The term “church” has two primary definitions. A church is a building that hosts Christian services, including Sunday school, services, Bible studies, weddings, funerals, baptisms, and confirmations. The church also refers to Christian believers. A gathering of Christians in a home, school, or park can be considered a church meeting.
Today, running a church is more about the services you provide for your congregation than a physical building because your church may rent space in another building or meet in your home. Whether you have a dedicated physical building or not, you can use these tips to run a thriving church.
1. Look after your finances.
Review the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines for churches. Churches that meet IRS standards qualify for tax-exempt status. Reducing your church’s tax burden can make the difference between a thriving church and one struggling to pay its bills and keep the doors open.
To qualify, you’ll need to register your church name and apply for an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS. The IRS considers factors such as the qualifications of the church leaders, whether the church has a designated location for regular services, and whether the church has an established congregation to determine whether a church qualifies for tax-exempt status. Affiliation with a recognized denomination and an established church doctrine could also determine whether the IRS recognized your church.
Once you’ve registered your church name and have an EIN, you can start a church bank account, enabling you to process donations and pay bills.
2. Maintain the facilities you use.
Whether you meet in a church building your congregation owns or a person’s home, you must address your maintenance issues. For example, suppose a congregant slips on an icy sidewalk outside your meeting location. An injured person could sue your church if they sustained a severe personal injury. Addressing maintenance issues ensures the safety of your church members and anyone else who has a reason for coming to your property. Churches that are maintained are welcoming, and potential new members are more likely to visit your church if it’s maintained.
Find reputable local maintenance professionals such as Charlotte’s premier window cleaners. Their window cleaning experts remove dirt and grime from inside and outside your building to ensure your windows are clean. You can also contract premier window cleaners to use pressure washing to remove debris from your building’s siding. Pressure washing can kill mold, preventing the mold from damaging your building. Window cleaners also provide gutter cleaning services, which ensure your gutters remove water from your roof and prevent roof damage.
3. Address the needs of all congregants.
Our Zoe Church in Bulgaria was able to host their first youth service in almost 2 years! So grateful to see this group of teens gathering together in a place they can call home and with a community they can call family. This is a huge answer to our prayers. pic.twitter.com/uqSNvnma0J
— Christine Caine (@ChristineCaine) July 1, 2021
Running a thriving church involves more than holding worship services. Your church will thrive when it meets the needs of all congregants, including children and young adults. Offer Sunday school services for youth to ensure they receive age-appropriate teaching during adult worship services. You can launch a youth group for young adults, offering a combination of spiritual teaching and social activities for youth. You can also host mid-week Bible studies and prayer meetings for church members.
Additionally, you can opt to host multiple worship services to ensure you can meet the needs of members who may work Sunday mornings. Holding Saturday night or Sunday night services is an effective way of ensuring your church members have multiple service options, so they don’t miss services if they’re occupied Sunday mornings.
4. Get the materials you need from reliable suppliers.
Churches offer a range of services, and they need materials for their services. Setting up an account with a supplier is a great way to ensure you have the resources you need, enabling you to host services without delays or complications.
Religious suppliers offer multiple products, including stationery products such as church bulletin, letterhead stationery, record-keeping books, baptism certificates, and confirmation certificates. You can also secure communion supplies, Bibles, hymnals, Sunday school curriculums, and vacation Bible school curriculums from religious suppliers. In addition, you can use flags, banners, candles, and other supplies to create a welcoming environment in your meeting space.
You can ensure your church is successful by complying with IRS guidelines to qualify for tax-exempt status, enabling your church to benefit financially by reducing its tax burden. You can also ensure your success by investing in building maintenance to ensure your meeting site is safe and inviting, providing services for all congregants, and using professional resources for your decor and services.
