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TechnoratiAnd as churches continue to grow, 52 percent anticipate adding 1-4 staff, 22 percent project adding more than 4 staff, 15 percent report planning no changes, and 11 percent are planning staff reductions.
Scott Wilson, senior pastor of The Oakes Fellowship in Red Oak, Texas, had to make some staff cuts as the 3,000-member congregation moved into a $20 million new sanctuary and is soon to launch a $6 million new location – its third campus.
Instead of relying on more staff to manage the growth, Wilson hopes more people will step up as volunteers.
"We can't keep just hiring staff after staff ... to handle the ministry growth," he said. "We've got to have volunteers stepping in."
The Oakes Fellowship's bold moves amid economic challenges show how large churches are taking leaps of faith.
"Make decisions that make sense for the long term, not just the short term which is the greater efficiency," Wilson said. "Don't go for the 'easy' way when God may be wanting to grow you up in the lean times to actually become more lean and stronger in the end."
The Leadership Network study's authors highlighted that the churches "are going forward, growing, and reaching out" and seem to "reflect much hope for the months ahead."
Among other findings in the survey, which was conducted in May and June, 85 percent of the churches said they have an active stewardship or generosity ministry that includes both teaching and preaching on topics related to finances.
