If you are a church leader or church consultant, these slides will equip you to understand the common barriers to church growth and health

1. Breaking GrowthBreaking Growth
Barriers: Mach 1 & 2Barriers: Mach 1 & 2
GCN Consultant TrainingGCN Consultant Training
© Dr. John Jackson, 2007© Dr. John Jackson, 2007

2. Success?Success?
““Pastoral success is about rightlyPastoral success is about rightly
understanding, pursuing, andunderstanding, pursuing, and
achieving what God’s vision for yourachieving what God’s vision for your
ministry is all about”ministry is all about”

3. Focus (Shaping Your Vision)Focus (Shaping Your Vision)
Alignment (Strategic Planning & Ministries)Alignment (Strategic Planning & Ministries)
Reach (Building Your Team)Reach (Building Your Team)

4. High Impact MinistryHigh Impact Ministry
High Impact Churches break throughHigh Impact Churches break through
spiritual, social, and leadership barriers tospiritual, social, and leadership barriers to
establish new churches, new ministries,establish new churches, new ministries,
and reach large numbers of new peopleand reach large numbers of new people
for Christ. High Impact churches confrontfor Christ. High Impact churches confront
the law of inertia and the reality of humanthe law of inertia and the reality of human
lethargy with a passionate purposefullethargy with a passionate purposeful
pursuit of God’s plan for evangelism inpursuit of God’s plan for evangelism in
their area.their area.

6. Simple ChurchSimple Church
A simple church is designed around a straightforwardA simple church is designed around a straightforward
and strategic process that moves people through theand strategic process that moves people through the
stages of spiritual growth. The leadership and the churchstages of spiritual growth. The leadership and the church
are clear about the process (clarity) and are committedare clear about the process (clarity) and are committed
to executing it. The process flows logically (movement)to executing it. The process flows logically (movement)
and is implemented in each area of the churchand is implemented in each area of the church
(alignment). The church abandons everything that is not(alignment). The church abandons everything that is not
in the process (focus).in the process (focus). - pages 67-68- pages 67-68

7. Step 1: Design a Simple Process (Clarity)Step 1: Design a Simple Process (Clarity)
Step 2: Place Your Key Programs AlongStep 2: Place Your Key Programs Along
the Process (Movement)the Process (Movement)
Step 3: Unite All Ministries Around theStep 3: Unite All Ministries Around the
Process (Alignment)Process (Alignment)
Step 4: Begin to Eliminate Things OutsideStep 4: Begin to Eliminate Things Outside
the Process (Focus)the Process (Focus)

8. 3 Questions Every Church Leadership Team3 Questions Every Church Leadership Team
should be asking each year (from Rayshould be asking each year (from Ray
Johnston):Johnston):
1) What will we do to reach our1) What will we do to reach our
community this year?community this year?
2) What will we do to grow our people this2) What will we do to grow our people this
year?year?
3) What will we do to develop leaders this3) What will we do to develop leaders this
year?year?

9. Thinking About People…Thinking About People…
Curious are those interested in whatCurious are those interested in what
Christianity is all about…OUTREACHChristianity is all about…OUTREACH
Casual are those we challenge to take aCasual are those we challenge to take a
next step with Christ…DISCIPLESHIPnext step with Christ…DISCIPLESHIP
Committed are those we challenge toCommitted are those we challenge to
discover gifts, serve, and developdiscover gifts, serve, and develop
leadership…MINISTRYleadership…MINISTRY

10. Part IIPart II
Growth Barrier SpecificsGrowth Barrier Specifics

11. GROWTH BARRIERS….. (Carl George & Warren Bird,GROWTH BARRIERS….. (Carl George & Warren Bird,
Breaking Growth BarriersBreaking Growth Barriers))
 The barrier ofThe barrier of visionvision - A breakthrough of- A breakthrough of ClarityClarity
 The barrier ofThe barrier of leadershipleadership – A breakthrough of– A breakthrough of CertaintyCertainty
 The barrier ofThe barrier of teamteam – A breakthrough of– A breakthrough of UnityUnity
 The barrier ofThe barrier of communitcommunityy – A breakthrough of– A breakthrough of
ConnectionConnection
 The barrier ofThe barrier of presentationpresentation – A breakthrough of– A breakthrough of
ExcellenceExcellence
 The barrier ofThe barrier of follow-throughfollow-through – A breakthrough of– A breakthrough of
FaithfulnessFaithfulness

13. Five Behaviors of SheepFive Behaviors of Sheep
Herders:Herders:
Personally do all the caringPersonally do all the caring
Attempt to meet allAttempt to meet all
expectationsexpectations
Work to the limit of time/energyWork to the limit of time/energy
Keep work close to themselvesKeep work close to themselves
Base perspective on presentBase perspective on present
conditionsconditions

14. Five Behaviors of SheepFive Behaviors of Sheep
Ranchers:Ranchers:
Concerned for high qualityConcerned for high quality
pastoral carepastoral care
Set expectationsSet expectations
Perceive the churchPerceive the church
organizationallyorganizationally
Delegate and involve othersDelegate and involve others
Develop leadership andDevelop leadership and
management skillsmanagement skills

15. 125 Barrier (Nelson Searcy)125 Barrier (Nelson Searcy)
1) Grow Myself1) Grow Myself
2) Shift from Shepherd to Rancher2) Shift from Shepherd to Rancher
3) Advertise3) Advertise
4) Pyramid Growth days4) Pyramid Growth days
5) Work Through Volunteers and Hire5) Work Through Volunteers and Hire
Some StaffSome Staff
6) Use a Strategic Series6) Use a Strategic Series

16. 125 Barrier (Nelson Searcy)125 Barrier (Nelson Searcy)
7) Start new Small Groups7) Start new Small Groups
8) Develop New Leaders8) Develop New Leaders
9) Think Twice Your Size9) Think Twice Your Size
10) I must remember the Harvest10) I must remember the Harvest

17. 200 barrier key factors:200 barrier key factors:
contagious desire to growcontagious desire to grow
identify growth acceleratorsidentify growth accelerators
shepherd to ranchershepherd to rancher
deal with small churchdeal with small church
mentality-focus outward!mentality-focus outward!
offer leadership and layoffer leadership and lay
ministry trainingministry training