"Why Only Start Congregations That Will Have At Least 200 in Attendance?
George, you must be crazy to suggest this. If you look at the North
American Protestant scene, at least three-fourths or more of all
congregations have less than 200 in attendance. What makes you think
that we should only start new congregations that will have at least 200
in attendance?

Well, as is typical of a George Bullard list, here are seven reasons
why we should only start congregations that will have at least 200 in
attendance.

First, congregations need to be started with a vision that does not
have a low ceiling. When congregations are started with the image of a
close-knit extended family then they stifle creativity and the Spirit.
They bind themselves in terms of size, and do not allow God's Spirit to
help them soar to unbounded heights. They act like Depression Era
congregations.

Second, for most congregations to have a significant, positive,
spiritual impact on their setting the need to be a significant presence
with loving power and influence. To do this they need a size that gives
them visibility and perceived impact on the neighborhood, community, or
region.

Third, increasingly people are looking for places where exciting things
are happening. They also want places that have regular experiences that
inspire, challenge, and inform. It takes a congregation of at least 200
in attendance to regularly have celebrations and authentic gatherings
with a critical mass of people present to make it attractive to others.

Fourth, the best way to start new congregations involves a sponsorship
or mentoring model. Unfortunately, the number of congregations that are
fully prepared for this role is few in regard to the number of new
congregations needed. Therefore, when a new congregation is started,
let's make it one of significant size among a significant target group
of people to make its starting a good stewardship of resources.

Fifth, increasingly new congregations will require multiple staff
persons almost from the first day of operation. With two-income
families, careful empowering of precious lay leadership time is
required from the beginning. A system of lay mobilization must be in
the DNA of new congregations, and this takes staff leadership. To make
this economically viable requires a congregation of approximately 200
in attendance.

Sixth, persons seeking a relationship with a congregation have higher
expectations of the relationship experiences and the programs,
ministries, and activities that congregations will offer. It takes an
attendance of around 200 to begin to offer the types of services for
which people are looking.

Seventh, it does come down to economics at some point. The cost of
starting new congregations is extremely high. When that high cost
results in a worshipping community of 80-85 in average attendance or
less, the full impact of the time, finance, and people investment is
not realized.

Seven Types of Congregations to Start That May Never Have 200 in
Attendance

There is a counterpoint to the idea that we should only start
congregations that will have at least 200 in attendance. The
counterpoint focuses on highly specialized types of congregations.

Here is a list of seven. If you can think of others, please let me know
at { HYPERLINK "mailto:BullardJournal@cs.com" }BullardJournal@cs.com.

House Church or Cell Group congregation: These congregations tend to
literally meet in houses or other small gathering places.

Small Town, Community, or Defined Neighborhood: At times the chosen
population demographics may not support a congregation that has at
least 200 in worship.

Resort and Leisure community: Many resort and leisure areas are
seasonal and may swell to 200 in attendance during the high season.

Multifamily Housing Community: Getting residents of a multifamily
housing area to leave that are to attend church can be difficult.

Deaf or Hearing Impaired congregation: Often the concentration of deaf
or hearing-impaired people may not result in a large congregation.

Senior Adult community or institution: Senior adult congregations are
needed highly specialized congregations.

Non-English Language or Immigrant congregation: Often the concentration
of various language and ethnic groups is not sufficient to have a large
congregation."