5 Dangerous Myths about Church-Wide Campaigns

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There are definitely ways that church-wide campaigns miss the mark and there are keys to avoiding a church-wide campaign disaster.  There are certain things you need to do to have a great church-wide campaign. See also, Top 10 Ways Church-Wide Campaigns Miss the Mark, 5 Keys to Avoiding a Church-Wide Campaign Disaster and 10 Simple Steps to a Great Church-Wide Campaign.

5 Dangerous Myths about Church-Wide Campaigns

There are certain myths about church-wide campaigns that set up bad expectations.  Hope and optimism are good things, but wishful thinking can set a congregation up for big disappointment right when they need a boost of encouragement.

People will believe anything and many believe that a church-wide campaign is…

  1. the solution for sagging attendance.  Can a campaign help reenergize a congregation and help inconsistent attendees become more consistent?  The short answer is yes, but only when the right groundwork has been laid.  The right campaign can encourage more consistent attendance when participants are challenged to make and keep commitments to “be here each Sunday and join a group that’s using the study that goes along with the message.”  Certain key ingredients make this commitment likely: a topic with broad appeal, a series of reasonable length (6 weeks is just right), and a study that is easy to do (homework tends to be a barrier).  See also, The Exponential Power of a Church-Wide Campaign.
  2. the solution for reaching neighbors, friends, co-workers and family.  The right church-wide campaign can provide the perfect invitation.  Choose a cross-cultural topic from the easy end of the Easy/Hard Continuum and the invite will almost make itself.  Choose the wrong topic and you won’t be able to bribe your dearest friends to join your group.  See also, The Easy/Hard ContinuumHow to Choose the Right Church-Wide Campaign, and The Latest on Church-Wide Campaigns (2014).
  3. the solution for disunity.  It is not actually the campaign that generates unity.  Developing a prayerful attitude.  A willingness to truly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Opening God’s word together.  Those are the things that bring unity.  Still, choosing a church-wide campaign that encourages those things will move you in the right direction.
  4. an easy way to launch a small group ministry.  The right church-wide campaign coupled with the right preparation and the right follow-through will go a long way in the effort to launch a small group ministry.  Still, it requires a lot of energy, resources, and persistence.  Do the right things.  Do all of the right things…and when the dust clears you should have a great beginning; the kind of beginning upon which you can build a thriving small group ministry.  See also, What Is the Best Way to Connect the Largest Number of People?
  5. an easy way to “get everyone on the same page.”  In much the same way that a church-wide campaign isn’t a solution for disunity, it won’t be an easy way to “get everyone on the same page.”  The right campaign won’t hurt and coupled with a compelling vision may provide momentum that will move your congregation in the direction of the same page.

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