Grow Church, Grow!

By Doug Carter

Why are some churches experiencing exponential growth while others in the same community struggle constantly to maintain even their current levels of ministry? Is it really as simple as, “Growing churches are watering down the message,” or “Growing churches are merely appealing to people”s worldly wants”?

A closer study suggests growing churches have several common denominators all church leaders could learn from, including their willingness to take risks, a commitment to evangelism, and clear, agreed upon corporate values, organizational structure, and style.

Take Risks

The kingdom of God is not about playing it safe in the world! Jesus compared the growth of the kingdom of God to the “risky” business of farming. A farmer must first risk putting a “seed in the hand” in the ground to even begin hoping for a harvest! The same is true for the church to grow. Christians must “risk” a seed of something (sharing their faith, sacrificing their worldly wealth, launching a new ministry, or trying a new approach) to reap a harvest.

In the parable of the talents Jesus told of three servants. The one with the least to lose also risked the least. He buried his talent in the ground and got zero reward. His master harshly criticized him for not taking even the smallest risk””putting the money in an interest-bearing account at the local bank.

When we preach or teach about this fellow we rightfully criticize him, but the truth is, most churches and their leaders are much more like this “play-it-safe man” than his risk-taking peers! Put off by any suggestion they or the church they serve could “do better,” content with routines or paralyzed by fears, these leaders succeed in accomplishing for the Lord exactly what this man did””nothing!

Most church leaders are much more comfortable discussing ministry facilities, maintenance, and the funding of current ministry programming than considering the risky and exciting opportunities before them to grow the kingdom of God. Having never risked “planting a seed,” sadly they will never know the joy of seeing “God give the increase.”

Thankfully there are those willing to take a risk for the Lord, even if it means laying aside creature comforts and worldly possessions and enduring the criticisms of their “laid-back brethren.” Ben Davis left an associate ministry in Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1996 after feeling called to church planting. Without even the security of a core group from a sponsoring church, Davis, in his own words, “just parachuted into the Milwaukee area.” Eight years later the River Glen church averaged 700 in weekly attendance and in 2004 moved into a $4 million facility destined to impact the community for years to come!

Community Christian in Hemet, California, completed a new building program in 2004 that increased mortgage payments from $4,500 to $20,000 a month! John Scott, senior minister, wrote, “We opened up the space, people came, and offerings continue to soar. In one year we”ve gone from $12,000 to over $20,000 in giving a week! Our attendance has gone from 500 to over 850.” He adds, “It”s a lot of pressure when you first take that leap, but again, I”m glad we did!”

Jesus said even the slight risk of offering “a cup of cold water” in his name would not go unrewarded. Armed with this promise and aware of the examples of others””like the little boy who risked sharing his lunch, the man who risked stepping out of a perfectly good boat, and the woman who risked the outrage of others when she broke open a bottle of expensive perfume””we all should gladly join in the risky faith adventures that will honor God.

No risk, no reward. Know risk and you”ll know reward!

Emphasize Evangelism

Growing churches also have an unapologetic commitment to evangelism. Christ”s Church of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona, has seen phenomenal growth over the past 10 years. Senior pastor Don Wilson often asks, “Which of these three vital parts of the business of the church””winning people to Christ, training them to be fully committed disciples, or sending them to serve in the name of Christ””must the local church increasingly commit itself to as the church grows?” Wilson”s answer: winning people to Christ. “Otherwise,” he contends, “the church becomes focused inwardly and misses its main mission: to win souls for Christ.” Wilson largely credits CCV”s amazing growth to this overall, continual commitment.

So a second basic reason some churches are growing exponentially is actually fairly simple: they genuinely care about others and are committed to reaching them with the gospel. Rick Stedman, founding pastor of Adventure Christian in Rocklin, California, said, “Love people one at a time and they add up after a while!” (You owe it to yourself to read Adventure”s amazing, inspiring story online at www.adventurechristian.org.)

Whether it is through one-on-one evangelism, unique worship services, or special events, growing churches have committed themselves to sharing the life-changing good news of Christ with as many others as possible.

Sadly, some see themselves as a self-appointed “Siskel and Ebert” of Christ”s kingdom””spending far too much time critiquing and criticizing the evangelistic efforts of others, while doing nothing themselves. One preacher responded to such criticism by stating, “I like our way of doing it better than your way of not doing it!”

After the resurrection, Peter asked regarding John, “Lord, what about him?”

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return what is that to you? You must follow me.”

Rather than griping or maligning the remarkable growth of other fellowships, shouldn”t we be looking down our sidewalk and the streets of our neighborhood and asking God to give us a heart for evangelism? Like Stedman says, they might add up after a while!

Agree on Values, Structure, And Style

Growing churches also have clear, agreed upon corporate values, organizational structure, and style. That”s a mouthful, but it”s vital. Churches with clear and agreed upon values, clear and agreed upon organizational structure, and a clear and agreed upon style will proceed through difficult issues a lot better than those who are unclear on these matters.

Here”s a test. What are your church”s values? Would all the leaders of your church say the same things? Further, would they say them in the same order, with the same emphasis?

How about your organization? Who makes key decisions in your church? The board? The elders? The staff? The congregation? If you are stumped on, “What is a key decision,” then most likely there are already problems! Even with a constitution and bylaws, years of minutes, and Robert”s Rules in effect, “turf wars,” misunderstandings, and organizational problems inevitably erupt within a church family, and these things have the potential to sap the energy of its leaders and distract the church from its main purpose.

Growing churches, by their own painful experiences or sheer wisdom, have learned the importance of having clear understanding, agreement, and relentless adherence to values, structure, and style within the local church. Such wisdom and commitment ensure a church will stay on target, allowing every part of the body to function in concert; otherwise, competing views will result in “anchor drag!”

A few summers ago I took my family to a wonderful state park where we rented a speedboat for the day. We had a blast speeding around the lake, tubing, and soaking up some sunshine. Around noon we took a break in a shady cove. I threw the anchor over the side, strapped on a life vest, jumped in the cool water, and just floated for about half an hour.

When it came time to leave I swam back to the boat, got everyone back onboard, packed up, started the engine, and took off. But there was a big problem! The boat, which earlier had run so smoothly across the water, began shuttering and shaking. At first I thought the engine was about to explode! I quickly turned off the engine and looked back expecting a big puff of smoke, but instead I realized, to my horror and embarrassment, I had forgotten to take up the anchor!

I went to the back of the boat and pulled up the 20-pound anchor. Thankfully there wasn”t any damage, so I secured the anchor inside the boat, started the engine, and we were off once again””now, as earlier, skimming at high-speed across the lake!

It occurred to me as we soared through the water that the same 20 pounds now “onboard” had hardly any affect at all””yet hanging off the boat that same 20 pounds had dragged the entire enterprise down!

Unless a church family has clear agreement on its values, structure, and style, and is relentlessly committed to those items, the church will never operate as well as it could! Even one leader, dangling just a foot overboard, will slow or worse, ruin, the whole enterprise. Growing churches have learned the importance of having clear agreement on these matters and are passionate to uphold them for the sake of the success of the mission.

It would be impossible to replicate every aspect and nuance of the various exponentially growing churches around us, yet all church leaders should seriously consider their common denominators. As we glean these truths and sow them into the soil of our local church situation, God will bless and the church will grow!

So may we all say together: “Grow church grow!”

 

 

Doug Carter is associate pastor of adult and specialized ministries at Christ”s Church of the Valley, Peoria, Arizona.