Sitting in our denom's monthly church planting gathering in Richmond, where 3 different pastors are addressing 'Breaking Growth Barriers' on three different levels ~ 50, 100, and 200. It's interesting that these guys weren't the ones who started their churches, but rather came in afterward... which is critical. It takes a fresh perspective and some strategic changes that planters sometimes can't make. They're too stuck in set ways or fearful of losing people. But when they get fresh eyes and lose the fear, it's magic.
Who I AM
- I'm a creator, entrepreneur, author of DREAM YEAR, and aspiring novelist. My wife Ainsley and I live in Virginia Beach with our five kids Wyatt, Dylan, Cody, Annie & Millie
What I Do
« Evangelicals need a new name | Main | Taking the church into the streets »
Breaking Growth Barriers
| |
|
Comments
The comments to this entry are closed.
Are you going to post on any interesting insights in to how to break those barriers?
Also an interesting thought about needing a fresh perspective to break certain barriers. For those of us who plan on staying in our plants this is a difficulty. Lately I've been thinking this might be where getting good coaching might come in handy.
Posted by: Jason Roberts | January 25, 2007 at 11:33 AM
The principles boiled down to three issues:
50 Barrier - Love and shepherd people
100 Barrier - Create multiple small groups
200 Barrier - Excellence
I agree about the coaching. I'd like to find a coaching system for our staff that doesn't feel too systemmatic.
Posted by: Ben Arment | January 25, 2007 at 11:54 AM
As a pastor that is pushing 12 small groups of 12 by the end of 2007, that 100 barrier speaks to me...we average 85 in worship....I believe that "healthy and active" small groups WILL get us over 100...thanks ben!!
chill
Posted by: chill pastor | January 25, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Ben that is a great post. Short but good.
Shepherding is difficult for someone like me who is constantly saying, "Come on, have vision for 100" but we are at 40. Many new people in a church of 40 come because it is small and need to be indoctrinated with big vision. That is tough when they simply want to be in a tightly knit church where "everyone knows your name."
Posted by: brooks Hanes | January 25, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Don't misread this. I am always in favor of building into people and cultivating relationships at church. However, there seems to be a difficult balance at the 50 level whereby people are attending a "small" church because they expect a lot of attention. The pastor cannot have a personal relationship with everybody at church if the church expects to grow any bigger than 50. I think the key is to mentor and build into leaders and teach them to do the same.
Posted by: Shaula | January 25, 2007 at 11:01 PM