Close the Back Door with New Churches

by Dale E. Jones

"How can we keep new people from leaving?"

That's a common question for the Research Center at the Global Ministry Center.

We take in a lot of members each year, people who are new to the Church of the Nazarene. Most of these are by profession of faith, with some transferring from other denominations.

During the past 10 years, we have received 1.3 million new Nazarenes globally.

But our total membership only increased by 623,374. Somehow, for every 13 new Nazarenes who came in our front doors, we lost 7 Nazarenes out the back door.

That gives a global retention rate of 46 percent for the decade.

Take a look at these stats for additional insights.


Table 1:

Retention Rates
by Nazarene Regions,
2000-2010:                                New Nazarenes        Net Gain        Retention Rate

Africa                                                 442,276                    301,856          68%
Asia-Pacific                                          66,369                      25,630          39%
Eurasia                                              164,788                    123,304          75%
Mesoamerica                                     174,466                      82,166          47%
South America                                   181,717                      81,330          45%
USA/Canada                                      329,595                        9,088            3%
Global                                             1,359,211                    623,374           46%

This chart indicates that there is a difference in retention rates in different areas of the world. But further research gives us new insights.

The Research Center has known for years that most growth occurs in new churches. When we look at retention rates in new churches, we discover that this is a global truth for the Church of the Nazarene.

Table 2:

Retention Rates in New Churches
by Nazarene Regions, 2000-10:        New Nazarenes      Net Gain      Retention Rate

Africa                                                        290,801                  216,758          75%
Asia-Pacific                                                20,593                     14,543          71%
Eurasia                                                   143,139                    119,894          84%
Mesoamerica                                            34,134                      27,894          82%
South America                                          50,832                      30,287          60%
USA/Canada                                             34,662                      20,728          60%
Global                                                     574,161                    430,104          75%

In every world region, the retention rate for new churches is higher than for older churches. Perhaps a greater ratio of new churches would help a region conserve more of its converts. Table 3 suggests that a major factor for growth in world areas is the much higher ratio of new churches begun during the decade.

Table 3:

New Churches as Percent of Existing
Churches by Nazarene Regions, 2000-10:    Churches in 2000    New Churches      Ratio

Africa                                                                     2,834                       6,579                   232%
Asia-Pacific                                                            1,319                          760                     58%
Eurasia                                                                     841                       5,474                   651%
Mesoamerica                                                         2,225                          887                     40%
South America                                                       1,965                          909                     46%
USA/Canada                                                          5,462                       1,065                     19%
Global                                                                  14,646                     15,674                    107%

Of course, existing churches need to find ways to conserve converts as well. But for the denomination as a whole, one of the best strategies for retaining new Nazarenes is to incorporate them into new churches. This is true in all areas of the world.

Dale E. Jones is director of Research Services for the Church of the Nazarene.

Holiness Today, May/June 2011

 

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