Growth Overview
Church growth isn’t just about numbers - it’s about helping more people encounter Jesus and grow in their faith. SoapBox provides tools and insights to support healthy, sustainable growth.Dimensions of Growth
Numerical Growth
More people attending and engaging
Spiritual Growth
Deeper faith and discipleship
Relational Growth
Stronger community connections
Missional Growth
Greater kingdom impact
Understanding Your Data
Growth Dashboard
Access growth insights:- Go to Admin > Analytics > Growth
- View key growth metrics
- Identify trends and patterns
- Compare time periods
Key Metrics
| Metric | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Attendance | Service participation | Overall engagement |
| First-Time Guests | New people attending | Outreach effectiveness |
| Return Visitors | Guests who come back | First impression quality |
| New Members | People who join | Assimilation success |
| Active Members | Regular participants | Retention health |
| Group Participation | Small group involvement | Community depth |
The Growth Funnel
Track people through their journey:- Guest to return visitor conversion
- Attender to member conversion
- Member to engaged conversion
- Engaged to leader development
Guest Strategy
Attracting Guests
Personal Invitation
Personal Invitation
Research shows personal invitation is the #1 way people visit a church. Encourage your congregation to invite friends and family.
Digital Presence
Digital Presence
Maintain an updated, welcoming website. Be active on social media. Make it easy for people to find and learn about your church.
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Host community events. Partner with local organizations. Be known as a church that serves its community.
Special Services
Special Services
Easter, Christmas, and other special services are natural invitation opportunities. Make them memorable and welcoming.
First Impressions
What guests experience matters:- Visible, welcoming signage
- Friendly greeters
- Easy parking and navigation
- Helpful information
- Follow-up communication
Guest Follow-Up
1
Capture Information
Make it easy for guests to share contact info (digital or card)
2
Same-Day Contact
Send a warm welcome email or text within hours
3
Personal Outreach
Staff or volunteer calls within 48 hours
4
Invitation
Invite to return and connect (group, event, next step)
5
Track Response
Record outcomes and continue appropriate follow-up
SoapBox Guest Tools
- Guest Registration - Digital first-time guest forms
- Automated Follow-Up - Triggered email sequences
- Assignment - Route guests to follow-up teams
- Tracking - Monitor guest journey progress
Assimilation Strategy
The Goal
Move people from attendance to belonging:- Attending → Coming to services
- Connected → In a group or serving
- Committed → Member, giving, growing
Connection Pathways
Create clear next steps:| Stage | Next Step | SoapBox Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Guest | Return next week | Follow-up automation |
| Attender | Join a group | Group finder |
| Connected | Become a member | Membership class |
| Member | Start serving | Volunteer signup |
| Serving | Lead others | Leadership pathway |
Assimilation Tracking
Track assimilation progress:- Define your assimilation steps
- Tag members at each stage
- Create reports by stage
- Identify people who are stuck
- Provide personalized nudges
Reducing Drop-Off
Common drop-off points and solutions:| Drop-Off Point | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Guest doesn’t return | Improve follow-up timing and personalization |
| Attender doesn’t join group | Make group joining easier, personal invitation |
| Member disengages | Proactive check-in, care ministry |
| Volunteer burnout | Better scheduling, appreciation, rest |
Group Strategy
Groups Drive Growth
Churches with strong group ministry see:- Higher retention
- Deeper engagement
- More volunteering
- Increased giving
- Faster growth
Group Goals
Set and track group metrics:- % of attenders in groups
- Group health scores
- New groups started
- Group multiplication
Growing Groups
Make Joining Easy
Make Joining Easy
Reduce barriers to joining. Online signup, clear information, welcoming hosts.
Offer Variety
Offer Variety
Different formats, topics, times, and locations to fit different needs.
Train Leaders
Train Leaders
Invest in group leader development. Healthy leaders = healthy groups.
Multiply
Multiply
Help groups multiply rather than just grow larger. More groups = more connections.
Engagement Strategy
Engagement Ladder
Help people climb the engagement ladder:Increasing Engagement
| Level | Engagement Activity |
|---|---|
| Basic | App usage, event attendance |
| Growing | Bible reading, prayer, groups |
| Mature | Serving, giving, leading |
| Multiplying | Discipling others, starting groups |
Using SoapBox for Engagement
- Spiritual Growth Tools - Bible reading, journaling, prayer
- Gamification - Points, streaks, achievements
- Communications - Targeted messages based on engagement
- Analytics - Identify and respond to engagement patterns
Retention Strategy
Why People Leave
Common reasons for attrition:- Life changes (moves, schedule)
- Conflict or hurt
- Felt disconnected
- Spiritual drift
- Found another church
- Lost interest
Retention Tactics
1
Track Attendance
Monitor individual attendance patterns
2
Identify At-Risk
Flag people with declining engagement
3
Proactive Outreach
Reach out before they’re gone
4
Address Issues
Listen and respond to concerns
5
Re-Engage
Provide clear pathways back to involvement
Absence Follow-Up
Set up automated care:- 2 weeks absent: Friendly check-in email
- 4 weeks absent: Personal text or call
- 6+ weeks absent: Pastoral outreach
Giving Strategy
Generosity Development
Giving reflects spiritual health and engagement:- First-time gift is a milestone
- Recurring giving shows commitment
- Increased giving indicates growth
- Giving decline may signal disengagement
Growing Generosity
- Teach biblical generosity
- Make giving easy
- Share impact stories
- Celebrate generosity
- Thank donors personally
Giving Metrics
Track giving health:- Giving units (households giving)
- Average gift size
- Recurring vs. one-time
- First-time givers
- Lapsed givers
Outreach Strategy
Digital Outreach
Use digital tools to reach new people:- Social media presence
- Online advertising
- SEO optimization
- Content marketing
- Live streaming
Community Outreach
Be known in your community:- Service projects
- Community events
- Local partnerships
- Facility sharing
Invite Culture
Build a culture of invitation:- Equip people to invite
- Provide invite tools (cards, digital)
- Celebrate stories of invitation
- Create invite-worthy moments
Setting Growth Goals
SMART Goals
Set effective growth goals:- Specific - Clear, defined outcome
- Measurable - Trackable metrics
- Achievable - Realistic stretch
- Relevant - Aligned with mission
- Time-bound - Specific timeframe
Example Goals
| Area | Goal Example |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 10% increase in average weekly attendance |
| Groups | 60% of members in a group |
| Giving | 25% increase in giving households |
| Serving | 40% of members serving |
| Guests | 2 guests per attender per year |
Tracking Progress
Review goals regularly:- Weekly quick metrics
- Monthly trend review
- Quarterly deep analysis
- Annual comprehensive review
Growth Best Practices
Focus on Health, Not Just Numbers
Focus on Health, Not Just Numbers
Healthy churches grow. Focus on discipleship, community, and mission rather than just attendance.
Know Your Context
Know Your Context
What works for one church may not work for another. Understand your community and congregation.
Start with Prayer
Start with Prayer
Growth strategies matter, but ultimately growth comes from God. Pray for your church and community.
Empower Your People
Empower Your People
Growth happens through people, not programs. Equip and release your congregation.
Be Patient
Be Patient
Sustainable growth takes time. Avoid shortcuts that compromise health.
Celebrate Progress
Celebrate Progress
Acknowledge growth and the people who make it happen. Celebration builds momentum.