Strong and Faithful
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Church Growth and Ministry Growth - Simple Strategy.Church growth strategies based on vision and marketing.
For who is that article? For churches, christian fellowships and groups that would like to grow. This is not related to any denomination (even if I come from Pentecostal) because God wants to grow and make strong his ENTIRE BODY (ENTIRE KINGDOM) not just one denomination. If you are born again and Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour I’m your brother and I will help you as much as I can. Growing a church/ministry is a dream of every pastor and minister but that dream was fulfilled only for a few. There are two dimensions of that. First spiritual second physical. If you will get all the elements in both parts right YOU WILL GROW. I’m not saying that you will jump from 75 people in congregation to 10000 because this requires miracle and powerful God’s intervention but I’m talking about going let say from 50 to 100 (75-150,100-200, 150-300)in a short time (a year?). Believe me this is doable and NOT DIFFICULT. I will not be talking here about already known practices like G12 or any other but about things which will be relevant to any church organization no matter what your internal structure may be (home groups or any other). Why numbers are important? Numbers equal influence! What good it does to the Kingdom if you can serve only a few people? The same gifts could help 200 instead of 20. Why Jesus besides being with apostles (few) was also talking to the huge crowds (thousands)? Shouldn’t we follow his example? What good it does to the Kingdom if to your congregation are coming 2-5 new people a year? How long it will take to tell all the people in your town/city about Jesus with that speed? Are you fulfilling mission Jesus gave to the church (your church including)? What sort of influence on the society will have small group of Christians nobody really knows about? What do you think? You are right – NONE! What will be different about influence of your church if you will have 200 members instead of 50? A LOT! How many more good projects can run 200 members church in comparison with 50 members church. A LOT MORE! So if you are a small group or church and you are not really growing what is your purpose? You must answer that question for your own good. I understand very well teaching and growing in faith (I’m minister myself) but why not teach 100 instead of 40 people (if you have a gift)? Two dimensions of the church growth. Your church growth may come from two groups of people - from believers and unbelievers. Both groups are important and valuable but this what I would recommend to you if you consider yourself small church/fellowship is to start form believers. The reason is that you need gifted people to support and work with the vision. You will not get anywhere without strengthening your ranks in numbers and quality. Every area, town or city will have a multitude of different churches, fellowships, groups and so called “single” Christians (those who don’t think they belong somewhere). Maybe it is not what pastors like to talk about but churches are not of equal quality. Some are really good, some are average and some are really bad. I’m sure that there are a lot places in your area which have nothing really to offer for Christians (you want to make sure that you are not one of those) and people are staying there only because they have friends there or because of the tradition or because they have nowhere to go or because they didn’t look for something else. To attract valuable people who are unhappy and unfulfilled in other places or do not belong anywhere yet you must offer them something different, something what will start a fire in their hearts. If you are for instance one of 7 Baptist congregations in your city what is different about yours? If nothing then forget about growing. If you are to attract good faithful Christians to help you with your vision you must have one! You have to present them something significant, clear and powerful. Something worth their attention, something what will touch their hearts and cause them to stay.
I have also no problem with attracting people from other good churches. Why? It is simple. Every Christian has a divine purpose for their life – they have a calling (and it is not to make someone’s church members list longer). If in a place were they are now they are not fulfilling their calling it is very likely that they are in a wrong place. It may be a very good church but it is not a place for them so it is better (for them and for the Kingdom) if they go somewhere, where they will do something more then sitting in a bench. It is healthy for churches and good for the Kingdom to let (or even encourage) people to move between churches. Building a church is not about a particular church, it is all about the Kingdom. If the Kingdom grows and doesn’t suffer from your church practices you are in a good position to start growing your own church.
Church growth through vision. You must have a vision! Each church will have a special role assigned by God. It is obvious that we all have to preach the Gospel and build the Kingdom but in what particular way – only the vision can answer. Churches and ministers which have experienced significant growth did find their special assignment given by God. God knows how to get to people in your area. He knows the way! So your first assignment is to discover it! God may lead your church to be a prison or elderly people ministry or he may want you to focus on single mothers in your town. Once you will find that particular focus point and start faithfully working on it you will grow. It is the same as with your personal calling – you must find it! People or churches which didn’t find or even look for their calling are simply living in disobedience! Not good place to be for a Christian and especially for a minister. God doesn’t want you to do just anything; He has something really special what ONLY YOU (YOUR CHURCH) can do. If you will not do this - it is lost (and so are you). I don’t mean that you will not make to heaven but that your works will be burned. Church growth requires a lot of teaching. Very important step ones you will attract new people is to help them to gain strength, understanding and faith (this also applies to those already in your church). You must have available to people 24/7 teaching program (like one this website is dedicated to) parallel to existing teachings/sermons plan which will build and strengthen those who already know God. I’m not talking here about teaching people how to evangelize but first to teach them who they are in Christ, what power is available to them through Christ, how to live their lives, overcome problems and win in the battle of life. How to be victorious in Christ Jesus. I think you understand that defeated Christians are not a good testimony and will not attract unbelievers. And opposite is also true: By building strong Christians and strong church you are attracting people not only to your church but to God himself! I have built that website with a small and average church in mind and we can help you in a teaching area as we offer 24/7 teaching modules at very low prices. Please visit Christian Training section for more information. Church growth through proper marketing. From my experience I know that there are plenty of small and average size churches/ministers which have a lot to offer to the believers and unbelievers but they are only serving a few people around them. Why? Because nobody knows about them. They can’t be found! No matter how good you are, how anointed is your church if people won’t know about you they will not come. I understand the whole thing about God working in people and creating divine appointments but you must also do your part (human part). So why people don’t know about your church? Because you may not know how to tell others about your work (speaking straight how to advertise) or you think that it is inappropriate for a church or a ministry. Times have changed dramatically. Ten years ago very few people new about the Internet now it is a main source of information for people. People are searching on the net for all sorts of things: for salvations, for healing, for help, for information about the Bible, for sermons on certain subjects and for God himself! Yes that is right for God! You may not be aware of that but numbers of those searches are huge! Here are some examples of searches per month for such a small country as Ireland (4mln people): God – 135000 Healing – 33000 Salvation – 27000 Christian church – 1600 Christian fellowship – 1000 If you will tap to this stream of hungry people and give them what they are looking for if you present them answers to their questions you have got their attention. False religions as New Age are doing it on a daily basis with a great success and are leading people straight to hell. Difference is they are not afraid of spending money on the Internet and promotion of their believes by this medium. If you combine proper Internet Marketing with well designed interactive website (cooperating with your internet marketing plan) and employ it for a year or two; you may achieve significant growth just by doing that. It shouldn’t be difficult to jump from 50 to 100 or from 100 to 150 or 200. And all this will cost you hundreds not thousands per month (at least when I will do that, regular agency will take thousands). If you see my point please visit our marketing for churches page for more information and I will gladly help you.
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