Link to Jim's blog post.

I have also heard that people are unlikely to stay in a congregation unless they can connect with at least 5 people in the congregation. 

People in congregations already have "connections". Perhaps, like me, they are just not good at/comfortable inviting people they already know to come and see what's happening at the church?

Making more connections with new people is important if I need to generate new business, or want to advance my career, perhaps. Making connections for the purpose of bringing in new people doesn't seem right to me, at least not for a church. Inviting existing connections to join you in one of your activities/events makes more sense to me, whether a church activity/event or not.

Hi Jim...
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I appreciated reading your words and pray a blessing as you pronounce them in the hearing of the gathered community.
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I admired several features in particular. First, the confessional voice, where you notice your manner of engaging our scriptural heritage and your experience with developments in our emergent milieu.
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I valued your gentle presentation of Jeremiah's strong medicine. You nicely notice the problem of our lapsed relationship with the 'things' of God. Then you set out the opportunity for choosing towards the way of life productive of God's blessing. Your script is gracious and well seasoned with salt.
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There is a weakness in your script. This same weakness is present to each and all of us called to proclaim a vital word. What are we to do to overcome the hearer's liberal bias to esthetic rather than ethical appraisal and appreciation?
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Respectfully,
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George