The Church and Denominational Life Cycle

1
The Church (and Denominational)Life Cycle

• (Presented by
• Glenn A. Gibson)
• UB Conference, Kitchener
• November 4, 2006

2
Scripture Focus -- SeasonsEcclesiastes 31 to 8
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Typical Seasons of the Church (and
Denominational) Life
Maximum Effectiveness
Ministry Start-Up
Ministry Wrap-Up
4
Evangelical Churches in Canada (1998)
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Up Curve Churches (and Denominations)

• One - Need Recognition.
• Two - Vision.
• Three - Team and Resource Gathering.
• Four - Strategic Planning.
• Five - Launch.
• Six - Refinement and Expansion.

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Down Curve Churches (and Denominations)

• One - Nostalgia.
• Two - Questioning.
• Three - Polarization.
• Four - Drop-Out.
• Five - Closure.
• Jumping the curve Is it possible?

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Up Curve Church and Denominational Membership

• Early
• Adopters
• 17

Late Adopters 10
Early Majority 40
Late Majority 25
Entrepreneurs 8
Laggards 0
8
Peak Curve Church and Denominational Membership

• Early
• Adopters
• 12

Late Adopters 12
Early Majority 35
Late Majority 35
Laggards 3
Entrepreneurs 3
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Down Curve Church and Denominational Membership
Late Adopters 25

• Early
• Adopters
• 2

Laggards 15
Early Majority 23
Late Majority 35
Entrepreneurs 0
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Progression in Up Curve Groups

• Menu

Organization
The Engine for Growth is Vision
Leadership
Vision
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Progression within Down Curve Groups

• Menu

Organization
The Problem? Vision Erosion!
Leadership
Vision
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SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION In what season are we
now?
Maximum Effectiveness
Ministry Start-Up
Ministry Wrap-Up
13
GROUP REPORT BACK TIMEIn what season are we now?
Maximum Effectiveness
Ministry Start-Up
Ministry Wrap-Up
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The Church As A Reproducing Family
Conversion
Assimilation

• EVERY
• INDIVIDUAL
• TRAINED TO
• REPRODUCE

Discipling
Equipping
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The Ideal Church Life Cycle

• PLANT starting a church to win people to
  Christ.
• GROW winning new people to Christ.
• MOBILIZE discipling believers to maturity.
• REPRODUCE new believers winning others.
• PLANT AGAIN starting another church to win more.

This is the normal pattern for Christs Church to
fulfill the Great Commission. (Matthew 2819)
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A Message of
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For more about Life Cycle, contact me
Glenn Gibson

• Phone [phone] (office)
• Or [phone] (cell)
• E-Mail ggibson_at_outreach.ca
• Website www.outreach.ca