Observations about church growth

[Dave McClung]

I don't claim to be an expert on church growth issues, but Linda and I have been blessed to be in the congregation of some of the fastest growing local churches.

When we were newly weds, we joined a church which I won't name. Before long, I was in a serious conflict with the pastor. It wasn't a positive experience, but God used it to teach me an important lessson -- pastors respond better to postive encouragement than to criticism.

Since that time, every church we have belonged to has grown during the time we were there:

Tucson First -- Dr. Ross Hayslip -- steady growth
Waco South Manor -- Willard Hubbard -- explosive growth
Richardson, Tx First -- Eudel Stroud and Jesse Middendorf -- explosive growth
Houston Northwest -- John Donnerberg -- explosive growth
Lake Houston -- Dr. Jim Stocks -- steady growth (new start)
Denver First -- Dr. Jim Diehl -- steady growth
Houston Spring Branch -- Dr. Bill Coulter -- steady growth
Puyallup, WA -- Dr. Les Parrott -- explosive growth
Lakewood, Wa -- Ron Kearns -- steady growth
Gig Harbor, WA -- Steve Gates -- explosive growth.
Oro Valley, AZ (winters) -- Craig Coulter -- explosive growth.

My observations:

1. God has called talented, hard working people to be pastors. If we direct our energy toward encouragement and support, they will respond by doing their job well.

2. When a church calls a pastor, it needs to be willing to follow his or her lead. In every one of the churches I listed, the pastor was allowed to lead and the lay leaders were supportive.

3. Sacrificial giving to others is an important element. Each of these churches made a priority of giving to others. I have observed that God blesses churches financially, when the congregation is sacrificial in giving. (sacrificial giving is giving that requires a change of life style.)

I am sure there are other things that contribute to church growth, but I thought I would share these observations.

[Dale Schaeffer]

Dave,

These are great observations. And I think they are at the top or near the top of any list about why God is able to move in many of these churches. Especially the comments on unity in following leadership and generosity. God can't bless a divided church and He seldom works greatly through churches that are not sacrificially generous.

Great stuff.

[Rich Schmidt]

Thanks, Dave. I'm wondering if you could say more about #3:

3. Sacrificial giving to others is an important element. Each of these churches made a priority of giving to others. I have observed that God blesses churches financially, when the congregation is sacrificial in giving. (sacrificial giving is giving that requires a change of life style.)

Could you tell me what that looks like? I'm not sure if you mean...

1. The congregation collectively (as a church) gives generously to others (to WEF, missionaries, local food pantries, other ministries, etc).
2. The congregation members individually give generously to the local church.
3. The congregation members individually give generously to others (other members & neighbors in need, missionaries, etc).
4. All of the above.
5. Something I didn't think of.

[Benjamin Burch]

Thanks, Dave. I'm wondering if you could say more about #3:


Could you tell me what that looks like? I'm not sure if you mean...

1. The congregation collectively (as a church) gives generously to others (to WEF, missionaries, local food pantries, other ministries, etc).
2. The congregation members individually give generously to the local church.
3. The congregation members individually give generously to others (other members & neighbors in need, missionaries, etc).
4. All of the above.
5. Something I didn't think of.

You expressed my interest and curiosity well.

[Dave McClung]

Thanks, Dave. I'm wondering if you could say more about #3:


Could you tell me what that looks like? I'm not sure if you mean...

1. The congregation collectively (as a church) gives generously to others (to WEF, missionaries, local food pantries, other ministries, etc).
2. The congregation members individually give generously to the local church.
3. The congregation members individually give generously to others (other members & neighbors in need, missionaries, etc).
4. All of the above.
5. Something I didn't think of.

I apologize for the delay in responding. I did a response last night, but it doesn't seem to be here. I don't know what happened.

My answer is "all of the above" except that I wouldn't say "individually." It is my observation that givers tend to be families rather than individuals. For a married person to be generous, the spouse needs to be part of the decision. Based strictly on my own expeience, Linda and I both initiate giving, but we both participate equally. She tends to be more sensitive to giving opportunities to individuals and I tend to be more sensitive to larger causes. At the end of the year, when we review our giving, there are a lot more checks signed by Linda than by me, but mine tend to be larger amounts. Neither of us "seeks permission" from the other to give, but we both join in the giving. It is rare that we differ the amount to give.

What I am suggesting is that in the growing churches I have experienced, the lay leaders of the church and the pastor are generous people, both with their own giving and with the church's.

[Dave McClung]

Let me add a specific example. In several of the churches I mentioned, 1% of the income of the church has been set aside in a "Helping Hand" fund. This fund is used to respond to needs within the church family. Sometimes a relatively small amount of money can make a big difference in people's lives. The Helping Hand fund is administered by a committee and reports to the board the total amounts of help given, but not the names of those who receive the help.

[Bill Morrison]

Let me add a specific example. In several of the churches I mentioned, 1% of the income of the church has been set aside in a "Helping Hand" fund. This fund is used to respond to needs within the church family. Sometimes a relatively small amount of money can make a big difference in people's lives. The Helping Hand fund is administered by a committee and reports to the board the total amounts of help given, but not the names of those who receive the help.

I like this idea. And I would like to see it made easier for individuals in the church to contribute to a Help Fund directly. I am not a rich man (I've taught most of my life at a Nazarene school Dave, so I'm sure you get the picture), but there have been times when, if I only knew, I would have been happy to give $50 or $100 to help a family that was in real need. I would rather do it anonymously so the individual/family felt no obligation to me. Such a committee or Fund could accomplish this. I wonder if in smaller churches it would work just as well to have the pastor receive donations and take care of such a fund, reporting to the Board.

BILL

[Kevin Rector]

I wonder if in smaller churches it would work just as well to have the pastor receive donations and take care of such a fund, reporting to the Board.

BILL

We have something sort of like this in our church. The board has allocated $100 a month to my discretion for benevolence. If I ever needed more than $100 it would be readily given.

[Sarah Smith]

Just one caveat--follow SOUND leadership.

Twice I watched heartbroken as charlatans took over and "grew exponentially" the local church.

We keep in touch. One church realized they had a cad leading them and never recovered. (Think a pastor who would go around telling folks God wanted them to sell their home and give him the money.) One had some serious housecleaning to do and has come out a-ok.

Just make sure if it feels hinky you are cautious and be a berean.

[Dave McClung]

I like this idea. And I would like to see it made easier for individuals in the church to contribute to a Help Fund directly. I am not a rich man (I've taught most of my life at a Nazarene school Dave, so I'm sure you get the picture), but there have been times when, if I only knew, I would have been happy to give $50 or $100 to help a family that was in real need. I would rather do it anonymously so the individual/family felt no obligation to me. Such a committee or Fund could accomplish this. I wonder if in smaller churches it would work just as well to have the pastor receive donations and take care of such a fund, reporting to the Board.

BILL

In most of the churches where I have served, the board felt it was best to shelter the pastor from the requests for assistance. The committee works closely with the pastor, but the pastor can truthfully say to folks, "I don't have authority to hand our church funds. The board has a helping hand committee that does that."

Some of the churches have raised the money for "Helping Hands" through donations. Others have just included a line in the budget. It seems to work well either way.

[Dave McClung]

Just one caveat--follow SOUND leadership.

Twice I watched heartbroken as charlatans took over and "grew exponentially" the local church.

We keep in touch. One church realized they had a cad leading them and never recovered. (Think a pastor who would go around telling folks God wanted them to sell their home and give him the money.) One had some serious housecleaning to do and has come out a-ok.

Just make sure if it feels hinky you are cautious and be a berean.

Your post points out the necessity of a church being careful when they call a pastor.