church does BOTH – reaching new people and caring for the people already reached.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE THREE REASONS WHY REACHING NEW PEOPLE MUST ALWAYS BE AT THE FOREFRONT….
- There is a BIBLICAL reason. The mission of the church revealed in scripture is not to care for the members (although that should happen as we go). The mission of the church Jesus gave us says that we are to make disciples and take the gospel to the nations. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8).
- There is a PRACTICAL reason. Even before COVID, research showed that the average church loses 7-10% of its people yearly – even if things are going well and there is no controversy. How can this be? Each year a number of people in every church pass away, get physically unable to come, or relocate to another city. In addition, each year finds people who drop out or move to another church. The result is an average loss of 7-10% each year – even if the church is healthy. A church that isn’t reaching new people will quickly be in trouble.
- There is an INTERNAL reason. I suspect those questions that came to me years ago really weren’t about taking care of our members. They were actually about discomfort with change and all of the new people coming into the church. Let’s face it. Being selfish and inward-focused comes naturally to us. We have to intentionally be unselfish. A church NEVER drifts toward an outward focus. A church ALWAYS drifts toward a more inward focus. This fact is why leaders must always seek to continually turn the church outward and cultivate an outward focus.
I once preached revival services in a church that had not baptized anyone in three years. The people had a sweet fellowship and genuinely cared for each other. They told me about their illnesses, surgeries, and how much they loved their classes. Somewhere along the way, they just stopped reaching anybody new and became satisfied and focused on themselves. That church is closed today. Think about it. Then go share Jesus with someone and invite them to church!
gregcorbin.com 