Archive for the ‘Church Growth’ Category

South Decline

Posted: February 22, 2010 in Church Growth
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THE SOUTH IS CHANGING. Through urbanization and the vibrant growth of southern cites and towns, the South is becoming a center for innovative, intellectual and cultural growth. Yet, for the first time in its history, the church in the South is declining faster than anywhere in the country. Advance the Church believes this decline and the exodus away from the faith is due to internal failures rooted in gospel illiteracy and weak gospel contextualization–not due to societal or cultural change. As we stand at this critical turning point, we must be prepared to respond. This conference is committed to equipping pastors, lay leaders, and members to respond by engaging the changing culture of the South with the unchanging message of the gospel.  -Advance the Church

The above came from the promotional of a new church conference…….pretty interesting!  You wouldn’t think such in the Bible belt, but it is true and more reason we need to plant healthy new churches and fund them heavily!

College Students NO Church

Posted: August 11, 2009 in Church Environments, Church Growth
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Recently,  Ed Stetzer gave a presentation at the International Christian Retail Show on some of the research he’s doing at LifeWay. He shared the top reasons they’ve found that young adults are dropping out of church these days. Among the reasons:

1. They simply want a break from church (27%)

2. They felt church members are judgmental and/or hypocritical (26%)

3. They moved to college and didn’t find another church (25%);

4. They have work responsibilities that keep them from attending (23%);

5. They moved too far from church (22%)

6. They just got too busy, even though they’d still like to attend (22%)

7. They didn’t feel connected to the church in the first place (20%)

8. They disagreed with the church’s political/social stance (18%)

9. They decided to spend more time with friends (17%)

10. They were just going to church to please their parents (17%)

The Power of “No Credit”

Posted: July 22, 2009 in Church Growth
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Why do we feel and have been programmed that to do God’s work as an individual church, we must find a way to “get the credit?” This has no value in advancing the Kingdom; will advance your church, though, for awhile.  This will only last until God is tired of it……..your ministry then becomes stagnant, inner-focused, and plateaued.  As long as we check our “credit” egos at the door, and decide to build HIS Kingdom, rather than ours, the sky becomes the limit.  Remember, it’s all about whether your city is different because your church is in your city, not whether or not people come to YOUR church!

The Fake Church

Posted: May 7, 2009 in Church Growth
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We have had so many great churches through the years, but I believe, more authentic ones, now, than ever before.  Out of the Bible belt, people come as they are….in the Bible belt people come as they are expected to be.  That results in a fake environment, people covering their sin, and a hiding church.  We must fight hard to keep it real.  When we get alright with telling the truth about where we are in life, that one step closer to Jesus Christ becomes much easier.  In fact, it begins.  Without authentic honesty, the step won’t start.

Why?

Posted: September 15, 2008 in Church Growth
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  • Why can’t churches change?
  • Why can’t pastors change?
  • Why can’t members change?
  • Why do we avoid change?
  • Why do organizations hold on until death, before they entertain change?
  • I think change happens to us everyday in spite of our resistance. 

Just Saw This

Posted: June 26, 2008 in Church Growth
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  • 1990-  52 million people attended church
  • 2006- 52 million people attended church
  • 1990-2006- The United  States grew by 52 million people.

Conclusion:  Stagnant church attendance while the population continues to grow.

49 out of 50 states are declining in the percentage of their population that attend church.  The only one that is growing is Hawaii.  In 2010, only 16.5% of the population will attend church…..UNLESS.

Why Churches Succeed

Posted: June 6, 2008 in Church Growth
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Dr. Richard Krejcir, researching for the Frances Shaeffer Institute of Church Leadership and Development, has compiled a great article on growth factors verses failure factors in church today.  You can read the whole article here.  Hope you enjoy!

The main, significant factor over all else of why churches succeed is this one point: they were centered upon Christ as LORD! They were not centered on a personality, a vision, a denomination, an emerging paradigm, or a set of trends. They were “souled out” to Christ as central and sovereign. Each of these points relate to the Lordship of Christ.

The Significant Seven

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18

1. The number one reason people come and bring other people to a church is the love and fruit that is real, felt, and displayed.

2. The number two reason people stay a part of a church is the teaching aptitude of the pastor to stimulate spiritual knowledge and growth.

3. The number one reason people will stop going to any church is because of conflict and gossip!

4. The number one reason why people are stimulated to serve is because the Bible is taught in a real, effectual, and applicable way.

5. The number one reason people grow spiritually is by being encouraged to read through the Bible, do devotions, and practice the disciplines of the faith as modeled by the leadership.

6. The number one reason a church is effective in its outreach and missions is because of its real, authentic worship.

7. Healthy churches that are growing in Christ have prayer as a primary focus from the pulpit to the boardroom to their personal lives.

 

We’re Not Building Origin on Church-Switchers

Posted: April 24, 2008 in Church Growth
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Ed Stetzer, Lifeway Research, has some great commentary this week on what they are finding regarding Evangelism. 

“Unchurched adults interested in finding a congregation aren’t nearly as likely to visit one in person as a church member who is shopping for a new congregation. That means effective evangelism must begin outside the sanctuary in relationships between Christians and unbelievers……..so, if you build your outreach on recruiting and reaching church visitors you will often build a church on church switchers….. While unchurched people are open to relationships, few church members are intentionally investing time developing relationships with non-Christians.”

Origin Church exists for the unchurched!  Sure, we need good grounded people to help us launch and become a short-term missionary, but the real-deal dream for us is to provide a multiplied number of relevant and irresistable environments that unchurched people would not only attend, but attend again. I remember growing up in a church that I didn’t feel comfortable inviting my friends to because I knew they wouldn’t come back. I would invite them to other churches.  Let’s be that “other” church!  It’s worth it for these 18-40 year olds that go nowhere on a given Sunday.  To read the whole Ed Stetzer article, you can go here.