Breaking Growth Barriers: Mach 1 & 2 GCN Consultant Training © Dr. John Jackson, 2007

Success? “ Pastoral success is about rightly understanding, pursuing, and achieving what God’s vision for your ministry is all about”

Focus (Shaping Your Vision) Alignment (Strategic Planning & Ministries) Reach (Building Your Team)

High Impact Ministry High Impact Churches break through spiritual, social, and leadership barriers to establish new churches, new ministries, and reach large numbers of new people for Christ. High Impact churches confront the law of inertia and the reality of human lethargy with a passionate purposeful pursuit of God’s plan for evangelism in their area.

Simple Church A simple church is designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth. The leadership and the church are clear about the process (clarity) and are committed to executing it. The process flows logically (movement) and is implemented in each area of the church (alignment). The church abandons everything that is not in the process (focus). - pages 67-68

Step 1: Design a Simple Process (Clarity) Step 1: Design a Simple Process (Clarity) Step 2: Place Your Key Programs Along the Process (Movement) Step 2: Place Your Key Programs Along the Process (Movement) Step 3: Unite All Ministries Around the Process (Alignment) Step 3: Unite All Ministries Around the Process (Alignment) Step 4: Begin to Eliminate Things Outside the Process (Focus) Step 4: Begin to Eliminate Things Outside the Process (Focus)

3 Questions Every Church Leadership Team should be asking each year (from Ray Johnston): 1) What will we do to reach our community this year? 1) What will we do to reach our community this year? 2) What will we do to grow our people this year? 2) What will we do to grow our people this year? 3) What will we do to develop leaders this year? 3) What will we do to develop leaders this year?

Thinking About People… Curious are those interested in what Christianity is all about…OUTREACH Curious are those interested in what Christianity is all about…OUTREACH Casual are those we challenge to take a next step with Christ…DISCIPLESHIP Casual are those we challenge to take a next step with Christ…DISCIPLESHIP Committed are those we challenge to discover gifts, serve, and develop leadership…MINISTRY Committed are those we challenge to discover gifts, serve, and develop leadership…MINISTRY

Part II Growth Barrier Specifics

GROWTH BARRIERS….. (Carl George & Warren Bird, Breaking Growth Barriers) The barrier of vision - A breakthrough of Clarity The barrier of vision - A breakthrough of Clarity The barrier of leadership – A breakthrough of Certainty The barrier of leadership – A breakthrough of Certainty The barrier of team – A breakthrough of Unity The barrier of team – A breakthrough of Unity The barrier of community – A breakthrough of Connection The barrier of community – A breakthrough of Connection The barrier of presentation – A breakthrough of Excellence The barrier of presentation – A breakthrough of Excellence The barrier of follow-through – A breakthrough of Faithfulness The barrier of follow-through – A breakthrough of Faithfulness

Five Behaviors of Sheep Herders: Personally do all the caring Personally do all the caring Attempt to meet all expectations Attempt to meet all expectations Work to the limit of time/energy Work to the limit of time/energy Keep work close to themselves Keep work close to themselves Base perspective on present conditions Base perspective on present conditions

Five Behaviors of Sheep Ranchers: Concerned for high quality pastoral care Concerned for high quality pastoral care Set expectations Set expectations Perceive the church organizationally Perceive the church organizationally Delegate and involve others Delegate and involve others Develop leadership and management skills Develop leadership and management skills

125 Barrier (Nelson Searcy) 1) Grow Myself 1) Grow Myself 2) Shift from Shepherd to Rancher 2) Shift from Shepherd to Rancher 3) Advertise 3) Advertise 4) Pyramid Growth days 4) Pyramid Growth days 5) Work Through Volunteers and Hire Some Staff 5) Work Through Volunteers and Hire Some Staff 6) Use a Strategic Series 6) Use a Strategic Series

125 Barrier (Nelson Searcy) 7) Start new Small Groups 7) Start new Small Groups 8) Develop New Leaders 8) Develop New Leaders 9) Think Twice Your Size 9) Think Twice Your Size 10) I must remember the Harvest 10) I must remember the Harvest

200 barrier key factors: contagious desire to grow contagious desire to grow identify growth accelerators identify growth accelerators shepherd to rancher shepherd to rancher deal with small church mentality- focus outward! deal with small church mentality- focus outward! offer leadership and lay ministry training offer leadership and lay ministry training