Dr. Paul D. Borden

The Need

Christianity – The Number One Faith in the World

Christianity – The Fastest Growing Faith in the World

The Church of Jesus Christ is Declining – Continents Most Identified Historically with the Protestant Reformation: Europe North America

Australia and New Zealand

Less than 20% (17.7%) of the population attend church regularly▪ 9.2% Evangelical▪ 5.5% Catholic▪ 3.1% Mainline

Average congregational worship attendance is 124 people

Loss▪ 3000 congregations a year die▪ 3800 new congregations a year are started▪ 10,000 new congregations a year are

required to equal population growth

Declining as a Denomination

Regions Dying

Congregations Dying

Losing Dollars

God is Still Performing Miracles

The Region Began to Decline Congregations of 500-700 in Worship

became Congregations of 100 or less in worship

The average age of congregations increased 65-75 years of age

The average age of pastors increased 55-70

Mission dollars decreased as congregational incomes decreased

Region was cannibalizing itself (Selling properties to pay current bills)

Went from 37 growing congregations to 153

Went from 30,000 in worship to 42,000 in worship

Went from decreasing mission dollars to a 25% increase in mission dollars

THE KEY STAT: Went from 800 baptisms

a year to 2000 baptisms a year

Planted almost 80 new congregations (12 states – 3 foreign countries)

Many new congregations start with 200-500 in worship

Now have close to $6 million for congregational reproduction

THE KEY STAT: Have gone from 2000

Baptisms a year to 4000 baptisms a year

The Reason(for dying denominations)

Christendom Has Influenced the

Western World for 1000 Years

Society’s Institutions Christianized People

Society’s Language – Christian Language – the Same

Society’s Institutions Stigmatized Non-Christian

Behaviors

Society Took Christian Positions on Good and Evil

People Were Cultural Christians

Challenge for the Church Help People Become Regenerate

Christians not Cultural Christians

Morality without Regeneration Leads to Hypocrisy and Cruelty

Individuals

Communities

Nations

The Church was often Silent on Sins

Related to Power and Greed

Cruelty and Hypocrisy Two World Wars (Cruelty in the Name of

God)

Racial Injustice (Often in the Name of God)

Recent History – Media Coverage of Sinful Church Leaders

Sexual Abuse (Often by Religious People)

Misplaced Power and Greed

The Depression

Denominational Wealth

Religious Leaders in Bed with Politicians

The Western World Has Changed – Christendom is GONE

The Western Church has NOT Changed – Still Lives in a Christendom World

Leslie Newbigen – Missionary to India from Great Britain – 1950’s

Observed Missional Churches in a Non-Christendom World ALL Congregational Activities Designed

to Achieve the Mission

(A Missional Congregation) Returned to England

Observed Non-Missional Churches in a Non-Christendom World

Preparing for the Answer

Three Basic Assumptions

(These Three Assumptions Build a Theology)

That which is healthy grows

and reproduces

God created the church to attack the Gates of

Hell 

Matthew 16:18

The Gospel never changes but the church

must be constantly changing 

If these three assumptions are true than the Church of Jesus Christ is:

A living reproducing constantly morphing missional entity that

has one goal, the continual making of new disciples.

 

The Church of Jesus Christ in the USA has become an inflexible organization catering to consumer

Christians at the expense of making disciples.

 

The Answer:

Make Two Fundamental

Choices

Choose to be a Missional Entity or an Organization with a Mission Statement

(This is really a choice between obedience or sin)

Choose to implement your decision to be missional or continue business as usual

(This is really a choice between becoming obedient

or remaining disobedient)

This second choice will impact your perspective on:

HistoryOrder and InformationOrganizational Structure and

Politics (Control and Recognition)AgendasSignificance and Survival

Success for Congregations that Make the Right Fundamental Choices

 (A Well Tested Strategy

that Works)!!!

Key Assumptions Behind the Strategy

Most Pastors Cannot Lead A Congregation to Make the Right Choices – Alone

Most Congregations Cannot Make the Right Choices without Outside Help.

Making the Right Choices Involves Truth Telling and the offer of Hope

Key Assumptions Behind the Strategy (cont)

The Right Choice will Not Occur Without Pain (Usually Significant Pain)

Without Accountability Nothing Happens

People Must Be Attracted to Accountability

Learning Occurs As it Happens Repeatedly at Different Levels

Denominational Groups Employing the Strategy with Success (50%)

Baptists Church of God, Anderson Methodists Open Bible Presbyterians Lutherans Salvation Army Pentecostals and Charismatics

Covenant Based Pastors Covenant with Each other Denomination Covenants with the Pastors

Meet One Day a Month for a Minimum of Twelve Months – Focus: Leadership Congregational Health Spiritual Formation

Leader Must Have More Knowledge and Effective Experience Than any Pastor in the Cluster

The Part of the Strategy that Actually Produces Change

Two Parts: Week End Line in the Sand Event One Year Coaching with Someone on the

Church Campus Each Month

Begins Two Months Before – Congregational Self-Study

Interviews and Focus Groups on Friday Evaluation and Training with Leaders on

Saturday Preaching and Congregational Report

on Sunday Deadline Provided to Accept or Reject

the Consultation Report

Top Five StrengthsTop Five ConcernsTop Five Prescriptions with

Deadlines (Addresses Each Concern)

Deadline to Accept or Reject with Consequences

Someone on the Congregation’s Campus Each Month

Purpose: Implement the Consultation Report Provide Resources for Health and Growth Help Leaders/Congregation Learn New

Habits and Stop Old Habits Confront Stubborn Power Brokers Provide Accountability

Consultant Must Have More Knowledge and Effective Experience Than the Pastor

Coach Should Have More Knowledge and Effective Experience Than the Pastor

During the 12 Month Period – Two Lay Training Events for Congregations Represented in the Cluster

First Lay Training Event – Describing a Healthy Congregation and how to Become One

Second Lay Training Event – Making the Great Commission THE value that Drives all the Congregation Does

Assumes Trainers Have More Knowledge and Experience than the Pastors Leading the Congregations

An Overview of a Week End

Consultation

Adulthood

Birth

Infancy

Childhood

Adolescence

Maturity

Empty Nest

Retirement

Old Age

DeathVrms s

vrmS

vRMS

VRMs

VRMs

VRms

vrMS

vRMS

VRMS

VVision…………Where are we going?

RRelationship…Who is going with us?

MMinistry………How do we get there?

SStructure……..What do we control?

R

V

m

s

S

M

r

v

Mission Vision

Legos Third Places

Staff Led Congregations

8-10 Basic Ministries

Marry Responsibility, Authority and Accountability

Board/Council Governs Pastor Leads Staff Manages Congregation Does Ministry

God is Blessing Across Four Nations and over 30 Denominations

Transformation is OccurringNew Congregations are being Planted

A New Stream of Disciples are Entering the Kingdom Every Day