FACTORS THAT ENHANCES CHURCH GROWTH
Jesus Christ be a soul-winning church. Winning souls in itself, however, is not
quite enough. True commitment to Christ carries with it a simultaneous commitment to the body
of Christ. Jesus' Great Commission tells us to go and make disciples of all nations
(Matt. 28:19, 20). Disciples are those who accept Christ, who are baptized, and who continue as
responsible members of a local church. When this biblical principle is clearly seen and
acted upon, a soul winning church will also be a growing church. There
can arise many factors that enhances church growth, most of all, I have pointed
out some of the important factors which I laid stress in enhancing church
growth are as briefly explained as follows:
1.
Great Leadership: Without a doubt the greatest key to church
growth is leadership. Everything rises or falls on leadership. We need to
remind ourselves that to administer is simply to find the best ways and means
of ministering. The end of the church’s ministry is the reaching of people, the
teaching of people, the wining of people, the enlistment and utilization of
people and the preaching of the word of God.[1] You
cannot overcome a lack of leadership. You can be strong in all the other areas
that are critical for church growth and still not grow significantly if there
is not the right leadership in place. The most critical factor for church
growth is leadership! If you are leading a church the single most important
thing you can do is become a better leader. To grow a church, leadership must
grow first.[2]
2.
Revival: When God grants revival to His
people, the usual pattern is that holy living increases, fresh power is
experienced, and the gospel is proclaimed with new fervency.
2.1.
Revival leads to Holy Living: Though
it is often accompanied by powerful emotions- trembling, weeping, agonizing
prayer, and feelings of great joy and peace- revival is no mere emotional
binge. It is restoration of New Testament Christianity. Humility, brokenness,
and yielding of self to God result in confession of sin and restitution of
those sinned against. An evangelical awakening results in holy living.[3]
2.2.
Revival Gives Tremendous Power: The
supreme good of an evangelical awakening is that it gives tremendous spiritual
power to do Christ’s will. Thoroughly Christian conduct becomes practical for
ordinary people when they earnestly seek and God graciously grant revival. When
the Holy Spirit comes, it accomplishes the impossible in the lives of
believers. Sins that person hides are openly confessed and renounced. The Holy
Spirit gives new standards of justice and mercy to the revival, and they begin
to advocate advanced social righteousness.[4]
2.3.
Revival Drives Christians to Proclaim the
Gospel: Revival implants Christ’s Spirit in believers and forthwith they,
like their master, make bringing salvation to the world a chief purpose of the
lives. Like those indwelt in Pentecost, they go everywhere preaching the word.
They seek to win men and women to Christ.[5]
3.
Visitor Acquisition & Conversion System. The number of documented
visitors has a direct correlation on the growth of a church. They are the life
line to growth. So, getting more visitors to the church is critical. There are
many different ways to attract visitors to our own church and there are several
false assumptions made about visitors. One of those assumptions is why visitors
come to church. Don’t wrongly assume why people come to a church. Most visitors
visit a church because they are looking for a “church” not an alternative to
church. People have a spiritual need in their life that only Jesus can fill.
Many times these visitors have already tried everything the world has to offer
and other religions with out finding the answer. Another incorrect assumption
is an over emphasis on the importance of following up with visitors. The bottom
line is, it is very important to get visitors to the church and for them to
experience the presence of God in the services. Finding ways to attract more
visitors to the church and converting them to regular attenders is a critical
factor for growing the church.[6]
4.
Missions Focused. Growing churches maintain a
strong outward focus without sacrificing a healthy environment for inward
spiritual growth. When members of a church are engaged in serving and giving
out of themselves it creates a culture that produces natural spiritual growth.
Declining and stagnant churches without exception become inward focused. They
no longer have the same passion for the lost or involvement in local
outreaches. Leadership becomes more concerned about social issues, personal
goals, preferences, and desires. Growing churches maintain a strong outward
focus.[7] This aspect of growth tied with spiritual dynamics as the
number one factor. Since churches must reach new people for Christ in
order to grow, the fact that researchers mention evangelism is not surprising.[8]
5.
Strategic Planning: The other important factor that was highlighted the most
was planning and goal setting. Growing churches buy into the concept that
what is measured improves. While most churches measure money, growing
churches make bold plans and then measure their results. The following aspects
were mentioned the most: strategy, multiplying ministries and groups, finances,
functional facilities, decision-making, analysis, evaluation, take appropriate
risk, set direction, have objectives, establish vision, rightly discern the
church and community, and monitor results.[9]
6.
Inspiring Worship: The final factor that was noticed by over 70% of church
growth researchers was inspiring worship. This factor included
everything that helps make corporate worship dynamic, such as, preaching,
music, atmosphere, etc. The following aspects were mentioned the most: a
pastor who loves people, biblical preaching, passionate communication,
authentic leadership, spiritually alive, contextually appropriate, and team
ministry. Other factors most certainly play a part in the growth of a local
church, but these six factors garnered a consensus of all researchers over the
last forty years. A church that emphasizes these six factors will most
assuredly be better off than a church which does not.[10]
7.
Shepherding Techniques: Jesus Christ was many things to us.
He called Himself different things at different times. At one time He said He
was the way the truth and the life. He announced that He was the door. He
declared that He was the bread of life and the light of the world. But He also
said He was a good shepherd. The word shepherd is translated from the Greek
word poimen. In the same time poimen is translated as pastor. What the
Lord was really saying was, “I am the
good pastor”. Throughout the Bible Jesus refer Himself as pastor or
shepherd. A pastor who wants his church to pray must practically lead them into
prayer. When the sheep see the shepherd taking the lead, they are convinced
that the ground is safe. A bad shepherd will sit at home and send the members
to o for prayer meeting alone.[11]
8.
Connected: More differentiated closeness allows
people to develop a sense of connection, unity, intimacy, and mutual
understanding without loss of self for either party. Connected people can be
attentive to and care for one another. Differentiated closeness allowed the
Good Samaritan (considered the foreigner in Israel, and therefore considered
unclean by some Jewish standards) to take pity on the Israelites man who had
been attacked by robbers, while the man’s own country men (who should have been
“close”) passed him by (distantly, “on the other side of the road”). When
people can be connected with one another and maintain a sense of self, there
will be a higher level of ability to think through challenges and difficulties
facing the group or church; there will be able to be open and clear with one
another and attentive to one another, there will be a higher level of
cooperation; and each will be responsible for self’s own part in the process.[12]
9.
A Loving Church: For a fellowship to possess mutual,
affectionate and caring love is to honour the ‘new’ commandment of the Lord.
The apostle John declares that it is an ‘old’ commandment, and yet (for the
fledging Christian church) new in its practical achievability and bonding power
(I John 2:7-8). Paul in Ephesians 4, calls for lowliness and
meekness, with long suffering and mutual forbearance in love. This, he says, is
the only way to ‘walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called’. How much
we should desire for our church an atmosphere of mutual kindness and concern! How
glorious is to know that this can be accomplished! How important it is to
preserve and nourish it, once produced! Love for our fellow believers is one of
the proofs of conversion, and it is certainly essential for pleasing the Lord
and enhancing the growth of the Church. Six times in the Greek New Testament
love is described by the word Philadelphia,
meaning – brotherly love. Internal clashes and divisions must go, and Philadelphia love must be cultivated. Respect
for one another is not enough. Nor are consideration and kindness, important
thought they are. The Lord commands the depth and tenacity of love equal to
that seen in a blood tie.[13]
We must have ‘brotherly love’ in order to enhance church growth.
10. A Praying Church: Another great objective is that of building a praying church, the foundation stone of which will unquestionably
be a worthy prayer meeting. Paul tells us repeatedly that he prayed without
ceasing for all the churches where he had labored, and pleaded them to pray for
him. A distinctive gathering for prayer has a special warrant in the New
Testament, where we see distinctive prayer meetings described in Acts chapters 1, 4 and 12. These were
not preaching meetings, but prayer meetings, convened to besiege the gates of
Heaven with specific needs. A special promised was set upon the prayer by the
Lord in Matthew 18.[14]
11. Practical Approaches: Good
leadership skills involve the art of getting people involved in the “nuts and
bolts” of church growth planning. Drawing people into the planning and
projections tend to motivate and uplift. It is an antidote for critics. As the
old adage goes, “Put people into the boat
and they won’t bore holes in it.” It is further a compliment to a man when
a pastor or outreach director brings them into the inner working of kingdom
service. They feel a part. They feel the real heartbeat. It is also wise to
provide social support for those who are involved. Sending workers two by two
is not only biblical, but provides a support system. Meeting together beforehand
at a rally point is much better than individuals leaving from their homes.[15]
CONCLUSION:
There is another element that will remain constant, however. The growing
church is always a praying church.[16]
From the above explanation of different factors, it is clear that in order to enhance
the church growth each members needs a good relationship with God, and a good
cooperation to one another. Church congregation needs a sacrificial spirit too,
a sacrificial people fulfill the principle of Romans 12:1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.”
[1]
Charles A. Tidwell, Church Administration
Effective Leadership for Ministry (Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1985) 89.
[3] Donald
A. Mc Gavran, Understanding Church Growth
(Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company: 1970), 137.
[6] https://www.breakthroughforyou.com/7-key-factors-for-church-growth/
(Accessed on 17th
Sept., 2019)
[7] https://www.breakthroughforyou.com/7-key-factors-for-church-growth/ (Accessed on 17th Sept., 2019)
[8] https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2013/top-factors-in-growing-churches (Accessed on 17th Sept., 2019)
[9] https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2013/top-factors-in-growing-churches (Accessed on 17th Sept., 2019)
[10] https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2013/top-factors-in-growing-churches (Accessed on 17th Sept., 2019)
[13] Peter Masters, Do we have a Policy (Mumbai: GLS
Publishing, 2002), 75-76.
[14] Peter Masters, Do we have a Policy …, 75-76.
[15] Jack DeHart, So You Want to Grow (Hazelwood: Home
Mission, n.d),72.
[16] Jack DeHart, So You Want to Grow …,25.
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