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1. Principles for Developing
a Church Growth Vision
By James A. Cress

2. Vision = More Than Sight!
Some people see things as they
are and ask why?
Other see things as they could
be and ask why not!
-- Robert F.
Kennedy

3. 1. Intentionality
•God expects the church to grow (Acts 2).
•Growth is not a numbers game!
But God is interested in numbers
•Church is not the church
if it is not growing!

4. 2. Dissatisfaction with
Status Quo
•If all is okay, why still here?
•A great heritage and marvelous history
1949 1 million members worldwide
200920 million members worldwide
•But we are still here!
What should we be doing differently?

5. 3. Analytical Analysis
•Not salvation by number-crunching
•Who have you got?
•What is working?
•What is not working?
1. Unconscious ineffectiveness
2. Conscious ineffectiveness
3. Unconscious effectiveness
4. Conscious effectiveness
5. Naturalized effectiveness

6. 4. Target Best Potentials
= Positioning
•Youth vs. aged
•Win a youth, win a multiplication table
•No one power group controls
•On-going repositioning is essential
•Population demographics determine
mission tactics (i.e. Paul’s different
approaches).

7. 5. Build on Strengths
•Slogan: The Caring Church
•Nobody believed – not even the
members
•Seventh-day Adventists . . .
When you’re looking for answers!
•ADRA - You can trust > than “they care”
•Build on strengths:
Adventists not charismatics

8. 6. Pastoral Tenure
•21 years experience
•Live through and resolve problems vs.
escape

9. 7. Emphasize Spiritual Growth
1.Bible Study
2.Prayer
3.Fellowship
4.Witnessing
5.Obedience

10. 8. Consistent Preaching
•Christ-centered
•No surprises
•Listener-focused
•Take home value
•Certainty – preach “as if”
•Study your questions, of course.
•Don’t take your questions into the pulpit!

11. 9. Invitations
•Response cards
•Pew card summary
•Spiritual business
•Public invitations
•Invite “an appointment”
•Easy to say “Yes”
I would like to be baptized I request a pastoral visit

12. 10. Big Deals
•Baby Dedications
•Baptismal Services
•Anniversaries
•Friends’ Day
•Honor Teachers
•Visitor Recognition

13. 11. Advertise
•Sabbath Worship Service –
Advertise – Weekly newsletter, paper, radio, television
Sermon series
•Best evangelistic opportunity
•Complimentary advertising
•Pastoral business cards for your leaders
•Announce:
Open Communion
Public Baptism
Annual Homecoming
Free Lunch

14. 12. Dynamic Worship
•Creatively Dynamic
•Need not be radical!
•Timeliness
Cut extraneous
Time Czar
Emphasize essentials
Mail bulletins

15. 13. Inclusive Reckoning
as Outreach Method
Believers
Attending
Believers
Non-Attending
Non-Believers
Attending
Non-Believers
Non-Attending

16. 14. Small Group Ministries
•Pastor’s Work = “work the members”
•Pastors Method = “lead the leaders!”
•Small Group Effectiveness Factors:
–Word
–Worship
–Fellowship
–Service

17. 15. Leaders Who Lead!
•Not an enabler who says, Here I am, What do you
want me to do?
•Not a facilitator who says, Figure out what you
want to do and I’ll help you get there.
•Rather . . . A leader who says, “This is where God
wants us to go . . . Follow me as I follow
Christ!
A.Assume responsibility for growth
B.Work hard
C.Share ministry
D.Not paralyzed by pessimists – some members cannot be
pastored
E.Invest time, energy and money in training
Self – continuing education
Leaders – for responsible service
Members – increased world view

18. 16. Followers Who Follow
A.Willing to follow the leader.
B.Expect pastoral ranchers more than
shepherds
C.Pay the price for following
D.Readjust fellowship patterns – assimilate
new
E.Open up leadership opportunities
F.Intentionally include youth and newcomers
–Rather youth not attend than sing

19. 17. Administrators who value local
congregation more than structure
•Tip O’Neill -- All politics is local
•Resource sharing
•Key Result Areas (KRA) as
base for appropriations
•Performance Standards

20. 18. Global Worldview = Mission