N a t u r a l C h u r c h D e v e l o p m e n t

1. Atlantic Canada Natural Church Development

2. Applying Principles Tools Principles Resources Processes

3. Trinitarian Compass Green Red Blue

4. Skeptical Believer Thomas Detached Believer Jonah Burned-out Believer Moses Spiritualizing Believer Mary Controlling Believer Martha Fanatical Believer Peter

5. Scripture Nature Evidence

6. Study Scripture And he was saying, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the ground; and goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts up and grows – how, he himself does not know. The earth produces crops allby itself; first the blade, then the head, and then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29

7. Observe Nature Sunlight Moisture Conclusion: All living organisms in the universe have all-by-itself growth potential. They will grow, thrive and multiply when the environmental factors are suitable. Nutrients Pollination Genetics Carbon Dioxide Matthew 6:26 “See (observe, study, research) the lilies of the field, how they grow”.,.

8. A potted plant Size of pot Nutrients Water Location Re-potted Watered Watered Relocated 6

9. The international research project Original Research • 3,700 Surveys in 2,300 Churches (to date) • 1000 churches • 32 countries • 5 continents • 4.2 million answers

10. All Churches Healthy, Growing Churches Leadership Empowering Ministry Gift-oriented Spirituality Passionate Structures Effective Worship Services Inspiring Small Groups Holistic Evangelism Need-Oriented Relationships Loving

12. NRG Themes • Top 4 Themes: • Joy (56) • Self-Awareness (39) • Pastoral Care (37) • Teamwork (36) • Bottom 6 Themes: • Relevance (54) • Prayer (47) • Intimacy (40) • Hope(39) • Every-day Faith (38) # of times a theme shows as highest or lowest Based on 141 Surveys

13. The 30 3 criteria Representative Turnover Multi-point Less than 30

14. St Mary & Martha Littleville, ON

15. St Mary & Martha Littleville, ON

17. St Mary & Martha, Littleville, ON

18. Who are they? Bearing on Profile Scale of influence Whose survey results are they? NCD results reflect key influencers more than anyone else both in terms of honour and responsibility. If ownership of the results and personal action comes from these people, the influence will flow ‘all by itself’. Little Johnny who comes once a year in case its true Key Influencers

19. “How are we going to fix these people?” What about me? Bearing on Profile ‘the congregation’ Scale of influence Whose survey results are they? Much analysis and strategizing is often aimed primarily at programs for ‘the congregation’(working on the church) However, a church’s health profile and culture mainly emerges from the everyday habits of ‘key influencers’(being part of the church) Little Johnny who comes once a year in case its true Key Influencers

20. Faith Passionate Spirituality Prayer Hope Every-day Faith

21. Cycle Starters

22. 3 Color Series 2012 EL GBM PS ES Trinitarian Compass &the 8 QCs NOE IWS HSG LR

23. Busy Baptist ChurchMake Time for God

24. Communications • Communicate effectively through the entire Cycle • Keep the congregation abreast of progress against the process • Do not present all the data to the congregation, a summary will suffice • Ensure leaders and key influencers are on board • Honest approach to strengths and growth areas is powerful, internally and externally

25. Communications Template • We found that our strengths are ______________ • We need to celebrate and leverage these • Our Minimum Factor is ________________ • We need to work on ________________ • To accomplish this, we will ________________ • We will conduct another Survey in a year to see how we’ve progressed, built capacity

26. Culture Challenges • Quick Fix • Build, not grow • Continuous Improvement not always linear, a to b • Programs, flavor of the day • Elements of denomination heritage &practices that impact health (+ or -) • Disconnect between clergy health and congregational health

27. Cycle Barriers Debating the questions Debating the answers Seeing the issues but not getting to the core Ownership of the issues by leaders Growing application of the paradigm Sticking with the implementation plan Capacity to develop plans

28. Other Barriers • Obtaining the right amount of coaching • perhaps more required in some phases? • Implementation team formation/makeup • all one colour? • Second Survey results < First Survey • discouragement can set in early • was the Plan too complicated • Persistent culture (evident around 3rd or 4th Survey • resistance to change, innovation, dealing with issues, facing conflict

29. Long Term Process • A long term strategic process of continual improvement • Progressively improves a church's health • Not a program with guarantees • Intentional &consistently addresses most critical issues • Annual snapshot of current state of health • Where are we, come from where, going next?

30. NCD Foundations Quality over quantity Partnering with God Organic – growing not building Universally applicable – not a model Sound theological foundation Unique for each church Our role: remove barriers Supported by 80,000 surveys