Pastor James Walburg

COMING THIS FALL

Natural Church Development

What is it that makes a church healthy and growing? Is it just a matter of having the right program that will build and attract people, or does God have basic principles that need to be applied for real growth to take place?

There are those who have researched Bible believing churches all over the world to see what makes Christian churches healthy and growing. They have come up with eight characteristics of churches that are growing spiritually and in numbers. Far from being just another clever program that can wow people into more church involvement, these are quality principles that, when applied, lead to lasting growth and ongoing development in ministry.

It is called “Natural Church Development”. It means learning from the natural principles that God has already established. (Like Jesus did in His parables.) It looks at the quality of church life as the key to church development. It does not attempt to “make” church growth, but releases the inner potential that God has built into His church.

On Sunday, September 21^st Pastor David Strohschein, Mission and Ministry Facilitator of the Minnesota North District, will be with us to introduce the concept of Natural Church Development and help us implement its principles in our congregation. After the Worship Service that Sunday we will be invited to fill out a survey about our church. Those surveys will be used to help determine what area, or areas, our church needs to address to remain healthy and growing.

The Eight Characteristics of Healthy, Growing Churches:

1. Empowering Leadership

2. Gift-oriented Ministry

3. Passionate Spirituality

4. Functional Structures

5. Inspiring Worship

6. Small Groups

7. Need-oriented Evangelism

8. Loving Relationships