Revitalize Your Church

An Educational Nugget on Pastoral Leadership

based on the writings of Thomas G. Bandy

The Rev. Dr. Pablo A. Jiménez www.drpablojimenez.net

Introduction

• This is our third and final educational nugget on church revitalization, based on theories developed by Thomas G. Bandy.

• In this occasion, we address the role of small groups in church revitalization & we stress the importance of vision & mission for Christian ministry.

Topics

• Once again, we shall refer to the contributions made by Thomas G. Bandy, an expert on church growth and revitalization.

• In particular, we will refer to the ideas that Bandy presents in Kicking Habits: Welcome Relief for Addicted Churches (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997).

Small Groups

An Important Tool

• As stated our the earlier educational nuggets, the Thriving Church offers different opportunities for faith development.

• Small groups are an important tool for revitalizing your congregation.

Trained Leaders

• Every small group must have a leader or a leadership team that is gifted and called to that ministry.

• This is the “eldership” of the Church. These leaders are the “pastors,” “shepherds,” and “mentors” of the group. They not only share enthusiasm for the group’s mutual interest, but they are trained in prayer, Scripture, and counseling.

Communication

• Beyond dealing with the content of group life, leaders must also be trained in group process and communication skills, so that they can help the group build the trust and intimacy that overcome inevitable personality conflicts.

• They will become the caregivers who will be the first contacts for group members in times of crisis.

Weekday home gatherings

•Most groups will be outside the Church building, usually in the homes of the participants.

Time Commitment

• Participation in the group is not “forever,” but for a specific period of time (often nine months to year).

Interaction

• Through the small groups, all Church members must purposely interact with the public, communicating the degree of joy authentic to their individual discovery of faith, and exercising their spiritual gifts as they have come to understand them so far.

The Individual

• Is the individual participant who controls the manner and pace of action and witness with the community--not the institution.

Intentional Multiplication

•The norm of small group life will be for a group to divide and multiply every nine to twelve months.

Final Thoughts

The Call to Ministry

• If the calling is authentically of Christ, it will address the spiritual yearning of the public directly, clearly and powerfully.

• On the other hand, if the “calling” being articulated by the Church does not address the spiritual yearning of the public, then it is an addiction.

Our Goal

• The goal is to be more than a civic club, educational event, or fellowship gathering.

• The goal is to always to defend faith, and multiply opportunity for ministry through the discernment of gifts and callings.

Motivation vs. Control

• The dynamic organization is not primarily interested in control, nor is it preoccupied with survival.

• It is interested in motivation, and is eager to transform itself into whatever form is required to deliver mission to the point of human need.

Vision

• The congregation must determine the basic, fundamental, or essential vision, beliefs, and values of Church life.

• This defines the essential identity of the Church as it exists for the participants today.

Suite

• No one could be engaged in personal mission without regularly and passionately participating in the worship of the Church.

• If worship participation splits, the pastoral leaders perceived this as a sure sign that the unity of faith and action had been broken.

Worship

• Worship lies at the core of the Thriving Church organization.

• The worship services are so motivating in enriching, that it is not possible to be involved in the organization, the ministries, or the small groups of the Church without regularly attending worship throughout the entire year.

Again, What is Vision?

• Vision is not a repetition of the heritage of the Church, or an articulation of the beliefs and values of past founders of the Church.

• It is today’s answer to the key question, What is it about our experience of Jesus Christ that this community cannot live without?

The Aim of Mission

• This means that skills development and spiritual growth need to happen together.

• Training experiences designed by the human resources team must included spiritual exercises and coaching to share faith with confidence. The aim of mission is always to transform the whole person.

Vision & Power

•Finally, we must remember that without the continuing experience of God’s transforming power, any mission activity, no matter how altruistic, would spin out of the Church.

The Endwww.drpablojimenez.net