Evangelism that Leads to Church Planting Eric W. Ramsey North American Mission Board, SBC.

Evangelism that Leads toChurch Planting

Eric W. RamseyNorth American Mission Board, SBC

Evangelism that leads tochurch planting

Evangelism that leads tochurch planting

The right evangelism strategy-- Right for the people being evangelized-- Right for the church doing the evangelizing

To the right people-- people group

-- place (geography)

With a strategic plan… -- What would this church look like?

The Combined Communicant The Combined Communicant Membership of Protestant Churches Membership of Protestant Churches

over the Last Ten Yearsover the Last Ten Years

The Combined Communicant The Combined Communicant Membership of Protestant Churches Membership of Protestant Churches

over the Last Ten Yearsover the Last Ten YearsWhile the US PopulationWhile the US PopulationIncreased 11.4%Increased 11.4%

Increased 24,153,000 Increased 24,153,000 peoplepeople

Church MembershipChurch MembershipDeclined 9.5%Declined 9.5%

Decreased 4,498,242 Decreased 4,498,242 peoplepeople

No countyNo county in America has a greater percentage in America has a greater percentage of churched persons today than a decade ago.of churched persons today than a decade ago.

Half Half of all churches last year did not add of all churches last year did not add oneone new member through “conversion growth”.new member through “conversion growth”.

Barna and ASCGBarna and ASCG

Church to Population RatioChurch to Population RatioChurch to Population RatioChurch to Population RatioIn In 19001900, there were , there were 2727 churches for every 10,000 churches for every 10,000

Americans.Americans.In In 19501950, there were , there were 1717 churches for every 10,000 churches for every 10,000

Americans.Americans.In In 19961996, there were , there were 1111 churches for every 10,000 churches for every 10,000

Americans.Americans.In In 20062006 it is estimated that there are it is estimated that there are 9 9 churches for churches for

every 10,000 Americansevery 10,000 Americans

Church FactsChurch FactsChurch FactsChurch Facts

North America is the ONLY continent where North America is the ONLY continent where Christianity is Christianity is NOTNOT growing. growing.

Church attendance is declining - Church attendance is declining - approximately 10% over the last 7 years.approximately 10% over the last 7 years.

Church FactsChurch FactsChurch FactsChurch Facts

We We lose 72 lose 72 churches per week or 10.27 per day.churches per week or 10.27 per day.We We gain 24 gain 24 churches per week or 3.42 per day.churches per week or 3.42 per day.That’s a That’s a net lossnet loss of of 48 48 churches per week or churches per week or

6.85 per day.6.85 per day.

Church Facts (continued)Church Facts (continued)Church Facts (continued)Church Facts (continued)

The United States is…The United States is…

the the largestlargest post-Christian nation on earth. post-Christian nation on earth. is now the 13th largest receptor of Christian is now the 13th largest receptor of Christian

missionaries in the world.missionaries in the world.

Common Examples ofRadical Change – What have you

tried? Has it worked?

Common Examples ofRadical Change – What have you

tried? Has it worked? Changing your worship style Beginning another worship service Changing from Sunday school to cell groups Changing from cell groups to Sunday school Relocating the church Closing the doors and restarting at a later date Starting a new congregation New leadership Others _____________________________________

Radical Change:Knowing when it is time…

Radical Change:Knowing when it is time…

Building is overcrowded Baptisms have fallen to less than 7% Church is no longer reaching the community Church is not reaching a significant people

group in the community Church attendance has plateaued or declined

for more than 3 years Others ______________________________

Common Mistakes In Leading

Radical Change


Radical Change Doing it because it worked somewhere else Creating something YOU like Recreating a model and not custom designing a

ministry Not considering the existing identity of the

church Not considering the existing identity of the

community


Radical Change


Radical Change Moving too quickly Moving too slowly Considering changes in the community a

“threat” rather than an “opportunity” Poor timing No real congregational “buy-in” “Well, we had to do something…”

Most Common MistakeMost Common Mistake

LEADING THE WRONG DIRECTION

AT THE RIGHT TIME

Critical Steps to Determining the Right

Direction

Critical Steps to Determining the Right

Direction1. Rediscover the identity of your church2. Rediscover the make-up of your community3. Conduct psychographic comparison of church &

community4. Rediscover socio-geographical dynamics5. Rediscover your church’s strengths6. Rediscover your community needs7. Conduct strengths to needs analysis

(church/community)

Remember…Remember…

Seek God’s leadership in everything… pray Look for what God is doing around you Be honest with findings Be willing to do what God leads you to do Involve a significant number of people in

conducting the research

Rediscover theIdentity of Your Church

Rediscover theIdentity of Your Church

Demographics Psychographics Worship Language Core Values Interests Needs Passions ____________________

Rediscover the Makeup ofYour Community

Rediscover the Makeup ofYour Community

Demographics Psychographics Growth Patterns Values Needs Religious Background __________________

Finding Demographic and Psychographic Data

Finding Demographic and Psychographic Data

NAMB Center for Missional Research$200 value – full report (no cost for church

planting purposes)www.missionalresearch.info

Compare theChurch to the Community


What are the three primary people groups in your community?

Is your church reaching them? If not, who is? What are the primary people groups in your

church? To each group, what is the most appealing

characteristic of your church – why do they attend?



What are the predominate religious backgrounds in your community?

What are the religious backgrounds in your church body?

After identifying the significant unreached groups in your community – will you ever be able to reach them?

determine what ministries and expressions of church are reaching those people groups in similar communities.

Rediscover theSocio-Geographical

Dynamics


Dynamics Map your membership

According to when they joined the church

According to psychographic designation

According to age According to Bible study

class


Dynamics


Dynamics Where are those who have

joined in the past 3 years? Is there a common profile of

those who have joined in the past 3 years?

What do they like/dislike about your church?

Who is not attending your church? Are they being reached by anyone?


Dynamics


Dynamics From what areas are you not

receiving new members? What are the predominate

profiles of those areas? What is the best chance your

church has to reach into those areas?

What areas will your church likely never really reach?

Rediscover Your Church’s Strengths

Rediscover Your Church’s Strengths

What are you doing well? (NOT what you hope to do well)

What gifts & skills has God given your church members?

Why are new members joining?

When people speak well of your church, what do they say?

What is God doing?

What are the community needs (specifically among

the unreached population)?

What are the community needs (specifically among

the unreached population)?Ask the school boardConduct a surveyObserveAsk government officialsAsk law enforcementRead the newspaperOther ways…

Where Do the “Strengths” and

“Needs” Intersect?


“Needs” Intersect? Based on the community

needs and the giftedness in your church, what are some evangelism methods that might work?


“Needs” Intersect?


“Needs” Intersect? Are there existing ministries

you could strengthen and make more intentionally evangelistic?

Are your people empowered to utilize their gifts to their fullest potential?

Where is God working?

Case Study:What questions need asking?

Case Study:What questions need asking?

Edge of town church – 90% Anglo – 93% Anglo community1990 to 2000 population grew from 2,200 to 3,1002006 estimated population is 3,200 Worship attendance 72 – Worship space 100 Landlocked – Declining economy, relocation not likely One worship service (blended hymns & praise music) 1998 – 2003 avg. attn. grew from 35 to 85 Plateau began 2 years ago – beginning decline Blue collar community – church median age 38Other churches in town – Catholic, Mormon, Unitarian,

Independent Charismatic, Methodist church closed in 2000.

Your Church:What questions need

asking?


asking?________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


asking?


asking?1. Will your church ever reach all of the types of people

in the community?2. Who is the largest unreached people group in your

community?3. Do you have the ability to evangelize those people?4. What would a Bible study look like for those people?5. What would church look like for those people?

What are the next steps for your church?

What are the next steps for your church?

1._______________________________________

2._______________________________________

3._______________________________________

4._______________________________________

Evangelism that Leads to Church Planting Eric W. Ramsey North American Mission Board, SBC.

Documents

Transcript of Evangelism that Leads to Church Planting Eric W. Ramsey North American Mission Board, SBC.