How to develop a clear mission & purpose for your church
Resources to assist in being intentional about growth
A CRITICAL FACTOR IDENTIFIED IN the ‘From Anecdote to Evidence‘ research was having a clear mission and purpose. The evidence showed that churches that wanted to grow in numbers and set out a clear plan to do so were more likely to grow.
It is important as a church to have a clear sense of who you are and where you’re going, along with clear plans for getting there.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19
Key facts from the research
- Of churches who report a clear sense of mission and purpose, 64% had grown compared with 25% that had declined.
- When asked a question about which type of growth was their top priority, only 13% of the church leaders surveyed selected growth in numbers, but these churches were more likely to be growing.
- Having a clear mission and purpose for your church was a key factor in the research, but how can your church start to develop this? The resources below have been designed to help.
Resources
Bible study
This Bible study from Revd Dr Patrick Richmond reflects on Jesus’ own mission and purpose in the world, the mission he gave to his disciples and how this relates to church growth. Download file.
Scorecard
This score card can be used alongside the worksheet for this factor to help group members to reach an overall score for the factor or to help identify areas for further development. Download file.
Interactive exercise
This interactive exercise can be used alongside or in place of the discussion questions on the worksheet card in order to help group members explore this particular factor that is related to growth. Download file.
Leading your Church into Growth
The Leading Your Church Into Growth (LYCIG) course is run nationally every year and provides an excellent opportunity to think about how your church is led with growth in mind. It provides provoking input and gives you tools to use in your own parish. Visit the LYCIG website.
The Church Development Tool
What is your church great at? What support would your congregation like to grow in faith and discipleship? How representative is your congregation of the diversity of the community you serve?
The Church Development Tool can help you find out – and then point you to simple, tried and tested resources that will help you act on what you discover. Find out more.
Related resources
The quiet revival – praying for church growth
26 November 2025 13:30 – 14:30
Developing an evangelistic culture
Doubling the number of young active disciples by 2030
Leading your congregation through change
Diocesan Investment Programme: Feedback and recommendations from Mark Kitson report – afternoon session
19 September 2025 15:00 – 16:00
Project evaluations
