Over the past months I’ve had opportunity to visit some large North Shore mega-churches, and what I’ve found has given me reason to believe middle to small size Baptist churches need to be afraid, to be very afraid …

Baptists may wonder why attendances are stagnating or even dropping, but those with mega-churches or progressive churches nearby need wonder no longer – the game plan has reached a new level, and you’re being left behind.

At the end of the day, I believe people attend church for three reasons: to find friends, to hear biblical preaching and to enjoy good worship. On all these fronts mega-churches are winning hands down.

You’d think developing friendships would be easy in small churches, but I fear Baptists have lost the art. When as a young couple we visited a church, we’d soon be invited into homes for meals. Today it seldom happens. Mega-churches may present a friendship challenge, but their networks are well developed.

These days Baptist preaching tends to be of an easier topical style, with scant reference to scripture. In mega-churches preaching is an artform and often expository – a style requiring extensive Bible study and discipline. Well produced PowerPoints and videos are often used in support.

But where mega-churches have it all over small churches is in their music. The most modern music can be complicated and difficult to play, never mind sing. Mega-church worship leaders are always excellent musicians, supported by expert bands and singers. Their music is tuneful and inspiring. Professional audio/visual support and theatrical lighting is a given.

Small churches can struggle with the new music – to play it, to sing it, even to know where to find it. Sometimes they’re blessed by a small dedicated team, at other times they futilely rotate musicians in the hope of finding a workable solution. When visiting mega-churches I was amazed that I’d never heard any of their songs in a Baptist church. From time to time church members will take a look at the bright lights down the road, and when they do they’ll notice the difference. Small to medium size Baptist churches need to catch up now so as not to be stranded in a backwater, like in the 1960s when hymns had to be pushed aside for Scripture in Song. If you want to stop the leakage, it’s time to lift the game.

– Grant Dixon
Long Bay