An Overview of the History of Cranbrook Alliance Church

1. An Overview of the History of Cranbrook Alliance Church This powerpoint presentation is intended to be a supplement to the document “A Brief History of Cranbrook Alliance Church” posted on this website. Please read this document prior to making use of this powerpoint presentation. This powerpoint provides additonal data and observations about God’s working in and through Cranbrook Alliance.

2. The purpose of this information • The first major step in preparing for the Pastoral Search process. • To present a big picture story of Cranbrook Alliance Church. • To explore how this information affects us. • To pray for God’s wisdom and guidance. • To consider how our future vision will have continuity with the past.

3. Key Questions in the Transitional Process Questions addressed by the history document and powerpoint: Who were we? Who are we now? What is our context? (internal/external) Future questions to be answered prior to search: What do we believe about engaging our community? Who do we hope to become? (Vision) ● What is God saying to us about the future? ● What is the Lead Pastor’s role in shaping vision? What kind of leader(s) do we need?

4. Who were we? 1950 - 1979 • Started as a mission – missionary/pastor leader. • A strong start – established with facility by 1953. • Focus – children, youth, evangelistic events. • A high pastoral turnover rate. • 10 pastors came and went in the first 27 years. • One of those ten stayed for 8 years. • 9 Pastors came and went in the other 19 years.

5. Who were we? 1950 - 1979 • A church that developed its facilities with a hands on Pastor-led process. • 1950, 1955, 1969 building programs all led by the Pastors. • A “God will provide” perspective in facility development.

6. Who were we? 1950 - 1979 • City of Cranbrook grew from 3,500 to 15,000 • Cranbrook Alliance grew from - 25 to 200 1950 1960 1970 1979

7. Who were we? 1950 - 1979 Income 1948 – 1979 - $398.00 to $140,000.00

8. Who were we? 1950 - 1979 • The idea of continued growth was well established. • Consistent ministry focus – children, youth, missions, evangelistic events, preaching. • Solo Pastor led the charge in evangelism. • A pattern of “grow – build – expand” well established. • The church facility served as an aid to ministry. • The identity of Cranbrook Alliance as a growing evangelistic fellowship.

9. Who were we? 1980’s • The “build it and they will come” paradigm was a common practise within the Alliance denomination at this time. • Many Alliance churches embarked on significant building programs in the 1980”s.

10. Who were we? 1980’s An ambitious new facility proposal both challenged and resonated with the congregation.

11. Who were we? 1980’s • Serious internal and external challenges to the building program arose – cost overruns, an economic downturn, high interest rates.

12. Who were we? 1980’s In 1985 the church experienced its first prolonged decline in attendance. 420 297 200 1980 1984 1990

13. Who were we? 1980’s • A multiple staff model was adopted • Staffing – 2 Senior Pastors 3 Associate Pastors 3 Youth Pastors • Energy focused on survival, facility. • Outside help was needed from both lenders and denomination. • Identity of the church was being shaped by the facility. • The church’s reputation in the community suffered. • Facility was not an aid to ministry as in past.

14. Who were we? 1980’s • The church discovered a sense of hardiness. “we survived and prevailed, Praise God!” • Trust in strong, directive leadership style was fundamentally altered through the 1980’s. • “Build it and they will come” did not succeed. • Congregational turnover became normalized. • A church of 300 with a $2.5 million debt load by the end of decade.

15. Who were we? 1980’s • Is the dream to fill the building still alive? To what extent? How prevalent?

16. Who were we 1990’s • Survival mentality slowly faded. • Intentional plan to focus on ministry was developed. • Focus on reaching into the community

17. Who were we 1990’s • A collaborative leadership style emerged. • Strong staff team was developed. • A 12 year pastoral tenure – Tom Nevius. • Decade of the 1990’s – a strong decade of ministry in the history of the church. • Growth became normalized once again.

18. Who were we 1990’s • Steady growth in attendance – 300 to 500 500 Attendance 1990 - 2000 350 300 1990 1995 2000

19. Who were we 1990’s The church pursued a steady debt reduction program. $2.5 million $970,00 $313,00 $0

20. Who were we 2000’s • A challenging decade for the church. • Pastoral team changes in early years of 2000. • An Interim Pastor served the church from 2002 – 2004. • A shift to internal focus – church as safe haven.

21. Who were we 2000’s A gradual decline in attendance. 500 400 342 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

22. Who were we 2000’s • Shift away from a collaborative leadership style. • Shift in Sunday morning service style. • Some challenging events to address. • A need to reduce staffing positions. • Considerable pressure on the Board of Elders. • Ongoing ministry to children, youth, worship, small groups and missions remained strong.

23. Missions Income 1980 - Present $170,000 $100,000 $65,000 $40,000 1980 1990 2000 2010

24. Who are we now? What you said about Cranbrook Alliance Church The results of the Basic Level of Church Health survey conducted in the fall of 2011.

25. Who participated? Non-Members 34% Members 66% Total number of responders - 70

26. Who participated?Length of time attending Cranbrook Alliance 24% 23% 23% 10% 2% > 1 year 2-4 years 5-10 years 10-20 years 20 years plus

27. Who participated – by Age 19 18 14 9 3 7 Age 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s

28. Our Sunday Services are meaningful and relevant in the lives of the people in our congregation. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

29. We have an effective strategy to impact our community for Christ Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

30. We have a strong sense of connection with one another in our church family. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

31. Spiritual growth of believers is intentional and effective. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

32. As a church community we are being trained and equipped for ministry and service. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

33. Our church develops plans that enable positive movement towards clear goals and objectives. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

34. Our church has an effective structure that is organized to help us accomplish our mission. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

35. Our church provides many opportunities to be involved in ministry. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

36. Our church has an effective prayer emphasis that positively impacts our ministry. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

37. Our facilities are adequate to meet our current and future ministry needs. Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree

38. Who are we now? Survey results about being ready for change . . . .

39. 45% 40% 15%

40. 72% 20% 8%

41. 68% 27% 5%

42. 45% 35% 20%

43. 50% 41% 9%

44. 45% 35% 20%

45. 55% 36% 9%

46. 50% 27% 23%

47. Who are we now? Strengths • An enduring fellowship. • A congregation seeking Vision from God. • Active in a variety of ministries. • A worshipping body of believers. • An intentional transitional focus. • A highly intergenerational congregation.

48. Who are we now? Observations • A church that has not really embraced the large church idea to date. (has never exceeded 500 in average Sunday morning attendance) • The church experienced a steady recovery in the 1990’s. • Still recovering from the loss of a strong staff team in 2002. • Experiencing a measure of “conflict fatigue” • A church with a sense of its God-given hardiness. • A church with a solid long term core.

49. Who are we now? Statistics Approximately 600 people call Cranbrook Alliance Church “home” 370 are married – 230 are single 7 baptisms in 2011

50. Congregation by Age