Chapter Three

One aspect of where both we as a congregation and the region of which we're a part have a common problem is around the so-called "150-200 barrier." It's a well-known and often discussed challenge for congregations. There's quite a bit of literature on it, and I'll just give you this sample of links:





Carey is often dismissed by readers in smaller churches because he talks both about breaking past 150-200, but also about how he brought a congregation to 3000 a Sunday . . . and for some, that's just so outside of both experience and current vision that it kind of erases mentally what else he's said. I ask that you set aside whether or not you want to be part of a church of 3000 a Sunday or not, and just ask "but is what he's saying valid about what it takes just to get to 250, let alone 300 or more?" And I believe it is:




[This is one of Carey's links out of that last post:] https://insidenorthpoint.org/groups/

This may seem like a lot (and I only touched on a few of them in our Wednesday night gatherings), but I'm putting everything I've read up here for anyone to read who wants to know where I'm getting my ideas and information from.

The following links are perhaps the hardest to read -- they were for me:

https://careynieuwhof.com/how-pastoral-care-stunts-the-growth-of-most-churches/





I will try to summarize the situation as I see it, but these links are a start for anyone who wants to see for themselves, which I encourage!

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Chapter Ten

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