Principles for Developing
a Church Growth Vision
By James A. Cress
Vision = More Than Sight!
Some people see things as they
are and ask why?
Other see things as they could
be and ask why not!
-- Robert F. Kennedy
1. Intentionality
• God expects the church to grow (Acts 2).
• Growth is not a numbers game!
But God is interested in numbers
• Church is not the church
if it is not growing!
2. Dissatisfaction with
Status Quo
• If all is okay, why still here?
• A great heritage and marvelous history
1949 1 million members worldwide
2009 20 million members worldwide
• But we are still here!
What should we be doing differently?
3. Analytical Analysis
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Not salvation by number-crunching
Who have you got?
What is working?
What is not working?
1. Unconscious ineffectiveness
2. Conscious ineffectiveness
3. Unconscious effectiveness
4. Conscious effectiveness
5. Naturalized effectiveness
4. Target Best Potentials
= Positioning
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Youth vs. aged
Win a youth, win a multiplication table
No one power group controls
On-going repositioning is essential
Population demographics determine
mission tactics (i.e. Paul’s different
approaches).
5. Build on Strengths
• Slogan: The Caring Church
• Nobody believed – not even the members
• Seventh-day Adventists . . .
When you’re looking for answers!
• ADRA - You can trust > than “they care”
• Build on strengths:
Adventists not charismatics
6. Pastoral Tenure
• 21 years experience
• Live through and resolve problems vs.
escape
7. Emphasize Spiritual Growth
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bible Study
Prayer
Fellowship
Witnessing
Obedience
8. Consistent Preaching
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Christ-centered
No surprises
Listener-focused
Take home value
Certainty – preach “as if”
Study your questions, of course.
Don’t take your questions into the pulpit!
9. Invitations
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Response cards
Pew card summary
Spiritual business
Public invitations
Invite “an appointment”
Easy to say “Yes”
10. Big Deals
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Baby Dedications
Baptismal Services
Anniversaries
Friends’ Day
Honor Teachers
Visitor Recognition
11. Advertise
• Sabbath Worship Service –
Advertise – Weekly newsletter, paper, radio,
television
Sermon series
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Best evangelistic opportunity
Complimentary advertising
Pastoral business cards for your leaders
Announce:
Open Communion
Public Baptism
Annual Homecoming
Free Lunch
12. Dynamic Worship
• Creatively Dynamic
• Need not be radical!
• Timeliness
Cut extraneous
Time Czar
Emphasize essentials
Mail bulletins
13. Inclusive Reckoning
as Outreach Method
Non-Believers
Attending
Non-Believers
Non-Attending
Believers
Attending
Believers
Non-Attending
14. Small Group Ministries
• Pastor’s Work = “work the members”
• Pastors Method = “lead the leaders!”
• Small Group Effectiveness Factors:
– Word
– Worship
– Fellowship
– Service
15. Leaders Who Lead!
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Not an enabler who says, Here I am, What do
you
want me to do?
Not a facilitator who says, Figure out what you
want
to do and I’ll help
you get there.
Rather . . . A leader who says, “This is where
God
wants us to go . . . Follow me as I
follow Christ!
A.
B.
C.
D.
Assume responsibility for growth
Work hard
Share ministry
Not paralyzed by pessimists – some members cannot be
pastored
E. Invest time, energy and money in training
Self – continuing education
Leaders – for responsible service
Members – increased world view
16. Followers Who Follow
A. Willing to follow the leader.
B. Expect pastoral ranchers more than
shepherds
C. Pay the price for following
D. Readjust fellowship patterns – assimilate
new
E. Open up leadership opportunities
F. Intentionally include youth and
newcomers
17. Administrators who value local
congregation more than structure
• Tip O’Neill -- All politics is local
• Resource sharing
• Key Result Areas (KRA) as
base for appropriations
• Performance Standards
18. Global Worldview = Mission