Jay Kuo Moderator, EFC February 8, /7/20151
Vision 2020 ◦ EFC will have 200 local churches and members by the end of year 2020 Background ◦ Motivated by Taiwan mission ◦ Rev. Felix Liu encouraged EFC to continue with church planting in North America ◦ GA has committed to plant two new churches every year in the next 5 years ◦ GA sent a survey to all local churches for growth prediction and church planting plan between /7/20152
Positive ◦ It is good to set a goal Concerns and questions ◦ Do we need a growth goal? Let us just work hard for the Lord ◦ We have done this too many times in the past Another number game? ◦ Simply ignore None of my business, just leave me alone 9/7/20153
Very few people would like to be pushed, stretched and governed (including me) On the other hand, the Bible teaches us: ◦ “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverb 29:18) 沒有異象、民就放肆. ◦ “In those days Israel had no king; every did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25) 那時以色列中沒有王、各人任意而行。 How can we break the deadlock and move forward with unity? 9/7/20154
People cry out for leadership ◦ No leadership, no successful organization However, true leaders are difficult to find ◦ Many talkers, few doers ◦ Who has the guts to make decision? No decision is also a decision ◦ Who is willing to take the responsibilities and blames? ◦ Who can encourage and motivate people towards the same vision? ◦ Who can listen to different voices? Who are leaders of EFC in ? Are they good leaders? 9/7/20155
Historical Movement ◦ > 25 EFC churches in 1990 ◦ > 50 EFC churches in 2000 ◦ 2010?? -> about 100 churches in 2010 ◦ > 200 churches in 2020 Relationship with Taiwan Mission ◦ Goal of Taiwan mission: /10000 ◦ The 2020 goal should include the Taiwan mission as a subset GA survey results ◦ Many churches set the annual growth rate to 10% ◦ Overseas EFC churches will reach in /7/20156
5-year prediction could be long for local churches but short for a denomination ◦ 10-year prediction is more appropriate for the whole EFC Bottom up survey data are used as reference ◦ Lower the expectation by extending the goal of members in Taiwan and overseas EFC churches each from 2015 to /7/20157
Regional Assemblies Predicted Members in 2015 Regional Assemblies Predicted Members in 2015 Australia 753 N. A. South 428 New Zealand 1286 S. C. Central 3160 N. A. East 665 S. C. Southwest 2492 N. A. Central/West 1190 S. C. East 879 9/7/20158 Total: 10,853
200/20000 means 200 churches or church members means 200 churches and church members A problem with “or” ◦ Taiwan mission is /10000 ◦ It was an aggressive goal ◦ 100 gospel stations are within reach in 2015 ◦ But could be too much focused on the church no. Could be too many small churches Need to be more balanced 9/7/20159
Further breakdown (by 2020) ◦ Taiwan: 125 churches, church members ◦ Overseas: 75 churches, church members Current status ◦ Taiwan: 50 churches, 2000 church members ◦ Overseas: 50 churches, 5600 church members Church planting rate ◦ Taiwan: 7.5 churches per year in the next decade ◦ Overseas: 2.5 churches per year in the next decade 9/7/201510
Depending on your viewpoint ◦ Report of 12 explorers (Numbers 13) Feasibility evaluation ◦ Taiwan: from 2000 to Increasing rate 400% (very challenging) Yet, it is only 0.05% of Taiwan population (is it too small?) ◦ Overseas: from 5600 to Increasing rate 100% over 10 years (7-8% per year) EFCLA: from 1000 to 2000 (Explosive growth in Saturday night worship services) How about others? 9/7/201511
Will this be the proper number? Will it be too aggressive? ◦ I am who I am, but who are you? Questions from the Lord ◦ How serious (or hunger) are you? ◦ Are you ready (or qualified) to lead? What is your height and breadth? Can you win leaders’ heart (trust and respect) Can you motivate brothers/sisters to follow? The focal point is not the number but the leaders ◦ It is actually the test on the leader(s) 9/7/201512
2 -> double portion Grace upon grace ( 恩上加恩 ) … Can we use as the basis and go beyond that? ◦ Let us pray for the blessing of double portion After all, we are not fighting for numbers, but for the Lord and lost souls. 9/7/201513
Unique feature of EFC ◦ Team work between full-time ministers and lay leaders We have witnessed role models from the first generation leaders ◦ Pastors of different gifts/styles ◦ Lay leaders of different gifts/styles How about leaders of the 2 nd generation? ◦ Who is willing to step out? ◦ Who is willing to work in a team? Prepare leaders of the 3 rd generation 9/7/201514
Once vision is endorsed by the majority of core leaders, what is the next step? ◦ Promotion: blow the horn ◦ Strategic planning Location Metropolitan areas versus rural areas Overseas Chinese immigrants English speaking Asians Other possibilities Human resource Financial resource 9/7/201515
Church planting in existing 8 regional assemblies 8 regions x 7 churches/region =56 churches Exploring new regions and build new regional assemblies, e.g. ◦ Northern California ◦ Vancouver and Seattle ◦ Hong Kong ◦ Singapore 4 regions x 5 churches/region=20 churches 9/7/201516
9/7/ 組織 Connection & Organization 動力 Momentum & Sustainability 資源 Resource & Usage
“Have not I commanded thee. Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you whereever you go” (Joshua 1:9) 我豈沒有吩咐你麼.你當剛強壯膽.不要 懼怕、也不要驚惶、因為你無論往那裡去、 耶和華你的 神必與你同在。 9/7/201518