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Recently, Carey Nieuwhof joined our team at Subsplash for a powerful webinar, 3 Innovative Ways Thriving Churches Deepen Engagement. Combining Carey’s decades of ministry experience with Subsplash’s tech expertise, we explored how thriving churches can move beyond attendance to build lasting engagement.
Today, only 33% of U.S. churches are considered growing. It’s clear that deepening connections within the church community is key to long-term growth and mission fulfillment.
In this blog, you’ll find the top takeaways from this conversation, along with some great quotes from Carey and practical steps churches can take to engage their people and communities more effectively.
If you missed the webinar—or just want to watch it again—check out the full recording below!
For many years, Carey has been telling churches, “Engagement is the new attendance.” In the past, many churches measured success by the number of people attending services. The more people in seats meant the church was ‘succeeding.’ However, Carey Nieuwhof made a compelling case that attendance should no longer be the goal—engagement should.
“If you want your church to grow, stop trying to attract people. Start trying to engage people.”
Leaders today have found that focusing on attendance can actually hinder the mission. “You can do more with 300 engaged people in the mission than you can with 3,000 disengaged people.” Instead, churches should foster engagement, which naturally leads to growth. Engaged members are passionate and committed to the church's mission, which brings them back week after week.
“Attendance is not the goal, it’s a byproduct. I believe attendance grows out of engagement.”
Next steps: Double down on your focus from numbers to engagement. Ask your team: How are we helping people take their next steps in faith? Whether it’s small groups, volunteer opportunities, or digital discipleship, create pathways for your members to connect meaningfully with your church.
“Taking a step out of being a passive consumer to being an active contributor that really creates passionate people.”
We live in a digital-first world where people spend much of their time online. Churches that take advantage of tech-savvy strategies can build engagement beyond Sunday.
However, big tech platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram are interested in pushing content in front of people based on complex algorithms. Their goal is to keep people on their sites longer so they can show more ads and make more money.
These popular platforms are what Carey refers to as ‘rented spaces.’ When someone logs into social media to engage with your content, they’re bombarded with distracting videos, annoying ads, and other (oftentimes questionable) content that social media algorithms are pushing in front of them.
“Instagram is fun and interesting, but anywhere from 2 to 20% of the people who follow you are getting your message. When you own space like an app, email, or text message, it's 100% deliverability.”
That’s why your church’s website and mobile app are more crucial tools for engagement than ever before. These act as your 'owned’ spaces versus ‘rented’ spaces like social media. Owned spaces provide fewer distractions and more opportunities for meaningful connections. Having a mobile strategy is no longer optional if you want to reach your congregation every day of the week.
“Guess who sees what happens on a [church’s] app? Everybody who subscribes to that app. There’s no filter, no changing algorithm. 100% of the people who click it get the message. Whereas when you click Instagram, you don’t know what you’ll get. It’s a roulette wheel.”
Next steps: Make your church’s website and mobile app the front door of your ministry. Be sure that it looks, feels, and sounds like your church. Build email and texting lists that are owned by you and deliver your messages. Publish daily content that encourages members to stay connected and engaged throughout the week.
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Many Christians express a desire to serve, but far fewer follow through. According to Lifeway Research, while 86% of Christians say they want to serve, only 30% actually volunteer. The solution lies in rethinking how we talk about serving in the church.
Volunteering shouldn’t be viewed as an obligation. Instead, it’s an opportunity for people to engage with the church’s mission in a deeper way. Those who serve tend to become more passionate about the vision of the church. Carey explains it this way:
“People who serve get the mission. They’re on a mission. And they love the mission.”
Next steps: Foster a culture of serving by connecting it to the larger mission of the church. Emphasize that serving is not just filling a role but living out the church’s calling. Provide multiple, flexible opportunities for people to serve and help them understand the impact their service has on the church and community.
As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, it’s clear that thriving churches are those that focus on engagement, not just attendance. By embracing digital tools, fostering deeper connections, and reimagining service, churches can create passionate, mission-driven communities. Let’s stop trying to simply attract people and start engaging them where they are—both online and in person.
If you missed the webinar, don’t worry! You can catch the full recording here. For even more resources on how to deepen engagement at your church, download the free guide from Subsplash and Carey Nieuwhof, From Fringe to Flock: Innovative Ways Thriving Churches Deepen Engagement.
Over 20,000 organizations partner with Subsplash for reaching, engaging, and discipling their people. To find out why they choose Subsplash, [.blog-contact-cta]schedule your free demo today [.blog-contact-cta]with one of our Ministry Consultants!
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