This weekend I was researching the recent book by Paul Wilkes, Excellent Protestant Congregations. When I went through the list of 310 churches he featured I was elated to see my home church, Glad Tidings Assembly of God in West Lawn listed. Congratulations to Pastor Bryan Koch, to the wonderful congregation and to the outstanding ministry team!
When I came to the district office five years ago it was with a strong
desire to see our churches thriving as biblically functioning communities. I believed what Glad Tidings experienced was possible in other congregations. I still believe that today. That is why I am here.
Let's build excellent congregations!
Tom Rees
tom@penndel.org
Home Missions and Church Development
__________________________________________________________
COMMON TRAITS OF EXCELLENT CONGREGATIONS
Paul Wilkes summarized the common traits that he found in the 310
churches featured. Here are the characteristics he looked for. As you
look at them why not see how many traits your church has. Let me know how you do!
APPROACH
A vibrancy, an excitement about living the Christian life.
These churches revel in the challenges of seizing new possibilities.
They live on the creative and holy edge that the New Testament both stipulates and forecasts.
Entrepreneurial.
These are the risk-takers and self-starters. They are constantly looking for better ways to serve and reach people.
Draw not geographically or even denominationally, but philosophically.
The style of these churches attracts people beyond their normal
neighborhood or area, and often draws people from outside their
denomination. Their vision transcends these boundaries.
Reach far beyond their comfort zone.
These churches ask tough questions about themselves. They have a new kind of power to go places they would never have dreamed of going, to let words come from their mouths they might once have kept secret in their hearts.
Regularly evaluate themselves.
Convention or convenience no longer rule; effectiveness or the potential for effectiveness do. They continually ask themselves, "Who are we? What are we trying to do? Is this working? Should we change?"
Have a clear, yet changing sense of mission.
This is more than just a mission statement. There is a clear vision of
where the church wants to be, and they work toward it. They are willing to redirect their energies toward what they perceive as their mission, even if it changes.
Willingness to break up and reassemble.
Excellent churches are ready to put aside old structures and coalitions, even when this includes sometimes painful disbandment of long-standing church committees or groups that no longer serve the best purposes of the church.
THE WORK
Laity are integral in leadership.
Formal training and ordination are not prerequisites for church
leadership. Competence and a desire to serve, the ability to learn, and the courage to stay the difficult course are hallmarks of the new
generation of lay leaders in excellent churches.
Believe in evangelizing without "evangelizing".
Personal contact is the key. Most of the new people in these churches come because a coworker, family member, or a neighbor invited them.
COMMUNITY
See themselves as a unique community.
While they don't see themselves as so unique as to be outside tradition or the larger Christian community, these churches revel in their uniqueness and celebrate their unique God-given thumbprint.
Believe in partnerships with other churches, agencies, interest groups, or governments.
"No church is an island" is their motto. Excellent churches enter into
partnerships that allow them to do their work better.
SPIRITUALITY
Traditional without being traditionalist.
Excellent churches are not reinventing Christianity. They are people of a revered tradition. But their tradition is a beginning, a springboard, not a wall that cannot be breached. They realize that what they are presently doing may be considered "traditional" in the years ahead.
Tailor services and programs to different constituencies.
One size does not fit all. These churches consciously try to present
Christian beliefs and practice within a context that many various groups can understand.
Have powerful, life-situation preaching.
The preaching is always rooted in the practical, in the cries and
concerns of normal people. Pastors seek not to impress with their
erudition, but with their compassion and understanding.
STRUCTURE
Pastors have been in place for years.
The pastor who moves on rarely plumbs the mystery and the real potential of his or her congregation. Changing the manager doesn't always improve the team.
Training, training, training.
This is the key to excellent churches. If proper training doesn't exist,
they will create it. These churches send members to workshops and
seminars to learn about what is happening in other churches and in such fields as education, group dynamics, and management.
Bring new members to full membership and participation.
It is not enough to have a person join a church. These churches are
deliberate about taking new and existing members to new levels. They have a specific program to provide members with what it means to be a Christian and how they might best serve the church and the world.
Call leaders, don't fill slots.
Excellent churches are deliberate about leadership, and the pastoral
staff is not shy about seeking out people to take on responsibilities.
Amazingly, they find that people were just waiting to be asked.
Break out of their walls and into the world.
Excellent churches have no walls or property lines. They realize there
are many people within just a short distance of their doors who will
never know about them if they do not reach out to the world.
__________________________________________________________
ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCHES HIGHLIGHTED
These AG churches were among the 310 protestant congregations sighted as examples of excellence in Wilkes book.
CALVARY ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Decatur, Alabama
One-year Master's Commision program disciples young adults; home care groups meet monthly; Sounds of Silence ministry for deaf and hearing impaired.
FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Phoenix, Arizona
More than 200 ministries including Church on the Street that ministers to street people, the homeless, and prisoners; Evening Star ministry has classes, fellowship, and events for Native American members; Church in the Son biker congregation.
BROWNSVILLE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Pensacola, Florida
A revival has been active here since 1995; cell groups; large youth
ministry with three youth pastors; strong children's worship; discipleship programs for adults and youth.
MARANATHA ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Decatur, Illinois
Growing multicultural church offers ministries for all life
circumstances; active and extensive homeless outreach; children's
ministries include day care, preschool, and inner city outreach.
FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Des Moines, Iowa
Reaches out to many different ethnic groups; "Rock the City" works with teens for spiritual growth; innovative Pulse worship services for young adults.
GLAD TIDINGS CHURCH
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Dynamic praise and worship; altar calls and emphasis on evangelism;
thriving discipleship program helps new believers plug into church
ministry.
CALVARY ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Toledo, Ohio
Wednesday night family program; choir, orchestra, and drama ministries; counseling ministry; home care groups and discipling classes; Christian school for infants through sixth grade.
GLAD TIDINGS ASSEMBLY OF GOD
West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Senior pastor teaches weekly welcome class for visitors interested in
church membership; youth programs emphasize real-life application of the Bible; a variety of classes include singles, married, seniors, grief
groups, and divorce.
BRAESWOOD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Houston, Texas
Large racially and ethnically diverse church with a welcoming spirit;
every worshiper encouraged to join a small group Bible study.
For more information about Wilkes' book or to see a state-by-state
listing of the churches sited, see www.findagreatchurch.org.
This article is reprinted from "Out of the Box" a weekly e-mail service of Tom Rees.