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by Russ Bredholt, Jr.
Even with an increasing number of church mergers
and closings, new congregations continue to open
on a consistent basis. Some of these new churches
are even having very good days. The Lord is blessing
evangelistic efforts through church planting.
Starting a church is never an easy task. It may
be more difficult than starting a new business.
We make this observation not second hand but from
the experience of being involved with both types
of ventures.
What is interesting, though, is how a church develops
its identity, or what Quakers would refer to as,
"true self."
"What an organization becomes is formed in its
earliest days." So writes author William Bergquist
in his book, "The Postmodern Organization." This
is a simple but profound insight with implications
for those who are sponsoring or starting churches.
There are many ways to begin. You can start a Bible
study in someone's home or open with a strong core
group coming out of an existing church. Whatever
the approach, the track record for succeeding long-term
is not good. The vast majority of new churches don't
survive to their fifth birthday.
A key component of identity is this: Who or what
decides whether a plant is a "baby church" (hoping
to grow in size and strength) or a "small church"
(capable of strength but with limited reach and
programs)?
The question is not a judgment about "baby" versus
"small." Rather, we want to probe this issue: How
much thought should be given to shaping and influencing
the future look of a church from the very beginning?
While most worshipers are in larger congregations,
most churches are smaller in size. According to
the Congregational Life Survey conducted in 2001,
the average weekly attendance in the USA is about
90.
What then are some of the contributing factors in
determining what kind of church it will be? Here
is my list (feel free to make your own). . .
- The spiritual leaders in the early days.
It's the "who" that significantly shapes
"what kind of church." Theology and philosophy
(along with life's experiences) are underpinnings
of strategy and design. How someone sees God,
Scripture, the world, and community determines
how they are likely to respond to the challenges
and opportunities of ministry.
Envisioning something (baby or small) comes
from within the individuals who lead including
clergy and laity. Both kinds of churches are
needed and appropriate in the total mix. As
Dr. Kennon Callahan points out, it's possible
and sometimes desirable to be a "strong, small
congregation."
The genetic code (true self) gets inserted at
the beginning and is difficult to alter. It
doesn't get there by accident. It's put there
by individuals and circumstances combined.
- The methodologies. Approach is strategic
and has much to do with outcomes. Methodologies
are plentiful but they can't always be replicated.
The one method, however, that is available to
all congregations regardless of size and location
is follow-up.
The one way to build credible relationships
with new people is to do what you say you are
going to do. Promise less and deliver more.
There are many benefits that accrue to those
who pay attention to detail. Unfortunately,
most churches don't seem disposed toward this
end.
How implementation and follow through are initially
handled sets the tone and culture for the church
in a positive or negative way.
- The marketplace. There are times when
the setting plays a decided role in what a church
becomes. As someone once said, "geography
and demography are destiny." This statement
may be stretching to make a point but it's a
reality more often than not.
Communities often defy conventional wisdom.
Rural areas and smaller towns can often be found
with a large, strong congregation. And we know
there are a fair amount of baby churches planted
in growing areas that never take off.
More than the size of the community or neighborhood
is the makeup of the populous. A church may
fit or not. Even with the capable leaders and
resources, sometimes the plant and the area
are a mismatch. Someone failed to do their homework.
Growing communities do not automatically mean
success for baby churches. Yet this is where
a large number of baby churches begin--and succeed.
- The "mysteries of God." In the
Gospel of Mark 4:26-27, Jesus speaks the parable
of the growing seed.
". . . The kingdom of God is as if a man
should scatter seed on the ground, and should
sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed
should sprout and grow, he himself does not
know how."
Results tend to be a combination of three things--faith,
work and mystery. The emergent is why we have
to leave room in our best laid plans for the
"mysteries of God."
Sometimes churches get off to a slow start.
After years of struggle and persistent commitment,
it's possible to see things take off. How this
happens is more mystery than some stroke of
genius on the part of a leader. Ask a church
planting pastor who crosses the great divide
how it happened. Those with some measure of
humility will say they are unable to explain
their situation.
Jesus said this would be so.
Baby or small, we need new congregations that are
spiritually strong and viable in ministry. It's
essential in order to complete the work of Christ.
Russ Bredholt, Jr. is a management consultant and
member of the Editors Board at Leadership Network.
He can be reached at rbredholt@aol.com.
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