the modern church growth movement
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
12 July 2012
1
The Modern Church Growth Movement
Howard CulbertsonSouthern Nazarene University
![Page 2: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
12 July 2012
2
Donald McGavranFather of the Church Growth movement
MK, born in India in 1897Grandparents were also missionaries to India
![Page 3: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
12 July 2012
3
While a student at Butler University . . . “My father has done enough for the Lord.
It is time for me to strike out for myself and earn some money.”
Captured by materialism
![Page 4: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
12 July 2012
4
A change of direction
Gave life to ChristWent to Yale Divinity SchoolWould finish Ph.D. in 1937 at Columbia University with a dissertation on Hinduism and Christianity
![Page 5: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
12 July 2012
5
Back to India
Returned to India in 1923 with United Christian Missionary Society (Disciples of Christ)Placed in charge of mission school system at Harda
![Page 6: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
12 July 2012
6
Missionary administrator
Director of religious educationStandardized instruction and curriculumWrote course outlinesEstablished Christian Youth Conferences
![Page 7: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
12 July 2012
7
Became authority on Hindi languageTranslated Gospels into ChattisgarhidialectSuperintendent of leprosy home and hospital
![Page 8: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
12 July 2012
8
1932-- became executive secretary of mission
80 missionaries, 5 hospitals, high schools, primary schools, home for lepers20-30 small churches growing at 1% per year
![Page 9: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
12 July 2012
9
It wasn’t all office work
Fought off a wounded tiger and a wild boarChecked a cholera epidemic single handedlyClimbed the Himalayas
![Page 10: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
12 July 2012
10
McGavran’s conclusion
Large amounts of money producing relatively small results“It offended my Scottish nature.”
So, what to do now?
![Page 11: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
12 July 2012
11
Enter: J. Waskom Pickett
McGavran said: “I lit my candle at his fire.”
Who was this man?
![Page 12: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12 July 2012
12
1910 -- E. Stanley Jones convinced J. Waskom Pickett to apply for missionary service to IndiaInterest aroused in “mass movements”to Christ
1920’s Controversy over mass conversions piques Pickett’s interest1930-31 Pickett surveys mass movement phenomenon throughout India
![Page 13: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
12 July 2012
13
1936 Pickett was asked to survey central IndiaMcGavran traveled with him
![Page 14: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
12 July 2012
14
Pickett’s legacy
Pragmatic research-based orientationPeople movementsAwareness of social networksNeed to reach the massesStudy of converts’ motivesDiscipling and “perfection” as part of evangelism
![Page 15: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
12 July 2012
15
Pickett is one of us
Something not to be overlooked for our theological tradition:
McGavran’s mentor was a Methodist.
![Page 16: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
12 July 2012
16
1936 McGavran left administrative position; spent next 18 years in church planting
(15 churches/ 1000 converts)
![Page 17: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
12 July 2012
17
Birth certificate of church growth movement
1955 Published “Bridges of God”Fostering people movements versus mission station approachHint of Homogeneous Unit Principle
![Page 18: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
12 July 2012
18
1959 Published “How Churches Grow”1961 Church Growth Institute in Oregon
Plan was to educate furloughed missionariesBegan with one student, a Methodist missionary to Bolivia.
1964 “Church Growth Bulletin”
![Page 19: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
12 July 2012
19
1965 Moved to Fuller SeminaryMovement went fromglobal to dominated by North Americans
1970 Published “Understanding Church Growth”
![Page 20: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
12 July 2012
20
McGavran’s 3 questions
When a church is growing, why is it growing?What barriers, obstructions or sicknesses prevent the natural life, vitality and growth of churches?What reproducible principles operative in growing churches can be used elsewhere?
![Page 21: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
12 July 2012
21
Lessons from McGavran
1. Value of a few close support peopleWesley / Whitefield contrast
2. Clear focus3. Optimism4. Value of edification
and encouragement
![Page 22: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
12 July 2012
22
Lessons from McGavran
5. Humility6. Enormous energy
Much of his work done after age 657. Vision8. Incredible tenacity
![Page 23: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
12 July 2012
23
Philosophic Core
Homogeneous unitsMain barrier to conversion needs to be theological and not something else
People movementsFocus on receptivity . . . the “good” soilUse of scientific methodology
Wesley’s sanctified pragmatism
Church planting
Material from Elmer Towns
![Page 24: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
12 July 2012
24
McGavran’s use of scientific method
Identify problemGather dataConstruct hypothesis
(potential solution)
Test hypothesisEstablish principle
![Page 25: The Modern Church Growth Movement](https://reader031.vdocuments.mx/reader031/viewer/2022013101/61d218abe64f580a781c2ab1/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
12 July 2012
25
The Modern Church Growth Movement
End