THE CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENT Emphasis by Christian to Look Realistically at How We Do Missions

Church Growth Movement Donald McGarvran – Founder and father of the Church Growth Movement Donald McGarvran – Founder and father of the Church Growth Movement –Missionary to India for 30 years –Saw the lack of long-term results –Wrote his first book “The Bridges of God” he evaluated the current methods of missions and proposed new mission methods

Church Growth Movement Donald McGarvran – New way of thinking of doing missions & methods used Donald McGarvran – New way of thinking of doing missions & methods used –Importance of numerical growth –Focus on receptive groups –People movements –Science as a valid tool –Right methods will improve results

Church Growth Movement Significant Events  Donald McGavran publishes "The Bridges of God" in 1955  Establishment of the Institute of Church Growth at Northwest Christian College in  Publication of the Church Growth Bulletin in 1964  Relocation of the Institute of Church Growth to Fuller Theological Seminary in  Establishment of the William Carey Library in 1969 for mass publication and circulation of church growth books.

Church Growth Movement Significant Events  Elmer Towns publishes "The Ten Largest Sunday Schools and What Made Them Grow" in  First use of scientific principles of social research to establish church growth principles.  Publication of McGavran's book, "Understanding Church Growth" in  Alan Tippett publishes Church Growth and the Word of God.  Ralph Winter publishes The 25 Unbelievable Years:

Church Growth Movement Significant Events  McGavran and C. Peter Wagner instituted the Fuller Evangelistic Association  Department of Church Growth at Fuller in  Creation of the Institute for American Church Growth by McGavran and Win Arn in  Provides information and research on North American church growth  Church growth movement grew in significantly during the 1970s and 80s.

Church Growth Movement Significant Events  Donald McGavran died in  C. Peter Wagner carried on the Department Church Growth at Fuller.

Church Growth Movement Significant People  Donald McGavran  Elmer Towns  Alan Tippett  Ralph Winter  C. Peter Wagner  Win Arn  Flavil Yeakley (church of christ)  Tim Metheny  Center for Church Growth/C, P.O. Box , Houston, Texas  John W. Ellas, Measuring Church Growth, A Research-Based Tool for Evaluating and Planning