The church, which looks like a large convention center, sits at the intersection of two sparsely used Pennsylvania highways. Fields surround the sprawling church center, and when the winds permit, the spicy scent of open cowsheds wafts in. Nothing about the LCBC Church reminds you of a classic church – except for the Bible on the folding seats and maybe Terry: The pensioner greets the visitors streaming in on Advent Sunday with a handshake.

The service takes place in a state-of-the-art conference hall, with complex stage and lighting technology and an LED wall on which the stage technicians play a video message from the lead pastor, the Bible passages that are taken up in the sermon, and the church app. When the congregation is supposed to sing, the song verses run as scrolling text across the video wall. For churchgoers sitting further back in the arena, large screens show what’s happening on stage. The hall has 2,300 seats and is almost full this Sunday. It is the second service of the day; the first was just as well attended.

What is missing, however, is a cross, an altar, a sermon pulpit, an Advent wreath, the homely, musty smell of old church pews – and a cassock. The pastor is wearing a hoodie. No bell calls the believers,neither the lord’s Prayer nor the Creed are spoken,the old chorales do not sound,and Bach’s cantatas remain silent. Anyone who suspects that anything about this production is due to chance is wrong.

Religion is only indispensable for half

The LCBC Church is bucking a powerful downward trend with a sophisticated approach. On average, there are 60 people in church today; two decades ago there were twice as many.In 1972,90 percent of Americans identified themselves as Christians. Last year it was 65 percent. “The situation is bad,” said Ryan Burge, a professor at the Danforth Center on Religion & Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. the latest Gallup poll confirms the decline: only 49 percent of adults in the US say religion is essential to their daily lives. In 2015 it was 66 percent.

“I’ll never learn to tie a tie – and I’ll never wear a tie.”

During one of his first years in Pennsylvania, Ashcraft came across the redeeming message in the zeitgeist magazine “GQ”: Consequently, many American men had neither a suit nor a tie.The requirement to wear a suit excluded her. From then on, casualness reigned in Ashcraft’s church: “We appear normal, just like everyone else.” With a hoodie and a stubble, for example. For Ashcraft, the episode has deeper meaning: he wants to flatten all barriers that prevent people from coming to church. “People tell us all the time: They’re sitting in the parking lot and thinking,’I don’t know if I want to go in – I don’t know what’s waiting for me inside.’ And we want to make it as easy as possible.”

Electric guitars instead of chorales

that’s why the old chorales, which sound strange to people who didn’t grow up as churchgoers, had to disappear. The music should be Christian, pleasing and professional. People could always listen to christian music on the radio in the US; They demanded the same quality in the church, Ashcraft believes. There are nine musicians on stage on Advent Sunday, eight of them volunteers, who master their electric guitars, drums, electric piano and their voices. The music is loud, rousing and foreign to ears trained in German churches.

The demands on pastors are at least that high. People tolerate weak sermons in small churches because they are familiar with the pastor who buried their mother or baptized the child, Ashcraft says.But not in megachurches like LCBC. Ashcraft requires his pastors at the church’s now 25 locations to ensure that a nine-year-old can understand their sermons.

LCBC teams evaluate wors

The shifting Landscape of Faith: How Churches Are Adapting to a Skeptical World

For decades, the church was frequently enough seen as a cornerstone of community, automatically assumed to foster moral citizens and strengthen societal bonds. But that assumption is fading, according to researcher and former pastor, who notes a growing demand for tangible proof of a church’s positive impact. Today,people want to see churches actively addressing concrete needs – feeding the hungry,clothing the needy,and supporting the incarcerated. “Churches must show the gospel not only with words,but also with actions,” he asserts.

Victor Long, pastor of a United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon, Missouri, an hour and a half west of St. Louis, is witnessing this shift firsthand. While many traditional churches are experiencing notable membership decline, his community is finding a surprising influx of new members – “refugees” from other denominations disillusioned by the increasing politicization of faith.the church is also benefiting from closures in other congregations.

Long maintains a traditional Protestant liturgy, frequently enough wearing a robe during services. However, recognizing the need to appeal to a broader audience, he also introduced a modern service last year, complete with a rock band and a more casual atmosphere. “Now we appeal to two different groups in our church, but we have stayed in our lane,” he explains. The Methodist church weathered the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well, though challenges remain. A megachurch just two blocks away poses a constant draw, offering a more contemporary experience with elaborate productions and trendy aesthetics. “It’s hard to compete with that,” Long admits.

“We make a product out of Jesus”

Long believes the current cultural climate is a major driver of these changes.Many people seek a church experience that is immediately gratifying – filled with upbeat music, excited worship, and a generally positive atmosphere. However, he’s found that this often proves fleeting. He’s been able to attract some of these individuals to his community by offering something different.

Long is critical of what he sees as the Americanization of faith.”We are turning Jesus into a product,” he laments. “We have to market it, we have to generate revenue, attract people and give people what they want.” Conversely, he deeply values the mystical aspects of Christianity, finding solace in the Catholic mass and maintaining a connection with a monastery as an oblate. “It really feeds my soul.”

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LCBC and the “Marriott” Model of Church Growth

Lancaster County Bible Church (LCBC), a multi-site church based in Pennsylvania, has adopted an unconventional growth strategy inspired by the hospitality industry, specifically Marriott International. This approach, spearheaded by former Lead Pastor Ben Ashcraft, prioritizes consistent core values and a focus on reaching people for Jesus, rather than strict branding or denominational affiliation. The strategy involves allowing individual church locations to develop unique identities while maintaining a unified theological foundation.

The Marriott Analogy: Brand vs. Core Experience

Ashcraft observed that Marriott successfully operates a vast network of hotels – over 8,000 properties worldwide as of December 2023 [Marriott News] – under a multitude of different brands (around 30 as of late 2023 [Statista]).despite the diverse branding, guests consistently experience a certain level of quality and service that defines the Marriott experience. A traveler might stay at a Ritz-Carlton, a Courtyard, or a Fairfield Inn without necessarily realizing they are all part of the same parent company.

Ashcraft applied this concept to LCBC, realizing that the “name on the building” is less importent than the consistent delivery of a core message and experience. he stated, “We thought: Same with the church. The name on the house is of secondary importance. Whether it’s LCBC or something else – the main thing is that Jesus comes to the people from there.”

Decentralization and Leadership Transition

This ideology led to a purposeful decentralization of LCBC’s structure. Individual campuses were given greater autonomy to adapt to their local communities and develop unique expressions of worship and ministry. This contrasts with many megachurches that strive for uniformity across all locations.

As a outcome of implementing this model, Ashcraft relinquished his role as Lead Pastor. He now, along with a small team, focuses on consulting with smaller, self-reliant churches across pennsylvania, helping them to improve their outreach and effectiveness in sharing the Christian message. this advisory role centers on principles of consistent theological grounding combined with localized expression.

Key Principles of the LCBC Model

• Core values first: Maintaining a unified theological foundation and commitment to core Christian beliefs.
• Localized Expression: Allowing individual campuses to adapt to their communities and develop unique identities.
• De-emphasis on Branding: recognizing that the name of the church is less important than the experience it provides.
• Leadership Development: Empowering local leaders to take ownership of their campuses.

Impact and Future Implications

The LCBC model represents a shift in thinking about church growth and expansion. It suggests that a focus on consistent core values and localized relevance can be more effective than strict branding and centralized control. The success of this approach, and its adoption by other churches through Ashcraft’s consulting work, could reshape the landscape of church planting and revitalization in the coming years.

FAQ

Q: Is LCBC changing its name?

A: Not necessarily. The point is that the name is secondary to the core experience and message. Campuses may retain the LCBC name or adopt a different name that resonates with their local community.

Q: Is this model applicable to all churches?

A: The principles of consistent core values and localized expression are broadly applicable, but the specific implementation will vary depending on the context and needs of each church.

Q: What is Ben Ashcraft doing now?

A: Ben Ashcraft is now a church consultant, advising smaller free churches in Pennsylvania on how to effectively reach people for Jesus.

Q: What is the significance of the Marriott comparison?

A: The Marriott comparison illustrates how a large organization can maintain consistency and quality across a diverse range of brands, and how a similar principle can be applied to church growth.

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