Growth And Health

January 2008

The leaders of a local church wanted to encourage members’ use of spiritual gifts. They devised a ministry catalog and interest survey. They held a ministry fair, where some members proudly and publicly turned in their surveys. But this fanfare was both the beginning and the end of the church’s attempt to call out its members’ gifts.

Why? Leadership failed to build a foundation through vision casting. As a result, less than 10 percent of the congregation turned in interest surveys, and the leftover catalogs ended up in the church’s basement. It seems that many church leaders don’t understand that speed kills. Developing a healthy growing church, where members grow as disciples, investing their lives in Christ-like behavior takes time.

Our slow cultural shift

Healthy church growth is more about aligning our individual values and the values of the church as a body of disciples with God’s stated plan. Undoubtedly, it is a process of change, more a journey of repeated discovery, surrender, and alignment than it is a single event. Wise leaders precede their congregations in this journey, surrendering and realigning themselves before ever attempting to “move” the congregation.

Healthy church growth is not the result of an outreach program focused on gaining new members, but a process dedicated to helping everyone, inside and outside the church, become a disciple of Jesus Christ. If the church is to accomplish this task leaders must realize that realigning the values of an individual’s heart takes time. Realigning the values of the many hearts that make up a church takes… more time.

God bless you as you journey through this next month. Church calendars are always full and as a result, church leaders and congregations seem to always be busy. I pray the month of February 2008 be one of reflection, discovery and renewal for us all.

If I can be of service to you please contact me at (785) 228-6800.

Just below this column is an article about Southview Baptist Church in Lincoln Nebraska. Under the leadership of Pastor Aaron Householder they have embraced a journey that is yielding great benefit to their church, community, and the Kingdom of God. I encourage you to read it and if their story is one which resonates in your heart you may want to contact Pastor Aaron to learn more about the “cost” of change.

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