Here is my recipe for growing a church. It is based on my own observations all over the U.S.
First, make your church nondenominational; hide its denominational affiliation or make sure it doesn’t have one. (I have searched many “plain label churches”) for their denominational affiliations and found them on their web sites—often very well hidden.)
Second, give your church a name that will sound good, positive, helpful, to secular people, even if the name tells absolutely nothing about the church. If possible, make it one word.
Third, aim your church’s growth toward a particular type of people. (For example—affluent white suburbanites or young urbanites, etc.) Make them feel totally comfortable in the church.
Fourth, have a very dynamic web site that is inviting and sparkling with colors and lights.
Fifth, hire a worship band—youthful, loud, energetic.
Sixth, Sing only songs that are “contemporary.” It doesn’t matter if anyone in the congregation knows or sings them. What matters is that the worship band sing them in “concert style.”
Seventh, turn down the lights in the “auditorium,” add candles, have bright lights on the worship band and speaker.
Eighth, avoid “announcements” at all costs!
Ninth, look for a building that doesn’t look like a church. Install a coffee bar in the foyer.
Tenth, preach good advice; avoid anything approaching conviction or intolerance. But have a strong statement of faith or at least the Apostles Creed.
Eleventh, if the pastor has academic credentials in theology, hide them. Preferably call (hire) a pastor or speaker who is dynamic whether he or she has any theological education at all.
Twelfth, abolish piano or organ; use only guitars in music.
Thirteenth, make every effort to seem “relevant” to contemporary culture, especially popular culture.
Fourteenth, do not display crosses or other traditional Christian or other religious symbols.
Finally, shun traditions. Make it up (your church’s beliefs and practices) as you go.
*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure your comment is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*
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