Overcoming Growth Overcoming Growth BarriersBarriers

Thriving Churches ConferenceThriving Churches Conference© Dr. John Jackson, 2007© Dr. John Jackson, 2007

Quotes that make you think…Quotes that make you think…

““If churches only improve what If churches only improve what they have been doing, they will they have been doing, they will

die. Bureaucracies and die. Bureaucracies and traditional practices are the traditional practices are the major cause of the decline of major cause of the decline of most denominations in North most denominations in North

America.”America.”

(William Easum, (William Easum, Dancing with Dinosaurs,Dancing with Dinosaurs, p. 13-14, p. 13-14, www.easumbandy.comwww.easumbandy.com) )

““I know that I am generalizing and that I know that I am generalizing and that what I am saying cannot be said of what I am saying cannot be said of

every church. Nevertheless, every church. Nevertheless, generalizations do disclose general generalizations do disclose general truths, and it is not too much to say truths, and it is not too much to say that the church of our time and our that the church of our time and our place is largely inwardly focused. It place is largely inwardly focused. It

has lost sight of the world outside its has lost sight of the world outside its walls. Which is to say, the church has walls. Which is to say, the church has also lost sight of the God who works also lost sight of the God who works in and loves the world. And that is a in and loves the world. And that is a

genuine tragedy.” genuine tragedy.” ((Walt Kallestad Walt Kallestad Turning Your Church Inside OutTurning Your Church Inside Out))

PastorPreneur LeadershipPastorPreneur Leadership Genuine calling is a powerful antidote Genuine calling is a powerful antidote

to the drive to prove ourselves, the to the drive to prove ourselves, the emptiness of boredom or emptiness of boredom or discouragement, and the discouragement, and the meaninglessness of superficial, meaninglessness of superficial, scattered activities.scattered activities.

Calling is not about the size of a Calling is not about the size of a church, the scope of a ministry, or the church, the scope of a ministry, or the bottom line of a business—it is about bottom line of a business—it is about the heart of God.the heart of God.

Our Our GRIPGRIP of the heart of God (which of the heart of God (which helps to helps to FOCUSFOCUS our motivation) our motivation)

Our Our GRASPGRASP on the needs of people on the needs of people around us (which helps to around us (which helps to FOCUSFOCUS our our ministry)ministry)

Our Our GIFTSGIFTS that He has entrusted to us that He has entrusted to us (which helps to (which helps to FOCUSFOCUS our methods) our methods)

High Impact Churches break High Impact Churches break through spiritual, social, and through spiritual, social, and

leadership barriers to establish leadership barriers to establish new churches, new ministries, new churches, new ministries,

and reach large numbers of new and reach large numbers of new people for Christ. High Impact people for Christ. High Impact churches confront the law of churches confront the law of

inertia and the reality of human inertia and the reality of human lethargy with a passionate lethargy with a passionate

purposeful pursuit of God’s plan purposeful pursuit of God’s plan for evangelism in their area.for evangelism in their area.

George Hunter (Reaching the Unchurched) George Hunter (Reaching the Unchurched) & George Barna (& George Barna (www.barna.orgwww.barna.org))

Built on needs of people in local contextBuilt on needs of people in local context Focused on the unchurchedFocused on the unchurched Multiple entry points into the churchMultiple entry points into the church System of segmentation and System of segmentation and

sequencing for spiritual growthsequencing for spiritual growth Leadership is the most important role of Leadership is the most important role of

the Senior Pastorthe Senior Pastor

High expectations of membership High expectations of membership and preaching involves a call to and preaching involves a call to actionaction

Leadership is developed from withinLeadership is developed from within Many specialized ministries in Many specialized ministries in

addition to the basicsaddition to the basics

““Churches that are effective Churches that are effective reaching people for Christ see the reaching people for Christ see the

needs of the unchurched, needs of the unchurched, establish ministries that allow the establish ministries that allow the

church to be present in the church to be present in the community, and have a process by community, and have a process by which they are able to draw these which they are able to draw these unchurched people into the safety unchurched people into the safety

of Christ and a local church”of Christ and a local church” (Mcintosh & Martin, (Mcintosh & Martin, Finding Them, Keeping ThemFinding Them, Keeping Them, 22)., 22).

GROWTH BARRIERS…..GROWTH BARRIERS…..The barrier of The barrier of VISION VISION - -

A breakthrough of A breakthrough of CLARITYCLARITYThe barrier of The barrier of LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP – –

A breakthrough of A breakthrough of CERTAINTYCERTAINTYThe barrier of The barrier of TEAMTEAM – –

A breakthrough of A breakthrough of UNITYUNITY

The barrier of The barrier of COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY – – A breakthrough of A breakthrough of CONNECTIONCONNECTION

The barrier of The barrier of PRESENTATIONPRESENTATION – – A breakthrough of A breakthrough of EXCELLENCEEXCELLENCE

The barrier of The barrier of FOLLOW-THROUGHFOLLOW-THROUGHA breakthrough ofA breakthrough of

FAITHFULNESSFAITHFULNESS

200 barrier key 200 barrier key factors:factors:

contagious desire to growcontagious desire to growidentify growth acceleratorsidentify growth acceleratorsshepherd to ranchershepherd to rancherdeal with small church deal with small church

mentality-focus outward!mentality-focus outward!offer leadership and lay offer leadership and lay

ministry trainingministry training

Five Behaviors of Five Behaviors of Sheep Herders:Sheep Herders:

Personally do all the caringPersonally do all the caringAttempt to meet all expectationsAttempt to meet all expectationsWork to the limit of time/energyWork to the limit of time/energyKeep work close to themselvesKeep work close to themselvesBase perspective on present Base perspective on present

conditionsconditions

Five Behaviors of Five Behaviors of Sheep Ranchers:Sheep Ranchers:

Concerned for high quality Concerned for high quality pastoral carepastoral care

Set expectationsSet expectationsPerceive the church Perceive the church

organizationallyorganizationallyDelegate and involve othersDelegate and involve othersDevelop leadership and Develop leadership and

management skillsmanagement skills

200-400 key factors200-400 key factors Self –identity – Self –identity –

Who are we - What we used to beWho are we - What we used to be Leadership crisisLeadership crisis Multiple servicesMultiple services Power issuesPower issues Staff, ProgrammingStaff, Programming Staff led model, Staff led model,

pastor to leader vs. manager pastor to leader vs. manager Align resources to visionAlign resources to vision Restructure for successRestructure for success

400-700 key factors400-700 key factorsAwkward size church Awkward size church Vision directed values enhanced. Vision directed values enhanced. Release ministry rather than retain itRelease ministry rather than retain itPastor as leader or stagnatePastor as leader or stagnateAt this level, pastor becomes leader At this level, pastor becomes leader

or else stagnationor else stagnationElevate the thinking of the pastorElevate the thinking of the pastorHire exceptional staffHire exceptional staffCreate multiple entry pointsCreate multiple entry pointsProvide assimilation and discipleship Provide assimilation and discipleship

via small groups/classesvia small groups/classes

800+800+Worship ExcellenceWorship Excellence

Communication is KeyCommunication is Key

Excellence, Simplicity, Excellence, Simplicity, SynergySynergy

4 Jobs of a Great Leader4 Jobs of a Great Leader Vision CastingVision Casting

Creating EnvironmentsCreating Environments

Developing SystemsDeveloping Systems

Equipping LeadersEquipping Leaders