International Institute of

Christian Discipleship

CR 03
Principles of Leadership
and Church Growth

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®

Chapter 1
Genesis 3:9
God comes seeking Adam and Eve. The rest of
scripture is about the seeking God: through
the prophets, Moses, and finally through
Christ.
God is the One who seeks. The phrase:
“Where are you?” is in the background of
everything throughout the rest of Scripture.
 Christianity is about God seeking people.

Other religions are about people seeking God.

Genesis 3:9
God is the One who longs for
a relationship with humanity.
He can't help Himself; He
keeps seeking, no matter
what people have done. It is
always God who initiates the
seeking.
Genesis 3:9
If it is the nature of God to seek, what does
this mean for church growth? Those who are
called of God are called to be involved in God's
mission — seeking.
Genesis 3:9
It is God's seeking that is the foundation of
church growth, because all of God's seeking is
done through humans.
The heart of church growth is the seeking
heart of God.
Genesis 3:9
The church does not seek because they are in
need — shrinking in membership, can't pay
bills — or because we want a large church. We
seek because we can't help ourselves,
just like God.
Doctrine of election is for the sake of
the nations; we are chosen to give the
message. We have an election to join
Him in this seeking movement, which
is the original function of Israel,
of the Christian church, and of
the SDA church.
When a church ceases to be an
evangelistic agency involved in the
mission of the seeking God, that church
ceases to be the true church, because
mission is at the heart of the seeking
God.
Throughout the years the church has
sought to contain the seeking God for
itself, but God's plan is that the church
be the people of God for the sake of
the nations (people who
do not know God).
If the church is for the nations,
then the building, the worship
services, and the outreach must
be user friendly.
We are the people of God for the
sake of God's seeking heart.

The Lost Lamb, by Del Parson, © Del Parson

Counter-culture approach
If the boundary between the church and
the world is high, then church growth
is seen as a rescue mission. Work in the
church is seen as quite different from work
in the world. The result is that we train
people so well for the work of the church,
they can't fish anymore.
Culture-affirming approach
No boundary at all between the church and the
world. Can’t tell the world and the church apart.
In terms of behavior, can't tell the difference
between Christians and the world. In this cultural
extreme, we feed the consumer church. In this
church, as soon as people’s needs are no longer
being met, they will go elsewhere.
Culture-affirming approach
Church growth then becomes proselytism.
People go to whoever fills their present needs.
This approach feeds into normalism and
secularism.
Church's call in the world
Not a fortress where we
rescue a few souls and
then leave the world to
go to hell.
Not a consumer church
that so identifies with
the world that there is
no difference.
Church's call in the world
Church is called out of the world, redeemed,
and then put back into the world to reach and
transform the world.
This is the heart of church growth.
When we believe that all cultures
except our own are fallen, then
when other cultures join us they
will look like us.
The hardest thing for the church to
do is to decide what is the essence
of religion and what is cultural.
The theology of the kingdom is the
rule of the King who holds us
together.
We live in a fallen humanity on the way
to unity. The more we point to unity,
the closer we move to the King. All
local congregations are only partial
representations of the unity of the
King; it is our collective unity.
Purpose of the SDA Church
A. 1 Peter 2:9
To make known the character of God.
B. Revelation 14:6-12
To proclaim the three
angels’ messages.
C. Matthew 28:19-20
To make disciples of all
nations (all cultural groups).
Biblical numbering
I Chronicles 21:1-8
Numbering condemned — for self-glorification.
Numbers 1:1-4, 17-19
Commanded by God.
Acts 2:41, 47
3000 in one day — others added daily.
Biblical numbering
Acts 4:4
5000 believed — church now 8,120+.
Acts 6:7
Disciples multiplied — priests obedient.
Acts 9:35
Whole cities turned to Christ.
Biblical numbering
Acts 11:21
Great numbers believed.
Acts 21:20
Many thousands.
Implications of numbering
Early church very much interested in statistics
and growth, because of what numbers mean —
souls saved in God's kingdom.
Not numbers for sake of numbers, but souls
saved.
What happened in Acts that made the
church grow?
1. Church had an internal spiritual revival.
Churches grow as they are spiritually revived.
2. There was a sense of the centrality of their
mission. Reason for existence of church was
proclamation of gospel.
3. Proclaimed gospel both publicly and privately.
Facts that should have hindered church
growth in the book of Acts
Growing Greek influence in society —
secularization of society
Formal religion (Jews)
Strong materialistic influence by Rome
Small church considered by many to be a sect
Chapter 2
"Time is short. Workers for Christ are
needed everywhere. There should be one
hundred earnest, faithful laborers in home
and foreign mission fields where now there
is one. The highways and byways are yet
unworked."
—Fundamentals of Education, p. 488
"We are not, as Christians, doing
one twentieth the part that we might
do in winning souls to Christ. There is a
world to be warned, and every sincere
Christian will be a guide and an
example to others in faithfulness,
in cross-bearing, in prompt and
vigorous action, in unswerving fidelity
to the cause of truth, and in sacrifices
and labors to promote the cause of
God.”
—Christian Service, p. 12
 WALK THE TALK
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 WALK THE TALK
TALK THE WALK
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
The world's population
The world's population
Percentage of the world in major Christian and
non-Christian groupings:
1900 1985 2000 2012
Roman Catholic 16.8% 18.5% 18.7% 17.4%

Protestant 9.4% 7.9% 7.0% 11.4%

Non-Religious/
2.0% 20.8% 21.3% 18.0%
Atheist
 1970 Distribution of SDA's

21.4%

8.8% Africa, Asia, Latin America

North American Division
European Division
6.0%
Australian Division

63.8%
 1980 Distribution of SDA's

17.2%

Africa, Asia, Latin America

6.1% North American Division
European Division
4.0% Australian Division
72.7%
 1989 Distribution of SDA's

12.0%
Africa, Asia, Latin America
North American Division
5.0%
European Division
79.3% 3.7% Australian Division
 2000 Distribution of SDA's

8.0% Africa, Asia, Latin America

North American Division
4.3% European Division
84.3%
3.4% Australian Division
 2005 Distribution of SDA's

Africa, Asia, Latin America

91.5%
North American Division
7.0% European Division
Australian Division

1.0%
0.5%
 2012 Distribution of SDA's

Africa, Asia, Latin America

92.0%
North American Division
7.0% European Division
Australian Division

0.5%
0.5%
The world's population
Funding ratios:
North American Division 78%
All other world divisions 22%
Where is the real mission field today?

North America
Europe
Australia
Twenty years and counting
Urban Population:
1985 41%
2007 50+%
2012 52%
Twenty years and counting
First identified:
1981
Deaths since 1981 to 2012
36 millions
Twenty years and counting
World population:
1988 5.1 billion
2007 6.6 billion
2012 7.06 billion
Twenty years and counting
Church membership
1988 5,816,767
2007 15,435,470
2012 17,881,491
Russia 2012
Population 141.9 million
Membership 34,982
Population per Adventist
4,056 to 1
Cambodia 2012
Population 14.8 million
Membership 5,911
Population per Adventist
2,504 to 1
Mongolia 2012
Population 2.8 million
Membership 1,897
Population per Adventist
1,476 to 1
Northern India 2012
Population 300 million
Membership 340,894
Population per Adventist
880 to 1
Sudan 2012
Population 37.2 million
Membership 833
44,657 to 1
Rapid Progress
1863 373,143/1
1900 21,487/1
1950 3,300/1
1988 882/1
2008 407/1
2012 394/1
Countries of the world
1988 2006 2012
– UN Count 215 229 238
– Adventist Work 184 203 216
– No Adventist Work 31 26 22
What does it mean to:
“Enter” a country
“Finish” the work
“Share” the message
“Preach” the everlasting gospel
Unreached groups in “reached” countries

North America
Hindu 77%
Buddhist 64%
Muslim 32%
Unreached groups in “reached” countries

Europe
Muslim 81%
Buddhist 68%
Hindu 42%
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
Australia 2012
Population 23.3 million
Buddhists 582,500
Muslims 512,600
Hindus 302,900
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
Brazil 2012
Population 194 million
Buddhists 215,000
Jews 107,925
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
France 2012
Population 63.4 million
Muslims 6,000,000
Jews 480,000
Buddhists 1,000,000
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
Mexico 2012
Population 113 million
Arabs (Muslims) 111,000
Buddhists 108,701
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
Russia 2012
Population 141.9 million
Muslims 16,600,000
Buddhists 1,500,000
Hindus 140,000
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
South Africa 2012
Population 52 million
Hindus 1,684,283
Muslims 780,000
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
United Kingdom 2012
Population 63.7 million
Muslims 2,802,800
Hindus 628,100
Jews 312,130
Buddhists 254,800
Unreached groups in “reached” countries
United States 2012
Population 312.8 million
Jews 6,600,000
Muslims 6,500,000
Buddhists 4,066,400
Hindus 1,251,200
Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV)
“If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble in a safe country,
how will you manage
in the thickets by the Jordan?”
Doing the numbers
Unreached people:
(population minus membership)
8,000,000,000
7,000,000,000
6,000,000,000
5,000,000,000
4,000,000,000
3,000,000,000
2,000,000,000
1,000,000,000
0
1988
2012
Unreached people
Increase since 1988
Unreached people
Increase since 1988
Unreached people
Increase since 1988
Unreached people
Increase since 1988
Unreached people
Increase since 1988
Unreached people
Increase since 1988
Unreached people
Increase since 1988
Unreached people:

(population minus membership)

8,000,000,000
7,000,000,000
6,000,000,000
5,000,000,000
4,000,000,000
3,000,000,000
2,000,000,000
1,000,000,000
0
1988
2012
Churches & companies
1988 2006 2012
Churches & co 29,039 123,179 141,968
Pop/church & co 175,625 53,218 49,709
Churches & co/million 5.7 18.95 20.12
Churches & co per million people 2012
SPD 142.2 SUD 7.4
SID 124.5 EUD 9.4
ECD 66.2 NSD 3.6
IAD 68.6 TED 6.1
SAD 75.4
Churches & co per million people

More than 50 churches/co per million

Less than 5 churches/co per million
SPD - Churches & Co
per million 2012

Papua N G (Pop. 7.17 million) 534.7

SID - Churches & Co
per million

Zambia 412.1 Mozambique 104

Zimbabwe 303.9 Botswana 105
Malawi 198.7 Namibia 64
Angola 113.7 Madagascar 67.6
ECD - Churches & Co
per million

Rwanda 197.9 Eritrea 2.5

Kenya 211.8 Somalia 0
Tanzania 92.7
Uganda 76.7
SUD - Churches & Co
per million

India 7.51
Nepal 3.93
NSD - Churches & Co
per million

Mongolia 5.0 China 3.3

Taiwan 3.7 Japan 1.1
Hong Kong 3.0 N Korea 1.0
WAD - Churches & Co
per million

Ghana 118.7 Congo 2.1

Cameroon 63.4 Guinea 2.2
Mali 1.7
Senegal 0.3
Niger 0.4
Mauritania 0.6
ESD - Churches & Co
per million

Moldova 80.3 Azerbaijan 1.2

Georgia 3.5 Uzbekistan 0.5
Tajikistan 1.2 Turkmenistan 0.6
SSD - Churches & Co
per million

Philippines 69.4 Bangladesh 2.7

Timor-Leste 9.0 Thailand 1.8
Cambodia 2.4 Singapore 1.6
Sri Lanka 2.9 Laos 2.5
Viet Nam 1.6
EUD - Churches & Co
per million

Romania 67.4 Libya 0.2

Spain 3.2 Algeria 0.1
Belgium 3.0 Tunisia 0.1
Italy 2.2 Turkey 0.05
France 2.2 Morocco 0.1
Iran 0.03
Afghanistan 0
TED - Churches & Co
per million
UK 4.7
Sweden 4.3
Poland 3.8
Netherlands 4.0
Israel 3.0
Sudan 4.7 Greece 1.9
Albania 2.5
Lebanon 1.3
TED - Churches & Co
per million
Pakistan 1.3 Kuwait 0.4
UAE 1.2 Egypt 0.3
Ireland 1.2 Iraq 0.1
Cyprus 2.0 Saudi Arabia 0
Jordan 0.5 Syria 0
Oman 0.4 Yemen 0
Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand 1.9 per million
Bangkok 0.5 per million
Kolkata, India
World 1:407
India 1:903
Kolkata 1:23,321
People groups

394 groups of 10,000+

No known Christians
118 groups of 100,000+
No known Christians
Languages
Spoken 13,540
– AWR Broadcasts 70
– Other Adventist Work 805
– No Adventist Work 12,665
Adventist Work
0.5% 5.9%

AWR
Other
93.5% None
Languages
Spoken 13,540
Written 8,500 50%
10,000+ 2,937
- None 1,459
- Portion 423 14.00%
- NT only 681
- Entire Bible 374 23.00%

13%
Missionaries
In 1600:
8,500 Jesuit missionaries
World population: 545 million
(½ of India's population today)
Same ratio today?
Country Adventist Missionaries
China 20,275
India 17,156
Trans-Mediterranean 4,050
Middle East Union 3,634
Missionaries
8,500 in 1600 = 102 million today
Adventist Missionaries Today
IDEs 919
Global Mission Pioneers 2,293
AVS Volunteers & SMs 544
His Hands Volunteers 1,000
Trained Tentmakers 200
Gospel Outreach Evangelists 2,507
AFM Missionaries 64
AFM Short-term and SMs 23
Total 7,550
U.S. population today: 280 Million
55,433,052 confirmed members (protestant)
53,385,998 Catholics
3,540,820 Mormons
112,369,870 on church books
U.S. population today: 280 Million
137,064,509 adherents (people professing to
belong to a church - includes members listed
above)
143 million hard core unchurched
25 million religious unchurched (claim
religious affiliation, but not on the books of
any church)
U.S. population today: 280 Million
56 million on the books but rarely attend (½
membership)
224 million unchurched people in the U.S.
Only two countries in the world have a
population larger than 200 million (China and
India).
Forty-one percent of Americans
(115 million) report attending
church on a
typical week-
end in 1999,
compared to
49% in 1991.
Why churched people attend church
1. The theological beliefs and doctrines
of the church
2. How much people seem to care about
each other
3. The quality of the sermons that are preached
Why churched people attend church
4. How friendly the people in the church are
to visitors
5. How involved the church is in helping poor
and disadvantaged people
6. The quality of the programs and classes
for children
Why churched people attend church
7. How much they like the pastor
8. The denomination the church is affiliated with
9. The quality of the adult SS classes
10. The convenience of the times of the weekend
services
Why unchurched people attend church
1. Learning more about God
2. Getting religious training for their children
3. Improving their personal understanding of
the contents of the Bible
4. Meeting other people
5. Discovering ways of handling daily challenges
more appropriately or effectively
Most churches are simply baptizing people
from other churches: Southern Baptists
report that 60% of adults baptized in their
churches in 1993 had been baptized before,
35.8% of which had been baptized before in
Southern Baptist Churches.
Eighty percent of all church growth
in America is due to either transfer
or biological growth.
There are approximately 324,000
churches in America. Based on the
best estimate and research, we
could double the number of
churches without over churching
America.
Seventh-day Adventist church growth
Decade average growth per year
1863-1870 7.9%
1870-1880 18.6%
1880-1890 9.1%
1890-1900 12.4%
1900-1910 3.6%
1910-1920 10.4%
1920-1930 6.9%
1930-1940 6.1%
Seventh-day Adventist church growth
Decade average growth per year
1940-1950 5.0%
1950-1960 6.5%
1960-1970 6.5%
1970-1980 7.0%
1980-1990 7.8%
1990-2000 7.7%
2000-2005 4.97%
North American church growth
Year Members Year Members Avr Growth
1965 380,855 1970 439,726 3.0%
1970 439,726 1975 525,247 4.3%
1975 525,247 1980 604,430 3.0%
1980 604,430 1984 676,204 2.4%
1984 676,204 1989 743,023 2.0%
1989 743,023 1994 822,150 2.1%
1994 822,150 1999 914,106 2.2%
Membership if 12.4% growth rate had
been maintained since 1890
1890 - 29,711 1950 - 3,735,567
1900 - 66,237 1960 - 8,367,670
1910 - 148,371 1970 - 18,743,580
1920 - 332,363 1980 - 41,985,619
1930 - 744,493 1990 - 94,047,786
1940 - 1,667,664 2000 - 210,665,000
Membership if 18.6% growth rate had
been maintained since 1870
1880 - 15,570 1940 - 8,491,062
1890 - 44,530 1950 - 24,284,438
1900 - 127,356 1960 - 69,453,492
1910 - 364,238 1970 - 198,635,580
1920 - 1,038,078 1980 - 568,096,100
1930 - 2,968,903 1990 - 1,624,754,500
2000 - 4,646,796,400
Global Mission 1990 – 2000
Goal:
Put SDA presence in every people group of 1
million or more
2300 groups identified
Results:
Established SDA church in 2000 groups
World population added 600 new groups of 1
million
Still need to penetrate 900 groups
10/40 window advances
Cambodia
1990 – 0 Churches, 0 Members
2000 – 65 Churches, 4,000 Members
India (Haryana State – North India)
1990 – 11 Members
2000 – 400 Members,100 Churches
5,000 Attending
China
Nearly 60,000 baptisms 1990 – 2000
World baptisms 1999
Total – 1,090,848
2,986.58 per day
124.44 per hour
2.07 per minute
1 every 28.9 seconds

©Dr. Matthias Schreiber/Churchphoto.de

World baptisms 2001
Total – 961,542
2,632.56 per day
119.69 per hour
1.83 per minute
1 every 32.8 seconds

©Dr. Matthias Schreiber/Churchphoto.de

World baptisms 2002
Total – 978,059
2,677.78 per day
111.57 per hour
1.86 per minute
1 every 32.3 seconds

©Dr. Matthias Schreiber/Churchphoto.de

World baptisms 2003
Total – 991,717
2,717 per day
113.2 per hour
1.88 per minute
1 every 31 seconds

©Dr. Matthias Schreiber/Churchphoto.de

World baptisms 2004
Total – 1,071,135
2,935 per day
122.3 per hour
2.04 per minute
1 every 29 seconds

©Dr. Matthias Schreiber/Churchphoto.de

World baptisms 2012
Total – 1,082,654
2,996.2 per day
123.59 per hour
2.06 per minute
1 every 29.13 seconds

©Dr. Matthias Schreiber/Churchphoto.de

SDA and world population
Largest Christian religious bodies in the
world 2012
Catholic 1,228,000,000
Orthodox/Eastern 300,000,000
Anglican 80,000,000
Assemblies of God 66,400,000
Ethiopian Orthodox 45,000,000
Evangelische Kirche 25,400,000
in Deutschland
Largest Christian religious bodies in the
world 2012
Iglesia ni Cristo 27,000,000
SDA 17,881,491
Southern Baptist 16,000,000
Jehovah's Witnesses 19,200,000
LDS (Mormons) 15,000,000
Largest Christian religious bodies in the
world
United Methodists 12,100,000
New Apostolic Church 11,239,935
Coptic Orthodox 14,000.000
Church of God in Christ 8,000,000
Fastest growing religious groups in the US
(alphabetically)
Animal rights activists
Assembly of God
Baha'i faith
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Environmentalism
Evangelicals
Fastest growing religious groups in the US
(alphabetically)
Hinduism
International Church of Christ
Islam
Jehovah Witnesses
Lubavitcher Hasidic Jews
Non-denominational community churches
Fastest growing religious groups in the US
(alphabetically)
Primal-indigenous religion/Revitalized tribal
and “first people’s” organizations
Seventh-day Adventists
Soka Gakkai
Unitarian Universalists
Wicca
Zen Buddhism
A. We must reach people where they are itching.
We must understand the concept of meeting
the felt needs of the people in the community
and not just the religiously-oriented person.
Our evangelism must begin to be targeted to
unchurched people rather than churched
people.
B. There must be increased lay involvement and
a full utilization of the spiritual gifts of the
laity.
C. We must continually be planting new
churches in new people groups.
D. We must keep the fire burning.
Chapter 3
Church growth is a DIVINE-HUMAN
enterprise
The divine dimension:
God is at work in our world. Jesus is drawing
people to Him. Holy Spirit is working in people's
hearts directing the salvation enterprise.
Church growth is a DIVINE-HUMAN
enterprise
The human dimension:
People must have a right relationship with God.
Man must have the right vision. Man must have
the right goals. Man must have the right tasks.
Man must be in the right time and place. Man
must reach the right people.
Churches grow when they see that it is
GOD'S WILL for the church to grow
1. Develop a church growth consciousness —
bothers them when church does not grow. Can
never let the church reach place where it is
satisfied with non-growth.

©Rafael Schaeffer/Churchphoto.de
Churches grow when they see that it is
GOD'S WILL for the church to grow
2. Theology of outreach and proclamation is
deeply rooted in the psyche of the church.
3. The church is willing to pay the price of growth
— committed to growth.

©Rafael Schaeffer/Churchphoto.de
Growing churches have a
MULTI-FACETED ministry

Receptivity Scale

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Growing churches have a
MULTI-FACETED ministry

Receptivity Scale

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Growing churches have a
MULTI-FACETED ministry

Receptivity Scale

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Growing churches have a
MULTI-FACETED ministry

Receptivity Scale

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Growing churches recognize the need to
meet the felt needs of the community.
“Christ's method alone will give true success
in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled
with men as one who desired their good. He
showed His sympathy for them, ministered
to their needs, and won their confidence.
Then He bade them, ‘Follow me.’”
—Ministry of Healing, p. 143
Growing churches plan for a
PROCESS OF GROWTH
Goals
Effective
Resources
Materials
Evaluation
Accountability
Process of growth
1. We like “quick fixes.”
2. It takes 24-48 months to move a church from
plateau to growth.
3. A growth process is more important than a
growth event.
Process of growth
4. A growth process is where growth thinking
permeates every aspect of the church.
5. Should we have an evangelism committee in
the church?
Growing churches successfully mobilize,
train, equip, and DEPLOY laity in ministry

# of
People
Served

Participation Base
Growing churches successfully mobilize,
train, equip, and DEPLOY laity in ministry

# of
People
Served

Participation Base
Growing churches successfully mobilize,
train, equip, and DEPLOY laity in ministry

Participation Base
Involvement of laity in churches:
Growing churches evidence Christ's love both to
those within the body and to those outside the
body.
Churches grow by:
 Growing churches implement
appropriate and effective
evangelism to new groups and
in new ways.
“In the cities of today,
where there is so
much to attract and
please, the people
can be interested by
no ordinary efforts. . . Put forth extraordinary
efforts in order to arrest the attention of the
multitudes. . . Make use of every means that can
possibly be devised for causing the truth to stand
out clearly and distinctly.”
—9 T, p. 109
“The methods and means by which we
reach certain ends are not always the
same. [You] . . . must use reason and
judgment. . . .”
—GW, p. 468
“Different methods of labor are to be
employed to save different ones.”
—Ev. p. 166
“Different methods of labor are really
essential.”
—TM p. 251
“New methods must be introduced.”
—Ev. p. 70
“God would have new and untried
methods followed. Break in upon the
people—surprise them.”
—Ev. p. 125
“We must do something out of the
common course of things. We must
arrest the attention.”
—Ev. p. 122-123
“Your efforts are too tame.”
—Ev. p. 279
“As field after field is entered, new methods
and new plans will spring from new
circumstances. New thought will come with
the new workers who give themselves to
the work. As they seek the Lord
for help, He will communicate
with them. They will receive
plans devised by the
Lord Himself.”
—6 T, p. 476
“Church organization. . . is not to
prescribe the exact way in which we
should work. . .”
—6 T, p. 116
“There must be no fixed rules; our
work is a progressive work, and there
must be room left for methods to be
improved upon.”
—Ev. p. 105
“Some of the methods used in this work
will be different from methods used in
the past, but let no one, because of
this, block the way by criticism.”
—7 T, p. 25
“There is to be no unkind criticism,
no pulling to pieces of another's work.”
—Ev. p. 106
Growing churches build on the
NATURAL SOCIAL NETWORKS
of people for effective evangelism
A. Walk in 3-4%
B. Special need 2-3%
C. Pastor 0-3%
D. Visitation 1/4-1%
Growing churches build on the
NATURAL SOCIAL NETWORKS
of people for effective evangelism
E. S.S. 3-4%
F. Program 3-4%
G. Friend/Relative 70-90%
Growing churches are successful in
incorporating new and older members,
thus closing the back door.
A typical church loses 5-11% per year through
death, transfer, and reversion
An average church also has 30- 35% of its
membership inactive
 Prospect

Active Responsible
New Member Church Member
(Attends 3+ times per
month plus role or task)
Non-active Member (Attends 2-3 times per month) 80%
In-active Member (Attends 2-3 times per year) 15%
Drop Out (Rarely attends) 5%
Growing churches clearly plan to grow by
analyzing their growth
1. They examine excuses
2. They recognize growth restricting obstacles
3. They keep accurate records so they know
what is happening
4. They analyze and understand the community
They analyze and understand
the community
They understand the barriers that separate
people
They study their neighborhood
They test the soil
Church growth and evangelistic outreach
methods
Visitation 79
87
Friendship evang 80
86
Newcomer min 12
21
60
Public evang 78
48
Direct mail 58
21
Radio-TV 34
53
Newspaper 60
21
Entry events 43
0 20 40 60 80 100
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and number of worship
services
47
50
38
40
23 25
30 22
19
16
20 10
10
0
One worship Two or more worships
Fast-growing churches
Moderate-growth churches
Church growth and worship style
in two or more services

60 52
50
40 31 29 31 31 29
30 20 23
19
20 10 10
8
10
0
Similar style Somewhat Very different
different
Fast-growing churches
Moderate-growth churches
Church growth and worship elements
47
50
40 34
29
26
30 20
19 18
20
6
10
0
A time to greet each other Drama
Fast-growing churches
Moderate-growth churches
Evangelistic outreach
100 88
90 85 84
80 78
70 74
60 59 55 58 59
50 51
46 47
40 43 43
30 25 33
20 13 18
10 11 12
0

Done in last year Willing to start doing

Church growth and members participating
in small groups

3
Most or all (61%-100%) 3
2
Many (41%-60%) 8
14
Some (21%-40%) 18
24
A few (11%-20%) 29
36
Hardly any (1%-10%) 35
21
None 7

0 10 20 30 40
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and teaching spiritual
disciplines

50
Personal Devotions 63
52
Family worship 73
2
Dietary restrictions 11
39
Abstinence from alcohol 42
14
Abstinence from premarital sex 30

0 20 40 60 80
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and goals for growth

31
No goal 16

2
Goal of 1%-2% per year 2
32
Goal of 3%-10% per year 45
36
Goal of more than 10% per year 37

0 10 20 30 40 50
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and follow-up
with new attenders
19
Contact within a few days 30
29
Contact within 1-2 weeks 36
7
Contact within 1-2 months 3
40
Don't follow-up 26
5
Have no method to get names 5

0 10 20 30 40
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and serious conflict
About theology 15
3
About finances 5
4
About worship style 12
5
About program priorities 8
3
About authority 16
5
About pastor's leadership 19
7
About pastor's behavior 12
5
About behavior of a member 17
13
0 5 10 15 20
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and congregational
dynamics
50 42
37 36
40 28 25 30 29 27
25 27 25
30 18 14
20 9 11 8
10
0

Fast-growing churches Moderate-growth churches

Stable churches Declining churches
Church growth and the year congregation
was founded
48
Before 1946 38
9
1947-1959 8
8
1960s 9
1970s 13
13
12
1980s 13
5
1990s 12

0 10 20 30 40 50
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and type of community
15
Rural area 12
22
Town less than 10,000 14
Town 10,000-50,000 39
29
15
Metro area less than 250,000 22
8
Metro area larger than 250,000 20

0 10 20 30 40
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and pastoral tenure

2
1 pastor in last 10 years 9

59
2-3 pastors in last 10 years 67

39
4 or more pastors in last 10 years 28

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and budget for local church
staff
58
None 52

18
Under $7,500 per year 21

25
Over $7,500 per year 28

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Church growth and budget for local
mission work
25
Less than $600 per year 11

59
$600 - $4,999 per year 44

17
$5,000 or more per year 46

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Declining Churches Growing Churches
Eight characteristics of growing churches
1. Empowering leadership
2. Gift-oriented lay ministry
3. Passionate spirituality
4. Functional structures
5. Inspiring worship service
6. Holistic small groups
7. Need-oriented evangelism
8. Loving relationships
 Principles of
Leadership and
Church Growth
International Institute
of
Christian Ministries

©2012 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®