With a lot of talk about church growth recently, I've been thinking about implications of growth. One of the implications is we are going to need to raise up more leaders, for both the ordained (or vocational) ministry, and for ministry in general. Leaders who will tend and nurture both the new believers and core members of the church. Other implications might be how growth groups leaders are trained for this dual task; how they are supported and encouraged, how our pastors are encouraged, and protected from burnout.
We do not seek numbers, for the sake of numbers; but growth is so that those who are estranged from God, become believers; those who believe grow to love their saviour, and move to serve him.
Therefore while our focus is on the lost, we also nurture and strengthen our brothers and sisters. Alongside plans for new facilities and ministries, are plans to encourage, and minister to those who minister. Alongside visions for church growth, visions to strengthen and equip congregation members to serve. Alongside prayer for evangelistic hearts, hearts yearning to be more like Christ. Fundamental and foundational to the above, is dynamic, faithful, expectant prayer, and Christ-focused, Cross-centred practical preaching.
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