Growth Enablers

Among the material to cross my desk this week is a paper from the Rev Dr Paul Borden on the enablers for church growth. Many of you would remember Paul from his visit to Marion in August 2007.

He lists ten things that each church should work towards, with the mindset of reaching the community for Christ:

1. The church must be led by the staff (i.e. both the paid and lay leaders). It should have culturally relevant ministries that are led well in order to transform consumers into fully committed soldiers of Jesus Christ. Excellent staff members (paid and lay) have gifts and talents that enable them to lead, communicate and relate to the community.
2. Fellowship opportunities and shepherding must be programmed. People are primarily cared for as they participate in ministries.
3. Newcomers are assimilated intentionally; the goal of assimilation is mobilisation.
4. The Corps vision is kept before people. The senior leader's role is to communicate this vision every time that they speak to groups.
5. Communication is maintained until it becomes redundant. The leader continually speaks of the mission, vision, values, structure and strategies.
6. The Corps Officer's main role is to lead the staff and equip the leaders.
7. The Corps Council or Leadership Team affirms its leaders rather than granting permission. It spends more time considering the future than dealing with issues of the present.
8. The expectation is that ministry is primarily for the people who are yet to attend the church. This external focus is maintained.
9. The Corps has 'third places'. Third places are gathering points that are not a home or a workplace. For many people sporting clubs, gyms and pubs fill this role.
10. Mission and vision takes priority to self interest. Every Corps behaviour is evaluated in light of the mission and vision. If it is found wanting it is either changed or discarded.

So we continue in our mission to shine God's light in Adelaide's south so that others join us as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Our vision is that we will be a multicampus, multicultural, multicongregational church that serves all generations.

While this is far from our present reality, we are on the way. The above principles will help.