Something is happening at UMCG. It’s sneaky, but it’s real. We’re growing. Not in the way many of us might instinctively measure growth—not by packed pews or standing-room-only worship services—but in the way that reflects how church engagement has changed over time.
For those who have been around church for generations, regular church attendance meant nearly every Sunday—48 weeks out of the year, give or take an illness or vacation. By 2010, that expectation had quietly shifted to about 1.9 times a month, or 18 Sundays a year. Then COVID changed everything. Now, regular attendance for many is once a month, or 12 Sundays a year. That might seem discouraging, but the way we measure church participation has also evolved. Churches are learning to measure engagement, not just attendance—how people connect with the life of the church through prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. And by that measure, we are indeed growing. Need anecdotal proof? We’re out of cubbies.
In our younger kids’ Sunday School room, we have little spaces for kids to keep their belongings—tiny cubbies that mark a child’s place in our church community. And we don’t have enough in that room (but plenty of cubbies in other classrooms are available). On any given Sunday, about 15 children gather in Sunday School, but our roster tells a bigger story: we have 65 kids, from birth through 8th grade, officially part of our Sunday School program. And here’s the thing—if they all (or even just half) show up on the same Sunday, we won’t have enough teachers! (Consider this your friendly heads-up: be ready to be asked to help when that happens!)
We see it in the pews, too. While the Sanctuary may not feel dramatically more crowded, there are new faces nearly every week. Some visit once and keep exploring; others return and slowly integrate into our church family. Each one is a gift from God, and how we respond to that gift matters.
This is why an outward focus is so critical. When we see someone we don’t recognize, let’s take the initiative: “Hi, I’m ____. I don’t think we’ve met yet.” A simple greeting can open the door to connection, and a personal invitation to coffee hour or a conversation can help someone feel at home. When people visit in person after engaging online, they are making a courageous step. We can receive that gift with gratitude and hospitality, or we can reject it by focusing only on ourselves.
Scripture reminds us of the power of hospitality and growth in the Kingdom of God. Hebrews 13:2 urges us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Jesus also tells us in Matthew 18:5, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Every new visitor, every child in our classrooms, every person taking a step toward deeper faith, is an opportunity to welcome Christ among us.
This is a moment for gratitude. Gratitude for those who have prayed for our church to grow. Gratitude for those who teach Sunday School, helping to form young disciples. Gratitude for those who greet new faces and extend invitations to deeper connection. Growth is not always immediately visible in weekly attendance, but it is unmistakably present in the lives being shaped by the grace illuminating our communities from our church.
And here’s the best part: we have more cubbies. More classrooms. More places to welcome and make space for the people God is bringing our way. I can’t wait until every cubbie is claimed and we need to install more—even if those kids aren’t here every single Sunday. Because what matters is that they are here, that they have a place to belong, and that our church is a home where faith takes root.
So let’s keep praying. Let’s keep welcoming. Let’s keep making room. Because the church is growing—even if it’s sneaky.
