This is a guest post from Patricia – a Church Management Consultant and blogger at Smart Church Management where she writes about strategic planning, goal development, church volunteer management, employee development and offers pointers on church administration.

According to a report in the Christian Post, church membership is down in the two largest Christian denominations – The Southern Baptist Convention and the Roman Catholic Church. While the article admits that further research needs to be done to answer the question “why”, the report does state that “church-goers” who are in their 20s and 30s may attend a congregation but “resist” joining them.

This kind of report is poignant because of all of the benefits there are to being a member of a church. A well run church provides the atmosphere for spiritual, social and physical support that is not available in other social organizations.

When I reflect on my own church experience, I think of the those things that drew me to a church body and those things that keep me engaged with other Christians.

Benefits of Local Church Membership