Church Growth!

Why have we been growing?

OK, Redcliffe Uniting Church has experienced some modest growth in the past few years, after a time of 'winter' – this winter was very essential to our current spring, so I don't want to dismiss what went before.  We have gone from a congregation of 125 in worship where 60% were retired and 8% children, to 180 where 45% are retired and 18% are children – we still have a long way to go! – One agent to two full-time equivalents.

Being on retreat gave me some space to reflect on 'why this is so' and I cautiously offer this as something for people to reflect on. Listed in no particular order, I'm sure this list could become a much longer article that, just in writing, I would find helpful. {indeed, I am writing it, expect each point to be expanded upon sometime in the future}

·      Location, location, location.

·      Vision, direction, purpose and hope for a future.

·      Gospel clearly proclaimed.

·      Tangible Community engagement

·      Tangible evangelism, not just 'we should be' from pulpit.

·      A generous bequest giving us a financial springboard to mission and generosity.

·      Contemporising the gospel message and worship

·      Engaging worship and preaching rather than 'proper' worship & preaching.

·      Challenging the status quo

·      Challenging the gatekeepers/constriction points

·      Care/love of people resulting in trust

·      Facilities that are an asset not a hindrance

·      The above and below leading to people seriously engaging their faith, stepping up to leadership, giving and generational leadership change.

·      Re-structuring for growth/permission giving structures.

·      God through the Spirit [Despite our best efforts to derail things, God just keeps working – the world would call it 'dumb luck'!]

·      Volunteers/staff committing to do excellent/thorough/methodical/extra mile/work for God.

·      Prayer

·      An open, positive, welcoming culture already largely in place.

·      Intentionally valuing children and families as integral to the church NOW!

·      A minister who passionately believes – who is captive to the gospel, hasn't grown cynical, and cares!

 

Whenever someone does this we run the risk of those reading becoming depressed [man, we're so far from this!] or offending people who feel they have been overlooked. My apologies for my failings in this.

Paul Clark