Local church development should be intentional and orderly. As the church moves through stages of development there are certain resources that are needed for it to mature and move into the next stage of development. Many churches get stuck in certain stages because their development was not intentional and lacked the resources necessary for it to progress forward. If development is not intentional or for some reason is halted due to lack of resources, the church can get stuck in a stage and move into survival mode within that stage. So, for example you could have a church that is 10 years old but stuck in Stage 2 development. I have always seen church development in three basic stages. (This might be an over simplification) As a family we are working with a few churches at stage 2, helping them to create the leadership pipelines they need to sustain and multiply leadership needs.
Stage 1: Engaging Church - Evangelism to Discipleship is the focus of this stage.
During this stage the focus is to engage the community with the purpose of spreading the gospel. Once the gospel begins to take root the focus is engaging new believers in discipleship to creat committed followers of Jesus Christ. During this period of time individual Christians become part of a group of Christians who birth a community of Christians, the local church. A formal local church is launched
Stage 2: Empowering Church - Mentoring to Mastering is the focus of this stage. Disciples of Christ are now moved into participating members of their local church. Men and women are now beginning to use their spiritual and natural gifts to build up the body of believers. A leadership development process is instituted to provide the church with the men and women she will need to not only sustain her but to move into healthy reproduction.
Stage 3: Establishing Church - Maintenance to Mobilization is the focus of this stage. The church is functioning as an autonomous local church (self governing and self sustaining). It now is capable of moving men and women beyond their local community of believers with a focus on planting new churches. This takes place through the sending out of men and women to plant churches locally as well as internationally.
Stage 1: Engaging Church - Evangelism to Discipleship is the focus of this stage.
During this stage the focus is to engage the community with the purpose of spreading the gospel. Once the gospel begins to take root the focus is engaging new believers in discipleship to creat committed followers of Jesus Christ. During this period of time individual Christians become part of a group of Christians who birth a community of Christians, the local church. A formal local church is launched
Stage 2: Empowering Church - Mentoring to Mastering is the focus of this stage. Disciples of Christ are now moved into participating members of their local church. Men and women are now beginning to use their spiritual and natural gifts to build up the body of believers. A leadership development process is instituted to provide the church with the men and women she will need to not only sustain her but to move into healthy reproduction.
Stage 3: Establishing Church - Maintenance to Mobilization is the focus of this stage. The church is functioning as an autonomous local church (self governing and self sustaining). It now is capable of moving men and women beyond their local community of believers with a focus on planting new churches. This takes place through the sending out of men and women to plant churches locally as well as internationally.
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