MISSIOPHONICS

Life-reflections, lyrics of my music, book reviews, paintings, pics, and some foods for the heart.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The NCD by Christian Schwarz.

Christian Schwarz. Natural Church Development: How Your Congregation Can Develop the Eight Essential Qualities of a Healthy Church. British Columbia, Canada: The International Centre for Leadership Developments and Evangelism, 1998. pp. 1-52.

Schwarz was concerned with the technocrats approach in doing ministry in the church. Such human success programs have been permeating many churches. But now, he wanted to present a God-given design for growth based on nature or natural process called “biotic alternative.” He believes that learning from God’s creation is also a way of learning from God the creator (8). Church growth is not manufactured; it is learned from God. The biotic potential of the congregation must be cultivated based upon empirical and biblical foundations (13).

Schwarz reminds the reader that not all growing church have a quality growth. Both the quality and quantity must be balanced. He presented the eight quality characteristics for biotic growth of the church. They are: 1) Empowered Leadership which is people, relationship, and team-oriented; 2) Gift-oriented Ministry where members minister in accordance to the Spirit’s gifts and empowerment; 3) Passionate Spirituality which cultivates prayer life and enthusiasm—not legalism; 4) Functional Structures which promotes life and structure—not enslavery to traditionalism; 5) Inspiring Worship Services that draws people to the presence of God—not bored them away; 6) Holistic Small Groups which caters to the need of the family; 7) Need-Oriented Evangelisms where those gifted evangelists in the church were actively involved in reaching out the lost; and 8) Loving Relationships where laughter and hospitality is well evidenced among members. All of these must be present for if one is missing, imbalance creep in the church (16-38).

The author argues that the qualitative approach to church growth is necessary (40). It is because quantity is not always the measure of solid growth in the church. It is inadequate (44). There is a wide distinction between goals and results. Hence, the author prefers to work more on quality; then the quantity will follow. If quantity is the focus, it is easy to produce massive amount of quantity without lasting quality. At the end, it will suffer loss. He presented some observations on large churches where quantity is not the norm; it’s the quality that propelled them to grow massively (44). In some cases, when the size rate takes high, the growth rate takes low. More othen, when the numerical growth takes place, functional gifts takes low. Schwarz also discussed the minimum factor in church growth (48). Energies must be focused to gain maximum effectivity (50).

2 Comments:

  • At 11:40 AM, Blogger Joey said…

    Hi Glenn,

    You are posting but your blog is not being updated. The date is still January 9. Why?

    Joey

     
  • At 10:54 PM, Blogger GlenPlas said…

    I'm not sure, bro. medyo hindi ko na-asikaso blog ngayon. sobra busy. I 'm still praying I'll have internet sa haus para maka update lagi. I'm just posting our ABGTS materials na meron pa ako ngayon. I'll check this sometime na. Blessings to you all!!

     

Post a Comment

<< Home