Church isn’t meant to be a spectator sport. Yet, too often, churches unintentionally equip people to attend, listen, and leave—producing spiritual consumers instead of passionate contributors. If we want vibrant, mission-driven churches, leaders must reshape the culture. Here are a few thoughts.
Encourage Participation, Not Attendance
At times, church life can be like a gym membership. People must do more than simply show up. They must engage to get into shape. They must own their growth.
A Barna Group study found that only 39% of practicing Christians feel “personally responsible” for sharing their faith.
We can help turn the tides of this by regularly reinforcing the idea that everyone has a role in advancing the mission. During services, celebrate volunteers and testimonies of people living out their faith, not just how many showed up during an event.
Offer Clear On-Ramps
Have you ever attempted to get on a crowded freeway? Without clear on-ramps, new drivers will face frustration. The same is true in church life. Without easy pathways to engage, people feel stuck.
Churches that offer simple, clear pathways for involvement see 42% higher volunteer engagement – Pushpay Study, 2023.
Create short, visible, and easy-to-join opportunities for service, like a “First Serve” day where people try a role without a long-term commitment. Offer multiple opportunities with obvious next steps.
Equip People, Don’t Just Use Them
I was a passenger on an ice-driven interstate when the driver asked me to clear the side-view mirror. I asked for a tool when he handed me a penny. I laughed at his attempt to equip me to do the job. Turning consumers into contributors begins with properly equipping our volunteers.
65% of churchgoers say they don’t volunteer because they feel “unqualified” (Barna, 2021).
Offer regular training, mentoring, and encouragement. Shift your language from “filling slots” to “equipping saints for ministry” (Ephesians 4:12).
Cast Vision Bigger Than Sunday
Many churchgoers are over-preached to and under-challenged. People want to be part of a movement, not a meeting. Help people see how their investment is part of a greater mission.
Churches that continually connect ministry to personal purpose see 50% more consistent long-term volunteers (Lifeway Research).
Share how faith is a daily calling. Show how “church” extends into neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. Tie every ministry back to the bigger mission of God’s Kingdom.
Final Thought
Consumers ask, “What’s in it for me?” Contributors ask, “How can I contribute to the mission?”
Shift your language, create simple pathways, train intentionally, and call people into a bigger vision. Your church will become one full of contributors rather than consumers.
Blog written by: Rod Whitlock, Coach, Invest Leadership
