From Rural to Regional How some Virginia Baptist Churches are moving from family chapels to “destination” ministries Dr. John P. Chandler

“It takes all kinds.” Missionary Reality: different unreached people groups will be reached by different kinds and sizes of churches Value Judgment: a church’s value is based not simply on its size, but on how completely it is fulfilling its Kingdom potential

“There are plenty of small churches.” The congregational landscape of the U.S. in general and Virginia in particular is dominated by churches under 100 in average worship attendance (AWA) Median congregation size in Virginia: 80 on any given Sunday

“ Will they come to our small churches?” Often, yes! AWA in BGAV churches: 220,000 Roman Catholic 250k United Methodist 141k PCUSA 57k Episcopal 49k

Church to Populations Ratios -- Lyle Schaller When AWA exceeds 1% of population, we’re competitive –BGAV: 3% The membership to population ratio of BGAV: 8.9% –“That is dominant, not simply competitive” –You’ll notice nine pounds of salt in 100 pounds of meat! For individual congregations, an AWA of 225 is the defined minimum to be competitive (as vs. viable) in most communities –Only 164 BGAV congregations qualify –Only 344 reported growing AWA from report decreased AWA

“Will they come to our small churches?” Often, no. There are over four million lost and unchurched people in Virginia. Many unreached people will never attend a church where everyone knows everyone’s name –Scope of ministries –Anonymity and sin –S.E.S. factors

Again: “It takes all kinds.” Virginia needs different types of churches to reach different kinds of people –who will want to go to different sizes of churches »with different scales of ministries

“Destination” Churches We need some very large churches that people are willing to drive to get to Churches that reach more than 1-3 family groups Churches with a scale and range of ministries not often found in AWA < 200

And some of our churches are doing this! Vansant (in Grundy) Salem (Sparta) New Prospect (Monroe) Spring Hill (Ruckersville) Beaverdam (Montpelier) Effort (Palmyra) Clifford (Lovingston) Fairview (Spotsylvania) –… and many others

How are churches doing this? By changing ministry models By breaking classic church growth barriers and growing into new sizes

Changing ministry models 1.Patriarchal/Matriarchal (<50) –Farm family with seasonal help 2.Pastoral (50-150) –Hub and spoke model 3.Program( ) –From country store to YMCA 4.Corporate(350+) –Wal-Mart departments

Growing Into a New Size, part 1 To grow from –patriarchal (<50 AWA) to –pastoral (up to 150) takes: 1.the right match 2.pastoral tenure

Matching Slow to hire: These churches deal well with “chemistry” issues between congregation and pastor Community, Cause, and Corporation “hats”

Keeping Catch the pastor doing something right. These churches do the things that encourage long tenure in well- matched pastorates –Compensation –Affirmation –Role definition –Sabbatical

Growing Into a New Size, part 2 To grow from pastoral (150 AWA) to program ) takes all of the above plus: New roles for pastor and pastors New structures for the group life of the church

New roles and structures Roles: –From shepherd to shepherd-maker Structures: –Intentional multiple congregations –Intentional new cellular growth

Growing Into a New Size, part 3 To grow from program (AWA ) to corporate (AWA 350+) takes all of the above plus: –The Vision Thing –A Re-write?

The Vision Thing Churches that grow from rural to regional have become clear and honest about who they have been called by God to reach. They tend to focus on unsaved and unchurched people And don’t lose too much sleep if that upsets the saved and churched around or within them!

A Constitution re-write? New structures of decision- making –From democrat to republican (!) Not political … representative decision-making –To break the next growth barriers (400 & 800) will mean moving toward a staff-led church Pastors do the leading, people do the ministry

What can we do first to move from rural to regional? 1.Get the right people on the bus. Let the leaders lead Gift-based rather than availability or tradition Find the right driver Match pastors and ministry plans Keep the right driver around!

What can we do first to move from rural to regional? 2.Start something new! It’s easier and better to create new structures than to revise or destroy old ones Bible studies, ministries, worshiping communities

What can we do first to move from rural to regional? 3.Be ruthlessly fixed on purpose and always flexible on style. –Keep the vision thing the main thing –“The song’s the thing, not the format” From 78 to MP3

4. Get back to “prime” on the Life Cycle Birth Infancy Childhood Adolescence Adulthood Maturity Empty Nest Retirement  Old Age Death Renewal Revisioning Radical Redeveloping Resurrecting prime Vision Inclusion Program Management

The Call It takes all kinds We’ve got lots of family chapels We need churches fulfilling Kingdom potential Will you work to move from rural to regional?

“Destination” churches The main reason we need “destination” churches: –Because eternal destination matters –There are 4 million lost people in Virginia –Will you become the church that will reach your share?

For more help Talk to us on the “Courageous Churches” team … we will partner with you to advance the Kingdom!

From Rural to Regional