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A New Angle on Church Growth
May 29, 2005
Church leaders are searching for models and techniques of church growth that have both integrity and transferability. This means they want principles and programs consistent with biblical truth. Is it possible to find principles and programs that transcend the immediate culture of the church and apply to any country and any type of ministry? The answer appears to be yes.
One of the most winsome and useful models for church health and growth is the Natural Church Development paradigm pioneered by Christian Schwarz. The recommendations in his book, Natural Church Development, are derived from one of the most extensive surveys of churches ever attempted. The survey included many types of churches from different denominations in different parts of the world. From this survey, Schwarz has isolated eight qualities of healthy churches based on the laws of plant life and growth. He says that if churches have these healthy qualities, growth is almost certain.
Eight Qualities
The eight qualities are: empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, functional structures, inspiring worship service, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism, and loving relationships. Churches can be given ratings in each of these areas. Schwarz discovered that if churches are rated at a 65 percent level in all eight, there is a 94.9 percent chance they are growing.
Various items yielded fascinating results. For instance, churches had to respond to this statement: “There is a lot of laughter in our church.” In growing churches 68 percent answered in the affirmative. In declining churches only 33 percent agreed.
Interestingly, Schwarz found that whether a church targeted primarily non-Christians or not had no apparent relationship to growth. This runs counter to most thinking today, but could be explained by the fact that a church can grow by picking up believers from other churches.
One thing that did make a huge difference is morning worship. In growing churches 80 percent of the people said, “Attending our worship service is an exciting experience for me.” Only 49 percent answered yes in declining churches. These are the kinds of valuable insights available in this seminal book.
Two Web Sites
And the book is only the beginning. You can visit two Web sites. At www.churchsmart.com you can find many products by Schwarz and others, based on the Natural Church Development model. It even lists professional trainers in this approach that include among others, Bob Logan, a name well known in church growth and church planting circles. You can also access a list of training seminars.
The Natural Church Development network’s site, www.ncd-international.org, will keep you in touch with the movement as a whole. This site has some additional resources like videos and a question and answer section where you can get answers from Schwarz himself.
The biotic principles, statistical insights, and suggestions for implementation all make this book, and its related resources, worthy of your attention. This paradigm reminds us that we may be good farmers and use good techniques, but ultimately it is God who makes things grow.
Mike Shannon is dean at Cincinnati (Ohio) Bible Seminary.
PREVIOUS COLUMNS:
January 18, 2006 - Dealing With the Dark Side
January 4, 2006 - Libraries Without Walls
December 21, 2005 - Communication Concepts from Secular Circles
December 7, 2005 - Words of Wisdom for Women's Ministry
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November 9, 2005 - Invigorating Volunteers; Developing Disciples
October 26, 2005 - Overcoming Overwhelm
October 12, 2005 - Big Ideas for Smaller Churches
September 28, 2005 - For You and Youth
September 14, 2005 - A Potpourri of Books
August 31, 2005 - A Potpourri of Web Sites
August 17, 2005 - Hart-to-Heart Talks
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May 15, 2005 - It's Your Turn
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