Where have all the people gone? 

Every Sunday you walk into a Sanctuary so full of people your leaders know to be ready with the extra chairs in the back to set out for the overflow. You have Sunday School classes meet in odd rooms all over the church building (sometimes nothing more than a closet) because there are so many different groups gathering together to study scripture. The schedule for music ministries – handbells, adult choir, children’s choir, women’s ensemble – is so crowded that there are, at times, unfriendly conversations about who gets to use the choir room for practice and when. Finding volunteers to meet with the homebound or provide meals for the sick is never a problem because plenty of people stand ready to serve at a moment’s notice. Your preschool, children’s, and young adult ministries are growing at a rate your current building may not be able to sustain. Wow, so many new couples and babies! 

Is this the case for your church? If you are like thousands of churches across the United States right now, the answer is probably no. Admittedly, almost all churches, no matter their size, are suffering from the great exodus of her church members. The good news is you are not alone. The even better news is there is so much hope for the future of the church.

It is no secret that even before we all had to adjust to a new way of life with the pandemic, people stopped attending church in person. While church buildings remain intact and ready to receive her members, the members are not showing up. Where have all the people gone? More importantly, what are church leaders to do? 

Before we dive into reclaiming hope for the future of the church, let’s take a minute to remember our past. For most church leaders and church members today, it is hard to recall a time when worship and Sunday school and all activities surrounding church life didn’t happen inside the four walls of the church building. For hundreds of years, going to church meant going to the building in town that had the large white steeple. Even before the large white steeple, going to church meant going to the building in town that was highly ornate and richly decorated with art, wooden pews, and opulent floor coverings. Across history and across the globe Christians have worshipped in cathedrals, in wooden salt-box churches, in large brick buildings, in stadiums, in the back room of convenient stores to stay safe, in old movie theaters, and let us not forget the first Christians worshiped in their homes. When we look back on the history of where and when people gathered to pray, sing, and connect with God, the only thing that is consistent about the locations is that those locations have never been the same from one place to another or from one time in history to another. 

Now, we have a new location to consider as a place for “going to church” – the internet. Cue the raised eyebrows and sweaty palms. The internet cannot surely be a valid place for church. And, yet, we have been forced to reimagine that perhaps it could be. 

Before we move on to claiming hope for the future of church, allow me to offer one more note of reassurance for those of us who are timid around change or anything new when it comes to God. Let us be sure that throughout history, all of God’s people have used the means available to them to connect with each other and worship God. Sure the early Christians did not use Instagram to go and make disciples among all people, but my guess is the only reason why they did not use Instagram is because it did not exist. Church leaders have always turned to methods of communication at their disposal to reach the churched and unchurched alike. Making use of social media and online resources is, to say it simply, how things are done now. Social media and online resources is the primary method of communication for almost everyone in the world. Church leaders, it is time to take note. 

Even though social media has become a force in all of our lives, whether we like it or not, that does not mean we are all comfortable with using online resources to meet the needs of church members. That is ok. Church leaders do not have to be experts on how to use the ever-changing platforms people use to connect online. In fact, focusing on the Word, on prayer, and on reaching new disciples is where church leaders should stick to being the experts. We need church leaders to remain proficient in preaching, in prayer, and in mission work. But, that does not mean you get a pass for not engaging with people online. You only need to be willing to get the help from experts who know how to keep up with online resources so you, and your church, can effectively meet people where they are. 

Why does it matter that you meet people where they are? The answer is where we find hope for the future of the church. 

People may be leaving the physical church building, but people are not leaving God. Even though people are not prioritizing the 11:00 hour on Sunday morning as much as they used to, people are not letting go of their desire to have a relationship with God. People are not letting go of their hope in something that is bigger than what they can see, hear, or touch in our immediate world. People are not letting go of their need for life to have meaning and purpose. People are not letting go of wanting to serve their community and communities around the world. And, believe it or not, people are not letting go of their desire to learn how to be Christian in today’s world. There remains a hunger for giving and receiving God’s love and God’s grace. 

If people still desire a connection with God and church leaders are equipped to help people make connections with God, why then would you not use all of the tools at your disposal to create meaningful connections beyond the four walls of your building? Church leaders know how to help people find what they are looking for when it comes to seeking God. The problem is people are looking on the internet for answers and church leaders are offering answers inside empty buildings. Perhaps it is time for the two to come together. If people are no longer coming to the church, the church must go to the people. 

The good news is you are not alone. The even better knews is there is so much hope for the Church. The best news of all is nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even social media. While social media remains a mystery to so many church leaders today, it does not have to be that way forever. There are tools and resources to help churches connect with their people using methods of communication that are relevant for our world today. Taking time to utilize the help that is available to churches and learn how to effectively communicate online with both the church members and non-church members is surely the way we will secure the future of the Church. 

God is everywhere. Let us help connect people with God, even if we have to use the internet to do so.