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The Church Growth Network, founded in 1987, provides a wide range of professional consulting services for churches. Our firm is particularly well-versed in church analysis, strategic planning, staffing, breaking size barriers, coaching of church planters, and generational change issues.

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Practicing Prayer

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Just as Jesus modeled prayer to his disciples, we must lead the way in implementing prayer in our church ministries. I suggest you implement some of the following ideas:

1. Pray

Prayer must support all we do. It should be a natural thing for us to pray about everything –decisions, problems, giving thanks, prayer for each other, asking His blessing and guidance before each ministry activity, etc.

Implementation: Renew your commitment to a life of prayer. Set a new goal for length of prayer time. Take time to pray with all people who enter your office. Be sensitive to statements of need from your staff, family, friends and church members. Don’t just say “I’ll pray for you.” Take the time right then to offer a word of prayer.

2. Encourage significant staff and leadership prayer.

When church leaders and staff pray, it lets the congregation know they are cared for and provides a model for them to follow.

Implementation: Require staff to set aside time each day for personal prayer. Once each week, bring the staff together to pray for each other, your church and the needs of the congregation.

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FreebiesSyndie PorterChurch Growth, Prayer, WorshipComment
Starting Good Rumors

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Looking for a doctor? Need a home loan? Buying a new car? Selecting a college?Where do you go for advice? Do you look in the paper? Watch T.V? Or, “Let your fingers do the walking?”

If you are like most people, you ask a family member, associate or friend. Advertisers call this “Word of Mouth.” It is the most effective way of advertising any product — even a church!

Biblical Examples

Word of mouth advertising is referred to in Scripture as a story, a report, a tiding, a reputation and a rumor. Rumors are characterized as either good-speaking or evilspeaking (2 Cor. 6:8). Believers are encouraged to think and spread good rumors (Phil. 4:8).

The ministry of Jesus was predominantly communicated by word of mouth. After raising a dead man, Luke records that “…this report (rumor, story) concerning Him went out all over Judea, and in all the surrounding district.” (Luke 7:17)

A classic example of word of mouth advertising is found in 1 Thessalonians 1:8. Writing about the church in Thessalonica, Paul says, “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth …”

People were telling how the Thessalonians had turned from idols to serve a living and true God. They were spreading the story by word of mouth. It was so effective that Paul confesses “…we have no need to say anything.”

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FreebiesSyndie Porterassimilation, Church Growth, ConnectionComment
Speed of Change

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A recent joke tells of a college freshman stopping a young lady hurrying to class. “What’s the rush?” he asks. “I’ve got to get to class before the textbook goes out of date,” she replies. While this joke is overstated, we must admit change is taking place at a faster pace than in years past. What follows are a few examples of how change has occurred with greater and greater frequency.

  • New models of computers are often out of date within 120 days and discontinued within one year.
  • In 1971 the average American was targeted by at least 560 daily advertising messages. Today the number has changed to 3,000+ messages per day.
  • In the early 1990s it took 7.5 days to manufacture a computer which now only requires a few hours.
  • Since 1987 the number of fax machines in U.S. offices has increased +10,000,000.
  • Since 1983 the number of computers in U.S. offices has increased +25,000,000.
  • Since 1987 the number of registered e-mail addresses has changed +26,250,000 and increasing daily.

What are we going to do about it?

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FreebiesSyndie Porterchange, Church Growth, MinistryComment
What Guests See

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I was visiting a church in Indiana. As I walked into the church lobby, the person who was walking with me commented, “You’ll like our church. It’s a very friendly place.” Once inside the building, we were immediately met by a man carrying an arm full of papers. Introductions were polite and we shook hands. However, it was what followed that surprised me. Upon completing our handshake, the man turned to my friend and began to talk about some church business which, in truth, should not have been discussed in my presence. As they talked, the man moved nervously back-n-forth on his feet gradually changing his position so that his back was actually pointed toward me. I remember thinking to myself, “Hey! I’m the guest here. Quit ignoring me!” But, I did not say anything to him. Once he was done discussing his bit of church business, he seemed to catch a glimpse of me out of the side of his eye. In an embarrassed and hasty attempt to make me feel welcome, he said, “It was nice to meet you. You’ll like our church. It’s a very friendly place.”

Encounters of the Right Kind

When a person talks to a member of your church, or calls on the telephone, or receives a brochure in the mail, or drives into your parking lot, or whatever, it is a moment of truth.

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FreebiesSyndie Porterassimilation, Church Growth, ConnectionComment