Church Growth in the NAD

[Stan]

What will it take to have Church Growth once more in the NAD? Especially among the non first generation immigrants?

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

Especially among the non first generation immigrants?

You had to put a catch on there didn't you?

I think the first issue is that members of our churches get more active in church activities. Why is it so hard for the nominating committees to get people to accept positions? People should be chomping at the bit to be active.

The second issue is evangelism. We should have more in-home evangelism. More and more members have 3ABN, Hope Channel and LLBN in their home. All we need is to have them invite friends and extended family to their homes for crusades. Make it a fun event like a Tupperware or Avon party. This, of course, means we get over our embarrassment of being an Adventist and of Ellen White. First generation immigrants are not embarrassed about being Adventist or of Ellen White.

[Neil D]

What will it take to have Church Growth once more in the NAD? Especially among the non first generation immigrants?

In my opinion, a change of emphasis....

Away with law...Love has it's own set of boundarys...and grace is needed a double, even triple dosage to reach our own members who have left due to feeling left out, not included, on the outside looking in...

Just my opinion...

[Guest gem]

I'm with you on this.

[Dr. Shane]

The emphasis on the law has been done away with in many North American churches for over a decade. Areas of the world where the law is still emphasized is where the church is growing so fast we can't build buildings fast enough to keep up with it. Clearly the law is not the problem. The law, after all, shows the sinner his or her need for Christ. Lack of church growth can be tied to the population not understanding their need for Christ.

The base issue is lack of activity in the church. Just take a moment and answer a few questions:

Does my church have an active community services department?

Does my church have an active prison/jail ministries department?

Does my church have an active Pathfinders/Adventurers program?

Does my church have an active prayer meeting group?

Does my church have an active vespers group?

Does my church have an active AY program?

Does my church have an active family ministries program?

Does my church have an active women's ministries program?

Does my church have an active men's ministries program?

Does my church have an active social committee?

Does my church go out ingathering each year?

Does my church go out caroling at Christmas?

Does my church have a choir?

Does my church have a drama department?

Does my church have an active lay ministries program?

Does my church have enough Sabbath school teachers for all the departments?

Does my church support a church school or an after-school program?

Does my church have small group Bible studies?

Does my church have evangelistic crusades at least once each year?

An active church will be able to answer yes to at least half of those questions. If they cannot, it is no big mystery why they are not growing.

[Guest gem]

Thanks for those questions, Shane. Having an "aha" moment here. But for a church that has a small number of attendance, these could be a bit challenging.

AY program. Since arriving here in Canada almost a decade ago, haven't notice any church here that do AY program, or maybe there is but not aware of.

[there buster]

"I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers"

Malachi 4:5, 6.

Less than 50% of our children attend our schools.

Once children graduate from our schools, there is only 50% chance we'll ever see them again.

.5 x .5 = .25

We lose roughly 3 out of 4 of our own children.

The Lawson study tells us more than 1000 churches in NA have no children or teenagers.

Half of all SDA's in NA are 58 or older. For indigenous SDA's, the age is even higher, perhaps 62+.

When we learn how to reach our own children, we'll stop the bleeding, and perhaps discover how to reach others as well.

[olger]

We reached ours, how `bout yours?

[Neil D]

The emphasis on the law has been done away with in many North American churches for over a decade. Areas of the world where the law is still emphasized is where the church is growing so fast we can't build buildings fast enough to keep up with it. Clearly the law is not the problem. The law, after all, shows the sinner his or her need for Christ. Lack of church growth can be tied to the population not understanding their need for Christ.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

What a burden to place on every church, and churchmember...

Burden? It is suppose to be a joy. It is like sex in marriage. When one of the spouses starts viewing sex as a burden, there most certainly will be trouble ahead. God created sex to be a joy in our physical marriage to our spouse. Service to the church is to metaphorically be the same thing in our spiritual marriage to Christ.

There is no reason why a church with 100 baptized members shouldn't be able to answer yes to half of the questions in my list. There are many churches in North America that have only 15 to 50 baptized members. In those churches the individuals simply have to pick and choose which ministries they feel a calling to. The important thing is that everyone is doing something.

We are not suppose to be just a church where people show up once a week (or once a month) to Sabbath morning service. We are a movement! Our very identity is to be tied up in our relationship with Christ which is inseparable with our service to His church. When I visit active brothers and sisters in the church they have story after story after story to tell me about how God is using them to serve other people. That is true religion. That is the religion of Christ.

Where I live, in South Texas, we have two dozen Adventist churches within 30 miles from my house on this side of the river. In the nearly 10 years since I have lived here three new Adventist congregations (companies) have been started. The church I attend is so full we have to have two services. We were considering planting a new church but the Texas Conference wants us to build a new building and grow our existing church. Activity is the key. Members do not even have to agree with each other on all doctrine. Active churches grow. The key to the Mormons and Jehovah Witness growth isn't doctrine - it is activity.

[there buster]

Quote:

We reached ours, how `bout yours?

In Daniel 9, Daniel prays on behalf of captive Israel, as though he was personally responsible for Israel's sins.

4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:

"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

even though scripture attests that Daniel had not been guilty of those things. In so doing, he showed a concern for God's people that transcended his own narrow interests--and became part of the solution.

[Gail]

True, Ed, and Moses was another who did the same- identified with the erring people.

[Guest gem]

Quote:

Half of all SDA's in NA are 58 or older. For indigenous SDA's, the age is even higher, perhaps 62+.

Well, this is true. Infact, in some church, especially those that are situated in a retirement community, many of the members are even in their 70's or 80's and with failing health. And the young adults seem dissapearing. It's kind of sad but it's true.

Quote:

When we learn how to reach our own children, we'll stop the bleeding, and perhaps discover how to reach others as well.

So true and I'm with you on this as well.

[Taylor]

Our church has some great people, great programs and a great message. However, it must affect our families and our kids. Chrisitanity must become real, not just a theory or a set of proof texts..it must make a difference in the family and make people real christians. Christians who are willing to be vulnerable (and admitt they dont always have the right answers), but to seek to be God directed in their lives and truely love people the way Jesus does. Then and only then will our kids see something worth emulating and hanging on to.

Just my 2 cents.

[Guest gem]

Very good question. Why is it? In Asian churches that I've been to(PI, Hongkong/China and others) members are so eagier to accept multiple positions, and sometimes they even get disapointed if they are not chosen. Here, members seem hesitant to accept one or even decline.

[Guest gem]

In those churches the individuals simply have to pick and choose which ministries they feel a calling to. The important thing is that everyone is doing something.

[LifeHiscost]

[JeriAnne]

A sleepy church isn't very active unless they have learned to sleepwalk!!!

Waking up is difficult cause it means OPENING YOUR EYES! That means seeing things you DON'T want to see! And it means getting out of bed!

Lots of metaphores here!! Love it!

[Guest gem]

We reach out to those we love, by nature. If we care not for those outside of those who believe as we believe, it is no wonder few are impressed to investigate our beliefs.

Love this one as well. Very good point.

[Guest gem]

Waking up is difficult cause it means OPENING YOUR EYES! That means seeing things you DON'T want to see! And it means getting out of bed!

Out of comfort zone?

I like the point that Shane had mentioned earlier, "There are many churches in North America that have only 15 to 50 baptized members. In those churches the individuals simply have to pick and choose which ministries they feel a calling to. The important thing is that everyone is doing something."

When I joined our local church here, the average Sabbath attendance were, I would say, between 10 - 20. The church at that time was approximately 10 minutes from the city. We relocate. And now that we are in the city, the attendance has increased a bit. I would say that the location can also be a factor because for some of the church members and visitors transportation is inconvenient.

[Dr. Shane]

Pot luck and Sabbath-afternoon lunch is also another activity. I have noticed in the more active churches potluck is held almost every Sabbath. This is especially helpful for churches that have a number of members that drive twenty or more minutes to get to church.

I helped start a Hispanic church in Minnesota and our potluck meals were one of the stables that helped us maintain growth, Some of our members drove over an hour to come to the service. The potlucks would take up most of the afternoon. In the Summer we would go for a nature walk after potluck and then have AY service. In the Winter, when the sun set earlier, we would have AY earlier and a church social afterwards.

Where I attend church now, we have potlucks every Sabbath but one per month. On that Sabbath, members are to invite each other and guests to their home for lunch. It keeps us in contact with each other.

One might ask himself how much he or she knows about the other members in his or her church. What do they do for a living? Where did they go to school? What hobbies do they enjoy? Do they follow sports or politics? What do they do or where do they go on their vacations? Do they like to read, watch TV, go to ballgames, etc? Are we a church family or are we just a bunch of strangers that get together once a week? I suspect that many of us here at C/A know each other better than most people know others in their own churches.

[Guest gem]

I agree of the things you said here.

Everyone.

[there buster]

Quote:

We reach out to those we love, by nature.

Then statistics tell us that, as a church we do not love our children, for we are not reaching them.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

We reach out to those we love, by nature.

Then statistics tell us that, as a church we do not love our children, for we are not reaching them.

Speaking in general, maybe we could take a lesson from Jesus. I know of very few children who did not wish to spend time with Him.

And a happy Sabbath to all, in Jesus presence.

[james423]

1. Lovingly clean up our membership rolls so we don't deceive ourselves as to the true state of the individual churches.

2. Break the habit of letting members "inherit" a church position from year to year.

3. Get rid of programs that don't work so members have time to concentrate on those that do work.