LookingTo2070

  Jeff's experiment What does “Breaking the 150/200 Barrier” look like in practice? How do you find those who have “Broken the 150/200 Barrier”? Yearbooks, that's how. Good news and bad news . . . • Between 1990 & 2000, almost 20% of Disciples churches showed meaningful growth. Looking specifically at churches already bigger than 85 average worship attendance (AWA) which grew to 150 AWA or larger, I found about half a dozen each in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and a few other regions. • Between 2000 & the present, I found . . . None. Zero. • “The In-Between Church” was written in 1997; Alice Mann’s work was valid. Good news within the bad news • There ARE growing churches out there . . . However. • Since 2000, if a church has shown any amount of significant growth, one of three things (or two, or all three) are true:   + It’s a New Church Plant   + They built a new worship center/sanctuary ...

Let's review: • Our wider context in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and among churches generally in the United States, is one of decline. • There are faith groups with slower current rates of decline, but we are all under pressure, with some communions shrinking at an alarming rate. • The Christian Church in Ohio is shrinking at an alarming rate, as are Protestant mainline/traditional churches across Licking County. • The only apparent growth currently is in contemporary style worship. [next slide] • There is a great deal of literature and advice out there about the church life “150/200 barrier” – it is a common & widely understood challenge around changing the culture of a congregation. • The pastoral or family-style church of 150 and less is more directly relational & personal; to get to and above 200 a Sunday requires a church become more program-centered & managerial. • Newark Central has been above 200 average Sunday attend...

"Look to the fruit"   ~ Beth Moore +    +    + “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.   For   every tree is known by its own fruit. For  men  do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.   A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good..."  ~ Luke 6:43-45 (NKJV) +    +    + +    +    + What is Newark Central known for in Licking County? - Medical Loan Closet - Ramp Ministry - Mission Teams (since 1993, starting with youth; since 2004, adults annually or more often) - Salvation Army dinners - Salvation Army partnership & service more generally - Licking County Coalition for Housing - Licking County Coalition of Care "Look to the fruit"   ~ Beth Moore Is this congregation fruitful? The answer is YES . The question then is one of sustainability.