Secrets to Christian Church Growth

Christian church growth is often misunderstood to refer to the increasing number of attendees and members of a church. Many churches that experienced significant increase in number admit the loss of good attributes of small churches such a closer fellowship and more focused care. Church growth that is desired by most churches is the growth in the quality of its members. They want to nurture their members to achieve a certain level of spiritual maturity that will enable them to extend the same nurturing to other people. However, the reality that as the church grows in number, church leaders find it more difficult to take care of them. One of the secrets to Christian church growth is mobilizing their members to join growth groups. They (also called small groups, discipleship groups, cell groups) are composed of 7-12 attendees or members of local church. It is defined by John Malisson as the building block of life of the local congregation and is fundamental to the development of individual and corporate Christian lifestyle. Many churches, especially mega churches, and their members benefit from having healthy growth groups. They enable leaders to provide better pastoral care to members. They can equip and train their members better. The members can participate more actively in discussions in small groups than in larger seminars. They are easily encouraged to lead prayers, facilitate bible studies, share their personal concerns and counsel one another compared to bigger groups that can be threatening for them. It develops closer fellowship as well as leadership. Theyare also good communication channels and support system to the larger congregation. Growth groups are smaller version of the bigger local congregation. Healthy groups follow the activities as described in the fellowship of early Christian believers in Acts 2:44-47. Instead of apostles, they are led by facilitators or growth group leaders trained by church leaders either in equipping seminars or in more mature groups. These leaders are often tested where they must pass certain measures to determine if they possess the required biblical leadership qualities before they are assigned to handle them. This is to ensure that they would be good shepherds of the people that will be entrusted to their care. They meet regularly, usually once every week, in the house of a host or in different hosts. Growth groups can from time to time hold their fellowship in different venues or have educational tours and invite other pastors/teachers to discuss special topics. They are also expected to evangelize to people and enjoin them in the group. Some members of groups need more nurturing and equipping. Leaders may choose one or two among the growth group members to be honed as future leaders. These leaders will be the focus of one on one discipleship wherein the leader spend more time in coaching and mentoring the potential leader to enable him or her to lead the group or another group. Growth groups and discipleship groups enable the churches to expand in terms of number as well as deepen in terms of spiritual maturity. This is the secret to Christian church growth of most mega churches today. Are you looking for more information regarding Christian church growth? Visit http://www.trinitylivingtoday.com/Church-Growth-Course.html today!