How do pastors build a growth conscience? (guest article)
If you’re interested in really growing your church, dig into these insights from my friend and mentor, Dr. Gary McIntosh. He’s a professor, author and America’s foremost Church Growth expert. Here’s an exclusive excerpt from one of his recent “Growth Points” articles for pastors.
The continued plateauing and decline of churches in North America is sparking renewed interest in biblical Church Growth research.
Church leaders are taking a second look at Church Growth research to make use of the numerous practical helps that create an outward focused church bent on making disciples.
DESIRE FOR GROWTH
Church Growth studies have identified many principles, some 155 factors, and four laws which impact the growth of a local church. The first two Laws of Church Growth point to the importance of both the pastor and people having a desire for growth.
Condensed together the two laws state: The pastor and people must WANT the church to grow.
This statement seems rather obvious, but is ignored by multiple churches. It reminds me of an old adage that says, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” Adapting that adage, we could say, “If you think your church can grow or think it can’t, you’re right.” Church growth begins with a desire FOR growth.
Of course, there’s more to church growth than simple desire. But, without a desire for church growth among the pastor and people, there’s little hope that a church will grow. In fact a lack of desire for growth almost always means a church won’t grow!
A growth conscience must exist among pastor and people for church growth to take place. So, how does one go about building a growth conscience?
BUILDING A GROWTH CONSCIOUSNESS
If your church is plateaued or declining, the first thing you must do is build a Church Growth Conscience in the lives and hearts of the people.
A Church Growth Conscience is the belief that people are actually lost and need to be found, converted, and folded in the body of Christ.
If a church does not have this basic understanding of Scripture then, frankly, a church will not grow.
Dr. McIntosh has a lot more to say on how you develop a Church Growth Conscience.
After 35+ years as a participant, observer and researcher of the Church Growth Movement, he has concluded that church growth principles, theology and theory — rightly understood — still provide biblical answers on how to grow a faithful church.
And we're thrilled to share his foundational, and very practical, teachings with you today!
Access them today through this BRAND NEW RESOURCE:
CHURCH GROWTH 101
A lifelong student of Dr. Donald McGavran, Dr. McIntosh originally delivered this 3-hour seminar at one of my Church Growth Boot Camps for pastors.
Realizing how valuable this teaching would be for all pastors, of all sizes and denominations, my team and I have packaged EVERYTHING into a robust downloadable resource — audio, notes, transcripts, teaching slides and even video files.
You'll feel like you're in the room with Dr. McIntosh during the original conference!
Click here to learn more and secure your downloadable resource package.
Discover the core principles and implementable ideas that will help you grow your church to reach its full potential!
Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
P.S. And for the first 100 pastors only, you can save 88% on Church Growth 101 plus receive over $1,393.40 in bonuses, including my resource, The Evangelism Magic Bullet, for FREE!
Secure your Church Growth 101 download today at the low introductory rate of just $37 for the audio edition (normally $299.95) OR $57 for the audio + video edition (normally $399.95).
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Nelson Searcy is the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. By God’s grace, he identified and developed the Eight Systems of a Healthy Church® that he has used to coach over 5,000 churches in the US and around the world to adapt those eight systems to their unique ministry fields, resulting in great health and growth.
Nelson regularly coaches pastors online and in-person through the Church Leader Insights and Renegade Pastors Network ministries that he founded. He also leads several annual pastor in-person conferences and online training events. In ministry for more than 25 years, Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.”
