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 Our Church has Quit Growing |
c6thplayer1 |
Is this a bad thing? We still have good worship services. We still invite people
to our services. Nothing seems to work.
Our music is blended , Old hymns and newer contemporary. Everyone likes the entire service. I am not really interested in the Hype a larger church offers.
One the biggest churches in the area employees hype and have grown from about 100 to over 400. However most of the churches that used this tatic in our area are now debunked or gone. All that remains are bankrupt buildings. |
Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology
Posts: 6385
2/12/16 5:35 pm
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Cojak |
You probably asked the 64 dollar question.
No, personally I do nt think it is bad. I think a church should learn to live with themselves, worship and love God, and after a little plateau time, it could start again.
I pass a big beautiful church that was called, 'Celebration of Praise' several times a month. It grew too fast, and could not sustain itself. A beautiful church and congregation. It is now a Clermont FL, City or County building.
Slow steady growth with satisfying plateaus as everyone gets to know each other and enjoy worshiping together is one way to do it, I would think. 
I only pastored 3 churches for a short time. Only the one we planted GREW, it was a wonderful, satisfying experience (for awhile then the pastor went crazy!  ) But the church is still going and growing at last report, with a better pastor.
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http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/ |
01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011
Posts: 24285
2/12/16 6:59 pm
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| Re: Our Church has Quit Growing |
philunderwood |
| c6thplayer1 wrote: | Is this a bad thing? We still have good worship services. We still invite people
to our services. Nothing seems to work.
Our music is blended , Old hymns and newer contemporary. Everyone likes the entire service. I am not really interested in the Hype a larger church offers.
One the biggest churches in the area employees hype and have grown from about 100 to over 400. However most of the churches that used this tatic in our area are now debunked or gone. All that remains are bankrupt buildings. |
You may say we are not growing but since you cannot see the future you cannot say you have quit growing. What is your community's culture? You mention blended services, musically speaking, and "everyone" likes it and invites others. But maybe there are some questions unasked.
Are we a microcosm of our community?
Are our 'likes' ours or do they cover a broad spectrum of people?
What difference is "our" people teaming up to do to serve our community and meet a local need?
Is the extent of our presence in the community our meeting time and place or are we felt at other times?
I am convinced our desire (and I share the desire) for people to come in should be eclipsed by our desire to send people out on mission without regard to our growth. We can be servants in the Spirit of Jesus. I would just say to you, if you asked (and I am the LAST PERSON here you would probably ask), quit trying to grow. Just begin a plan to go...beyond your walls. Find a strategic initiative, partner with a school or a social agency.
In the last month we have been publicly honored by the Chamber of Commerce, the outgoing mayor and now the incoming mayor. Today I received an email from the Rotary Club thanking us for our service. We have less than 120 people and I tell them all the time, our mandate is to GO, not to just ask people to COME. Just tonight I sat at a community benefit dinner and watched as over half of the volunteers serving there were people I have the honor of teaching week after week.
I'd like to send you the story of Michael Vinings, a fictionalized pastor, who had the same dilemma you are feeling but on a different scale. If you will accept my offer, please inbox me your address. I do not know where you are, but I would also like to scholarship you to my next regional pastor's workshop on how to impact your community. There is an East Coast in May, Midwest in April and West Coast in June.
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Live an epiK life!
Discover More...
http://www.refocusing.org
A Mission in Formation
www.bluewaterinthekeys.com |
Golf Cart Mafia Underboss
Posts: 3954
2/12/16 10:49 pm
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| Re: Our Church has Quit Growing |
c6thplayer1 |
| philunderwood wrote: | | c6thplayer1 wrote: | Is this a bad thing? We still have good worship services. We still invite people
to our services. Nothing seems to work.
Our music is blended , Old hymns and newer contemporary. Everyone likes the entire service. I am not really interested in the Hype a larger church offers.
One the biggest churches in the area employees hype and have grown from about 100 to over 400. However most of the churches that used this tatic in our area are now debunked or gone. All that remains are bankrupt buildings. |
You may say we are not growing but since you cannot see the future you cannot say you have quit growing. What is your community's culture? You mention blended services, musically speaking, and "everyone" likes it and invites others. But maybe there are some questions unasked.
Are we a microcosm of our community?
Are our 'likes' ours or do they cover a broad spectrum of people?
What difference is "our" people teaming up to do to serve our community and meet a local need?
Is the extent of our presence in the community our meeting time and place or are we felt at other times?
I am convinced our desire (and I share the desire) for people to come in should be eclipsed by our desire to send people out on mission without regard to our growth. We can be servants in the Spirit of Jesus. I would just say to you, if you asked (and I am the LAST PERSON here you would probably ask), quit trying to grow. Just begin a plan to go...beyond your walls. Find a strategic initiative, partner with a school or a social agency.
In the last month we have been publicly honored by the Chamber of Commerce, the outgoing mayor and now the incoming mayor. Today I received an email from the Rotary Club thanking us for our service. We have less than 120 people and I tell them all the time, our mandate is to GO, not to just ask people to COME. Just tonight I sat at a community benefit dinner and watched as over half of the volunteers serving there were people I have the honor of teaching week after week.
I'd like to send you the story of Michael Vinings, a fictionalized pastor, who had the same dilemma you are feeling but on a different scale. If you will accept my offer, please inbox me your address. I do not know where you are, but I would also like to scholarship you to my next regional pastor's workshop on how to impact your community. There is an East Coast in May, Midwest in April and West Coast in June. |
Thanks Phil , you have a message in your inbox. |
Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology
Posts: 6385
2/12/16 11:13 pm
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| Re: Our Church has Quit Growing |
wayne |
| philunderwood wrote: | | c6thplayer1 wrote: | Is this a bad thing? We still have good worship services. We still invite people
to our services. Nothing seems to work.
Our music is blended , Old hymns and newer contemporary. Everyone likes the entire service. I am not really interested in the Hype a larger church offers.
One the biggest churches in the area employees hype and have grown from about 100 to over 400. However most of the churches that used this tatic in our area are now debunked or gone. All that remains are bankrupt buildings. |
You may say we are not growing but since you cannot see the future you cannot say you have quit growing. What is your community's culture? You mention blended services, musically speaking, and "everyone" likes it and invites others. But maybe there are some questions unasked.
Are we a microcosm of our community?
Are our 'likes' ours or do they cover a broad spectrum of people?
What difference is "our" people teaming up to do to serve our community and meet a local need?
Is the extent of our presence in the community our meeting time and place or are we felt at other times?
I am convinced our desire (and I share the desire) for people to come in should be eclipsed by our desire to send people out on mission without regard to our growth. We can be servants in the Spirit of Jesus. I would just say to you, if you asked (and I am the LAST PERSON here you would probably ask), quit trying to grow. Just begin a plan to go...beyond your walls. Find a strategic initiative, partner with a school or a social agency.
In the last month we have been publicly honored by the Chamber of Commerce, the outgoing mayor and now the incoming mayor. Today I received an email from the Rotary Club thanking us for our service. We have less than 120 people and I tell them all the time, our mandate is to GO, not to just ask people to COME. Just tonight I sat at a community benefit dinner and watched as over half of the volunteers serving there were people I have the honor of teaching week after week.
I'd like to send you the story of Michael Vinings, a fictionalized pastor, who had the same dilemma you are feeling but on a different scale. If you will accept my offer, please inbox me your address. I do not know where you are, but I would also like to scholarship you to my next regional pastor's workshop on how to impact your community. There is an East Coast in May, Midwest in April and West Coast in June. |
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Acts Enthusiast
Posts: 1274
2/15/16 8:41 am
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