2. In the NZ Presbyterian Church 45% congregations have less than 50 attenders 75% have less than 100 attenders 92% have less than 200 attenders so St Albans is in the top 8% on size, most of whom are non- European congregations. 99% have less than 400 attenders Murray left us with this challenging question: Do we want to see more people reached for God’s kingdom and our church to grow or are we happy with the way we are? Do we want to grow as a church or grow old together?

3. Murray continued: The goal of a church is to be an agent of God’s kingdom. Numerical growth is a sign of effective Kingdom ministry. The biggest barrier for any NZ church is the 150-200 mark which St Albans has passed but has been stalled at a Sunday attendance of around 200 adults for 14 years. Churches are so often inverted/upside down pyramids with the pastor at the bottom trying to toss the caber! In order to for a church to grow, it requires an Attitude Change by elders, staff and congregation to make the necessary Structural Changes in 11 Key areas.

4. Eleven Functional Keys to Growing a Church From Relationships to Mission From Informality to Intentionality What would St Albans look like if it was twice the size? From Simplicity to Complexity – greater planning From Volunteers to Staff From the Minister being the Pastor to being the Leader From One Minister to a Staff Team From Ministry & Care by the Pastor to provided by Small Groups From Decision-making by the Congregation to the Leaders From Single service/one church mentality to Multiple services From being a Sunday church to being a Seven-day church From Church Buildings being Small & personal to being Larger and functional places to gather

5. Most churches in the Western World (80%) have around 70-80 members This bigger church thinking also means that the main purpose of Sunday services is the worship and openness of God, and not about our personal relationships. The main purpose of small groups is to develop our relationships.

6. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3 v 5 & 6 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12 v 30 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. Acts 2 v42 (NLT) They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together. (CEV)

7. Our Month of Worship, Prayer and Fasting starting next Sunday May 11 plus on Wednesday & Thursday evenings 7.30-8.30pm Please reflect & pray this week on these questions: For what things can we thank God for at St As? What things do we need to confess to God – both personally & corporately? What do we recall that God has said to us in recent years? What is God saying to us now?

8. M