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Planting Healthy Churches. Cross-Cultural Church Planting School Craig Ott. Planting Healthy Churches. It doesn’t happen by accident. And that all grew out of a mustard seed!. Our Mission Statement. Reach G l o bal exists to glorify God by multiplying healthy churches among all people.
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Planting Healthy Churches Cross-Cultural Church Planting School Craig Ott
Planting Healthy Churches It doesn’t happen by accident. And that all grew out of a mustard seed!
Our Mission Statement ReachGlobal exists to glorify God by multiplying healthy churches among all people.
Mission Healthy Effective Empowered ReachGlobal Ministry Health Guiding Principles Hedgehog The Global Sandbox We are committed to multiplying churches that are: • Healthy • Indigenous • Interdependent • Self-supporting • Reproducing
Back to the Bible • Revelation 2-3 • Biblical examples of unhealthy churches… • Biblical descriptions of healthy churches…
Ten Indicators of a Healthy Church • Centrality of God’s Word • Passionate Spirituality • Great Commission Driven • Fruitful Evangelism • Intentional Disciplemaking • Leadership Multiplication • Church Planting • Spirit-Filled Worship • Stewardship of Resources • Loving Relationships
Teaching Church Health Case Study: Dar es Salaam • Biblical passages addressing church health and sickness were discussed. • Revelation 2-3 • Ephesians 4:11-16 • Texts suggested by the leaders • Indicators were listed on a white board.
Teaching Church Health • Biblical passages addressing church health and sickness were discussed. • Indicators were listed on a white board. • These were written on 3x5 cards and sorted into related categories.
Teaching Church Health • Biblical passages addressing church health and sickness were discussed. • Indicators were listed on a white board. • These were written on 3x5 cards and sorted into related categories. • A list of indicators was formulated. • This list was compared with the EFCA list.
A Healthy Church is Like a Wheel a Hub: Centrality of God’s Word b h Spokes: • Great Commission Driven • Fruitful Evangelism • Intentional Disciplemaking • Church Planting • Leadership Multiplication • Loving Relationships • Stewardship of Resources • Spirit-Filled Worship c g d f e Rim: Passionate Spirituality
Six Guidelines for a Healthy Church Plant • Give attention to the spiritual health of the leadership • Structure the church ministry according to biblical values and purposes • Assimilate new persons continually into the ministry and leadership of the church
Six Guidelines for a Healthy Church Plant provisional leadership Launch Stage Nearly everyone ministers Responsibility is shared Leadership is transparent newcomers original core church Newcomers partially assimilated Original core retains most responsibility Early Development Newcomers poorly assimilated & remain passive Growing burden of ministry is born by few Leaders retain power Burnout & stagnation inevitable Newcomers Later Development & Growth Original Core Leadership
Six Guidelines for a Healthy Church Plant Alternative Development Newcomers Ministers Ministry team leaders Cell group leaders Leaders
Give attention to the spiritual health of the leadership Structure the church ministry according to biblical values and purposes Assimilate new persons continually into the ministry and leadership of the church Prepare the core church for change Create appropriate structures Remain flexible and encourage steps of faith Six Guidelines for a Healthy Church Plant
Discussion Describe a specific example of an unhealthy church situation that you are personally acquainted with. • What led to the sickness? • What measures might have prevented the sickness? • What was the outcome and why? • What biblical principles are involved? • Which of the 10 indicators apply?