People leave a parish for may different reasons. The problem is that most of the time we don't know what those reasons are. I believe that the most important question is not "Why are people leaving?" but "Why are people staying? And, "Why are people coming to our parish?" In other words, what are we doing right that is making people come and want to worship with us?
However, it still hurts to know that some people may be leaving for some reason that we might be able to change. But, unless we know why, we can't do anything about it. That's where you come in! None of you need a data base to tell you if someone you know hasn't been around for a couple of weeks. A common complaint of people leaving is that "no one noticed." All it takes is a phone call or e-mail to ask if there is a problem. Show them that you have noticed they aren't around. Find out if they have been sick. If there is a problem, talk to them about it. After all, you are the church!
There are times when a friend of yours may leave for the wrong reasons. You may be the only one who knows why. If a friend of ours is in the wrong in why they are leaving (the facts they are basing it on are in correct) or they are leaving in the wrong way (slandering people, gossiping, causing division and pulling others along with them), then we need to roll up our sleeves and say, "I'm your friend and I always will be, but you need to know that I think your facts aren't correct and the way you're going about this isn't the best."
And then let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I don't want anyone to leave, and especially not because of wrong facts! So, if you have any suggestions or know of anything that would help me deal with this issue, please let me know.
Thanks!
Go to these sites if you are interested. These are just a sampling of what comes up when you google "why people leave church:"
http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/and_the_1_reason_people_leave_your_church_is/
http://www.victorious.org/leavechu.htm
http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/archives/2005/08/why_people_leav.html
http://www.christianpost.com/church/church-growth/2006/10/survey-reasons-why-people-leave-the-church-15/index.html
However, it still hurts to know that some people may be leaving for some reason that we might be able to change. But, unless we know why, we can't do anything about it. That's where you come in! None of you need a data base to tell you if someone you know hasn't been around for a couple of weeks. A common complaint of people leaving is that "no one noticed." All it takes is a phone call or e-mail to ask if there is a problem. Show them that you have noticed they aren't around. Find out if they have been sick. If there is a problem, talk to them about it. After all, you are the church!
There are times when a friend of yours may leave for the wrong reasons. You may be the only one who knows why. If a friend of ours is in the wrong in why they are leaving (the facts they are basing it on are in correct) or they are leaving in the wrong way (slandering people, gossiping, causing division and pulling others along with them), then we need to roll up our sleeves and say, "I'm your friend and I always will be, but you need to know that I think your facts aren't correct and the way you're going about this isn't the best."
And then let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I don't want anyone to leave, and especially not because of wrong facts! So, if you have any suggestions or know of anything that would help me deal with this issue, please let me know.
Thanks!
Go to these sites if you are interested. These are just a sampling of what comes up when you google "why people leave church:"
http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/and_the_1_reason_people_leave_your_church_is/
http://www.victorious.org/leavechu.htm
http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/archives/2005/08/why_people_leav.html
http://www.christianpost.com/church/church-growth/2006/10/survey-reasons-why-people-leave-the-church-15/index.html
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