#113 - The Power of Invitation: Rich Birch on Relational Evangelism and Sustainable Growth

Churches aren’t declining because people are leaving—they’re declining because people never connect in the first place. In this powerful conversation on The Sowers Podcast, Rich Birch explains why the real growth challenge facing Canadian churches isn’t the back door… it’s the front door. Rich is one of the most trusted voices in church growth today, having helped lead some of the fastest-growing and largest multi-site churches in North America. In this episode, he shares practical, theological, and missional insights that will reshape how you think about guests, invite culture, and outreach in a post-Christian context. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why the average church is far “stickier” than leaders realize The two subconscious questions every first-time guest is asking Why being “friendly” is not enough anymore How invite culture fuels discipleship, leadership development, and mission Simple changes churches of 70–100 people can make right now Why teaching still matters deeply to unchurched people Whether you’re leading a church plant, a small congregation, or a multi-site church, this conversation will challenge and equip you to remove barriers and help more people encounter Jesus. GUEST BIO Rich Birch is a trailblazer in the multi-site church movement across North America. He played a key role in The Meeting House becoming Canada’s largest multi-site church, reaching over 5,000 people across 20+ locations. Rich also served in senior leadership at Connexus Community Church (a North Point Strategic Partner) and as Operations Pastor at Liquid Church in New Jersey. Rich’s mission is to help 100 churches grow by 1,000 people each by transforming their invite cultures. Through unSeminary.com, his podcast, blog, books, and coaching, he equips thousands of church leaders with practical, proven growth strategies. He is the author of "Church Growth Flywheel" and "Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture," leads the Church Growth Flywheel Masterclass, and coaches churches through the Church Growth Incubator. Rich lives in Ontario with his wife Christine, their young adult children Haley and Hunter, and their dog Rory—who is constantly being asked (unsuccessfully) to stay off the furniture. To learn more about Rich Birch and unSeminary, please visit: https://unseminary.com/ Chapters 00:00 - Welcoming Rich Birch and introducing the focus on church growth barriers 02:30 - Rich's story: From family roots to personal faith development 05:00 - Early church experiences that shaped Rich's faith journey 10:15 - How churches often underwhelm at the front door 12:00 - The surprising statistics on guest retention and integration 14:20 - The significance of first impressions: "Are we expected and accepted?" 16:45 - Shifting from insider focus to outreach and invitation culture 19:30 - Practical steps for churches to articulate next steps and upcoming events 22:20 - Why most churches are better at retention than initial outreach 26:00 - The power of personal invitation and how to equip congregations 30:30 - Making the Sunday service a key evangelistic moment without sacrificing biblical teaching 33:20 - The importance of biblical transcendence and applicability in sermons 36:45 - Common myths: Inside-out focus and superficial friendliness 39:00 - The current spiritual hunger in Canada, especially among Gen Z 40:32 - Opportunities for unity and growth across Canadian churches 42:50 - How the next generation can carry church legacy and innovation forward 43:08 - Connect with Rich Birch at Unseminary.com for ongoing leadership insights