Church Growth vs. Church Marketing: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to growing a church, many people hear terms like "church growth" and "church marketing" and think they mean the same thing. But they’re very different! While both are important for a thriving church, they serve unique purposes. This article will break it down so you can understand what makes them different, how they work together, and how your church can balance both to fulfill its mission.

1. What Is Church Growth?

Church growth is more than having more people show up on Sunday. At its core, church growth focuses on spiritual growth and building a stronger relationship with God—for individuals and the church. Yes, it often includes more people attending church services, but it’s also about deepening faith, creating community, and helping others grow in their walk with Christ.

Key Characteristics of Church Growth

1. Discipleship: Helping people grow as followers of Jesus. Matthew 28:19 reminds us, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

2. Community Engagement: Church growth involves being a light in the local community. Acts 2:47 says the early church was “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

3. Spiritual Depth: It’s not just about numbers. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Example of Church Growth in Action:

Imagine a small church of 50 people. Over a year, they start a Bible study, volunteer at a local food bank, and encourage members to invite friends to church. At the end of the year, they’ve grown to 75 members and built stronger connections and a sense of purpose among the congregation. That’s church growth!

2. What Is Church Marketing?

On the other hand, church marketing is about communication. It involves sharing your church’s mission, vision, and events with a broader audience. Think of it as a way to ensure that people outside your church know who you are, what you believe, and how they can get involved. 

Key Characteristics of Church Marketing

1. Visibility: Helping people find your church. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “You are the world's light. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

2. Outreach: Reach people where they are, whether online or in your local community. Marketing can help newcomers find a church family.

3. Strategy: This involves sharing your church's message through tools such as websites, social media, and flyers. 

Example of Church Marketing in Action:

Imagine you’re hosting a Christmas Eve service. You create a Facebook event, post flyers in your town, and email your congregation, encouraging them to invite friends. These marketing efforts help ensure that more people hear about the service and feel welcome to attend.

3. What’s the Difference?

While church growth and marketing support a healthy church, they’re different. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Primary Goals

- Church Growth: Building disciples and deepening faith.

- Church Marketing: Attracting attention and inviting people in.

Key Methods

- Church Growth: Prayer, Bible studies, service projects, and strong preaching.

- Church Marketing: Social media ads, websites, event promotions, and branding.

Why Does It Matter?

Focusing only on marketing may attract people who leave because they don’t find spiritual growth. Alternatively, if you focus only on growth without marketing, you may miss opportunities to reach new people. Both are important!

4. How Church Growth and Church Marketing Work Together

The best part? Church growth and church marketing don’t have to compete. They can work hand in hand! Let’s look at a few examples:

Example 1: Promoting a Small Group

Marketing’s Role: Use social media or emails to inform people about the small group’s time, location, and purpose.

Growth’s Role: Once people join, focus on helping them connect, build friendships, and grow in their faith.

Example 2: Inviting the Community to an Event

- Marketing’s Role: Design flyers, run Facebook ads and ask members to invite their friends.

- Growth’s Role: Create a welcoming atmosphere at the event, share the Gospel, and follow up with attendees to encourage them to return.

5. Potential Pitfalls to Avoid

While both church growth and marketing are helpful, there are a few pitfalls to watch out for:

Over-Reliance on Marketing

It’s easy to get caught up in numbers, such as how many likes your post got or how many people showed up at an event. But numbers don’t always reflect actual growth. John 15:5 reminds us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.”

Neglecting Marketing

On the flip side, some churches avoid marketing altogether, thinking it’s unnecessary. But if no one knows about your church or events, how will they attend? Romans 10:14 asks, “How can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”

Losing Authenticity

Marketing should reflect your church’s true mission and values. Avoid over-promising or looking “cool” at the expense of authenticity. Colossians 3:23 reminds us to work for the Lord in all we do: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

6. Practical Tips for Churches

Here are some simple steps your church can take to balance growth and marketing:

For Church Growth

1. Invest in Discipleship: Create opportunities for members to grow in their faith, such as Bible studies or mentorship programs.

2. Foster Community: Host events like potlucks or service projects to build relationships.

3. Pray for Growth: Remember that spiritual growth comes from God, not human efforts. 1 Corinthians 3:7 says, “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

For Church Marketing

1. Build an Online Presence: Create a simple, welcoming website and keep your social media updated.

2. Share Stories: Highlight testimonies of how God is working in your church to inspire others. Revelation 12:11 says, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

3. Promote Events: Use tools like Canva to design flyers or Facebook to run ads for upcoming services and events.

Conclusion: Bringing It All Together

Church growth and marketing are both critical but not the same. Church growth focuses on deepening relationships with God and building a strong, spiritually healthy congregation. Church marketing helps share that mission with the world, inviting new people to experience what God is doing in your church.

When you combine both, your church can attract new members and nurture their faith so they become lifelong followers of Christ.

If you’re ready to take your church to the next level, download our FREE Church Marketing Audit Report today! This resource will help your church get more visitors affordably. 

Let’s work together to fulfill the Great Commission and make disciples of all nations!