Church attendance dropped 40% in my town after the 2020 stuff, is it coming back slow or gone for good?

I grew up going to First Methodist here in Springfield. Pre-2020 we had maybe 200 people on a good Sunday. Now we're lucky to hit 120. Some folks say it's just a slump, others think people found their Sunday mornings and aren't coming back. I see both sides but the numbers don't lie. What's your church looking like now compared to 2019?

2 comments

2 Comments

ericp6714d ago

You guys feeling the same pain? Our little nondenominational church over on Maple used to pack the parking lot. We were at maybe 150 on a good Sunday before 2020. Now it's barely 80 on Easter. The old-timers who passed away didn't get replaced by young families like before. It's a real bummer seeing the pews so empty. I miss the buzz after service, the potlucks, all of it.

fiona_sullivan2914d ago

That "buzz after service" you're missing is tough to get back. I'd say focus on the potlucks and casual gatherings first, since those are way less intimidating for new folks than a full Sunday service. Even adding a simple free coffee hour before things start can bring back that feeling of community.