STIMULATING CHURCH GROWTH THROUGH SCRIPTURALLY-BASED BUSINESS STRATEGIES: TARGETING CHURCHES
CONTENTS 5
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 8
LIST OF fIGURES 10
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 11
Context of the Project 11
The Problem 11
The Purpose 14
Definition of Key Terms 15
Description of the Proposed Project 15
Scope of the Project 15
Phases of the Project 17
Phase 1—Research 17
Phase 2—Planning 19
Phase 3—Implementation 20
Phase 4—Evaluation 21
Phase 5—Writing 22
Chapter 2: BIBLICAL-THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE REVIEW 23
Introduction 23
Imago Dei: Humanity’s Reflection of God 24
Understanding the Biblical Concept of the Image of God 25
Imago Dei as it Relates to Free Will 26
Imago Dei as it Relates to Work 29
Imago Dei as it Relates to Kingship 30
Imago Dei as it Relates to Reproduction 32
Imago Dei as Reflection through People of the Bible 33
Historical Understandings of the Meaning
of the Image of God 34
Community: A Reflection of God’s Triune Nature 36
Empowerment through Community 38
Community in the Life of Christ 39
Growth—God’s Plan 55
Biblical Emphasis on the Importance of
Financial Health in the Church 60
What the Bible Says About Money and Possessions 61
How Christians Should Use Their Money 64
How Christians Should Invest Their Money 66
Stewardship through the Creation of a Will 68
Conclusion 69
Chapter 3: GENERAL LITERATURE REVIEW 70
Introduction 70
Closing the Back Door 71
Identify Barriers to Church Growth 71
Physical Facility 71
Church Leaders 74
False Assumptions 75
Expecting Too Much Too Soon 76
Address Vision Limiters 76
Problem Solving Emphasis 77
I’m Busy Enough Now 77
Lockstep Vision 78
Grow Until You Can Survive 78
Generic Stand-Alone Church 80
“No Vacancy” Sign 80
Fortress Mentality 81
The Restoration of Our Golden Era 81
John F. Kennedy, “Ten Quotes on Stop Living in the Past and Letting Go Past Mistakes,” Yahoo! Voices, http://voices.yahoo.com/ten-quotes-stop-living-past-letting-2432076.html (accessed September 7, 2012). 81
Closing the Back Door 82
High-Visibility Event 83
Win the War against Reversion 83
Facilitating the Retention of First-Time Guests 86
Intentionality in Plan 86
Identify First-Time Guests 88
The Communication Card 88
Who are the First-time Guests, and What are They Thinking? 90
Develop a Plan for Ministering to First-Time Guests 94
The Role of First Impressions 95
Planning for the Return of First-Time Guests 101
Effective Assimilation of New Attendees
into the Local Church 105
Assimilation through Friendship 107
Assimilation through Tasks/Roles 108
Assimilation through Small Groups 110
Sharing 110
Study 111
Support 112
Service 112
Assimilation through Spiritual Growth 113
Conclusion 114
Chapter 4: DESCRIPTION OF FIELD PROJECT 116
Preparation of the Project 116
Personal Experiences 116
Finding Churches to Participate in the Project 118
Execution of the Project 119
The Basics of the Project 120
Tracking Visitors and Regular Attendees 120
Establishing a Follow-Up Plan 121
Implementing an Answering Service 123
Implementing the Project at Church A 123
Implementing the Project at Church B 126
Implementing Project at Church C 127
Implementing Project at Church D 129
Results of the Project 130
General Observations 130
Results at Church A 132
Results at Church B 134
Results at Church C 137
Results at Church D 139
Summary of Results 140
The Project’s Contribution to Ministry 143
Chapter 5: PROJECT SUMMARY 145
Evaluation of the Project 145
Keys to Project Effectiveness 145
Keys to Project Improvement 149
Implications of the Project 151
Recommendations for the Southern California
District Council of the Assemblies of God 152
Recommendations for Future Study 154
Conclusion 155
APPENDIX A: invitation letter to pastors 157
APPENDIX B: pastor and church profile 158
APPENDIX C: church growth business concepts
church growth proposal for churches under 200 159
APPENDIX d: GETTING TO KNOW YOU ... (A LITTLE BETTER) CARD 163
APPENDIX E: WELCOME CARD—FRONT AND BACK 164
APPENDIX f: SAMPLE “MISSING IN ACTION” (MIA) LETTER 165
APPENDIX G: SAMPLE FIRST-TIME GUEST LETTER
(WITH CONTRIBUTION) 166
APPENDIX H: SAMPLE FIRST-TIME GUEST LETTER 167
APPENDIX I: SAMPLE SECOND-TIME GUEST LETTER 168
APPENDIX J: SAMPLE THIRD-TIME guest LETTER 169
APPENDIX k: SAMPLE second-Time guest LETTER
(with contribution) 170
APPENDIX L: SAMPLE THIRD-TIME guest LETTER
(with contribution) 171
APPENDIX m: SAMPLE thirty-DAY FOLLOW-UP LETTER 172
sources consulted 173
Most Assemblies of God (AG) churches in the United States experienced either a plateau or a decline in attendance during 2011. This statistic has caused concern at the local, district, and national levels of the Fellowship. One of the largest denominations in the world, with significant growth overseas, the AG now realizes that the home base needs attention regarding church growth. This project provides hope that the 6,000 AG stagnated churches can grow.
The purpose of this project is to help pastors of plateaued or declining churches experience measureable growth in attendance through the implementation of proper business strategies for accounting and visitor retention. The biblical-theological literature focuses on how the image of God, community, and financial health in the local church can help a church grow. Review of the contemporary literature provides research regarding “closing the back door” ((facilitating the retention of first-time guests and assimilating new attendees into the local church). The project thoroughly tested these concepts in four churches of varying sizes, backgrounds, ethnicity, and settings.
All four participating churches experienced growth ranging from 6 to 86 percent. Evaluation of the project reveals that growth cannot take place without a cultural change in the church that focuses primarily on the church’s attitude toward and treatment of first-time guests. The church must identify first-time guests and express genuine courtesy and hospitality to these people. The churches utilized an intentional and detailed plan for following-up on visitors; growth ensued with the implementation of the project plan.
The opportunity to study at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary ( AGTS) has been a highlight in my ministerial career. In the early 1970s, I had been waiting for the Seminary to open, and I attended my first class in January 1974. Dr. Melvin Hodges, Dr. Stanley Horton, and Dr. Anthony Palma were some of my first instructors. Their input into my life has been invaluable to me all of these years.
After more than thirty years, I returned to AGTS to work on my doctoral studies. The Seminary has a pattern of choosing great leaders such as Dr. Byron Klaus, President; Dr. Stephen Lim, Academic Dean; and Dr. Cheryl Taylor, Director of the Doctor of Ministry program. As Project Coordinator, Dr. Lois Olena served well beyond the call to duty. In the times that I wondered about continuing in the program, she spoke an encouraging word. I reaped countless benefits from her persistence.
The library and technical staff provided an immense amount of help in the research process. Their patience with me and their instructions on how to use the library resources were invaluable. Keith Jones assisted me many times with technical issues, and his willingness to help was repeatedly evident.
Dr. Deborah Gill encouraged me to take the course, “Following the Footsteps of the Apostle Paul.” The time my wife and I spent in Turkey was a treasured experience. We were privileged to travel to a part of the world we had never visited. The fellowship that Dr. Gill and her husband, Jan, lent to the trip made the experience even more enjoyable.
Susan Meamber served as my editor throughout the entire project. She not only provided professional expertise, but inspired me with hope in the midst of the journey.
My wife, Joy, finished her doctorate in education in 2006; therefore, she was very sympathetic to the challenge of writing a project of this magnitude. She lent a helping hand along the way and never complained about the time I spent on the project. She also spent nine months in Springfield, away from our children and grandchildren, so I could work on this degree. In addition, she traveled with me to visit the churches in the project. She provided me with continual support and encouragement. I could never ask for a more supportive wife.