Patterns of SDA Church Growth in North America

A study of 3,217 members in 28 churches across the Lake Union indicates common denominators for both church and individual growth.

Gottfried Oosterwal, D. Litt., Ph.D., is professor of mission and comparative religion at the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

 

In 1970 the Department of World Mission at Andrews University initiated a Seminar on Church Growth with the objectives of (1) acquainting the minister with the factors that stimulate or hinder the growth of the church; (2) helping the minister to assess the effectiveness of various methods of SDA evangelism, church growth, and mission; (3) discovering new approaches and strategies for implementing the divine commission and accomplishing God's work "in this generation"; (4) assisting the minister in planning for church growth in a Biblical perspective; and (5) equipping the minister to give leadership to the growth of the church in all its aspects, especially to equip ministers to train and enable lay membership to assume their role in church growth.

One way of reaching objectives has been to let the minister become involved in actual church-growth studies, surveys, and analyses. When these findings were discussed, it became clear that this research would be extremely helpful to church leaders and administrators, especially those who are involved in evangelistic planning and the pro motion of church growth. Early in 1971, therefore, the Ministerial Association of the General Conference initiated a General Conference action to request the Department of World Mission to prepare reports on two crucial issues in SDA Church growth: (1) What are the factors that help people in North America to be come acquainted with the SDA Church and to accept its message and be baptized? (2) What are the major reasons for SDA believers to leave the church (apostasy)? Both investigations have been carried out, and the reports have been published. The first is available under the title Patterns of SDA Church Growth in North America, published by Andrews University Press in 1976. The second, Dissociation: An Investigation Into the Contributing Factors of Backsliding and Separation From the SDA Church in Michigan, has been written up as a research project for the D. Min. degree by L. Nielsen in 1977.

Factors of church growth

This article will discuss some of the factors that help people accept the SDA message, leaving for later discussions the matter of significant reasons for apostasy.

The study on SDA Church growth, from which this article grows, was based on 3,217 questionnaire responses from members of 28 churches scattered throughout the Lake Union Conference. More than 300 extended interviews have been conducted with the members and the pastors of these churches, and additional data have come from church records, union and General Conference statistics, and other contemporary studies relating to church growth.

The 28 churches studied were selected according to the following criteria: location (rural, urban, sub urban, small town) size (less than 100, 100-250, 250-600, more than 600), ethnic composition (black, white, Oriental, Spanish-American, mixed), length of existence, and accessibility. In most cases the re searchers served as "student-pas tors" in these churches, which contributed greatly to the reliability of the analysis and evaluation of the gathered data.

Church growth is a complex subject. It cannot be limited merely to numerical growth, for in Scripture and in the writings of Ellen G. White the growth of the church includes also growing in Spirit and in truth, in knowledge and in grace. The church has also been called to demonstrate God's glory and to serve as His instrument of evangelization and service. A Seventh-day Adventist concept of church growth, there fore, should consider at least five aspects: (1) the number of people who are joining the church, who they are, and which factors most influenced them to become acquainted with the SDA message and to join the church through baptism; (2) what effect church membership has had on their lives since they became Seventh-day Adventists; (3) in which ways the believers have grown in their understanding of truth, in love, in piety, and in a sanctified life, and what agencies in the church are most helpful in their spiritual growth; (4) the increase of the believers' involvement in mission and outreach to the community; and (-5) how the church is growing in its worldwide prophetic task, and especially in its task to "manifest, even to 'the principalities and powers in heavenly places,' the final and full display of the love of God" (Acts of the Apostles, p. 9).

What the study showed

Of the 28 churches studied, 6 had an annual growth rate of 5-9 percent, 5 were growing 2-4 percent annually (the average rate in North America), whereas 17, or more than 60 percent, were not growing at all or even showed a decline in membership! What are the factors that cause these differences?

First is the size of the church. When the four basic criteria of religious commitment—church attendance, study and devotional life, doctrinal beliefs, and practical involvement—are considered, churches of 200-350 members show by far the largest growth and have, by far, the greatest potential for growth. Second, location of the church also affects church growth. Certain populations are obviously more receptive to religious change than others. The greatest receptivity is found in areas of high mobility, of rapid socioeconomic change, and of population growth. Where these facts are present, such as in small towns and cities, in development areas, and in certain suburbs, the potential for church growth is far greater than in rural areas or in cities and towns with a well-established pattern and order.

Based on these two factors alone, our evangelistic planning should give special attention to these areas of rapidly changing and growing populations, and to the development of those structures in the church that can best accommodate new converts' particular needs for fellow ship, meaning, and stability. That kind of structure invariably includes small to middle-size churches of 100-350 members.

A third, and by far the single most important, factor of growth is the commitment of the laity. No less than 67 percent of the people who joined the church from a non-SDA background first became acquainted with the Advent message through Adventist church members (relatives, neighbors, friends, et cetera). The Adventist laity were also by far the most important factor in leading people to accept the Advent mes sage and to join the church through baptism (57 percent). All six rapidly growing churches,in this sample had a deeply consecrated and committed laity. However, contrary to the general belief that these lay members should be involved in the "official" program of the church in order to make the church grow, the findings show that the success of the laity as a factor in soul winning came through spontaneous witnessing—believers giving an account of their faith in their daily lives and contacts with people at work and in society. One of the most urgent tasks of the church, therefore, is to stimulate and to prepare the church member ship for this role of spontaneous witnessing, according to their particular spiritual gifts, interests, and special talents. Lay training should be built on the diversity of the gifts that characterize each local church.

Who are these people whom God is adding to His church? Adventist churches show a heavy preponderance of women. In some churches, women outnumber men almost three to one, especially in the 30-45-year-old age group. Several factors seem to create this imbalance. The Adventist Church grows very strongly through family ties, and this factor seems to influence a great many more women than men. Public evangelism, Adventist radio and TV programs, and SDA publications appeal to women far more than to men. The SDA minister is a much greater persuasive influence to women than to men. The apostasy rate, especially in the 30-45 age group, is much higher for men than for women.

Though the people who join the Adventist Church come from a variety of backgrounds, it seems that a considerable majority come from the class of skilled laborers and self-employed workers, with an annual income of $6,500-$ 15,000, and who usually are members of other churches before uniting with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Nearly absent are the very poor, unskilled workers, people on welfare, people with little education, the highly educated intellectuals, the very well-to-do, and those without prior religious affiliation.

Since nearly 80 percent of the church's members come from an Adventist background, we may in deed rejoice that a large percentage of our youth remain in the church. (Church schools are a very important factor of church growth!) On the other hand, the church should also question why its outreach among the masses, the educated elite, and the nonchurched has been so small. It seems that, in spite of the large amounts of money spent and resources used for the growth of the church, barely 15-20 percent of the people in North America have a chance of hearing the Adventist message with clarity. But what about the other 80-85 percent? That is the church's challenge for the 1980's in North America.

People accept the Advent message and join the church through baptism for many reasons and by various means. The Adventist home, relatives, friends, schools, ministers, and to a much lesser degree, public evangelism, Adventist publications, radio, TV, and medical institutions all play a part. But how do these new believers continue to grow? The church-growth study points out a rather critical situation in the church. After people have joined the .Adventist fellowship through baptism, there is very little continuing growth. A kind of plateau mentality often develops, which seems to prevent the believers from growing in piety and spirituality, in commitment and missionary involvement.

According to the study, many believers depend almost entirely for their further growth on the Sabbath services. Personal Bible study and devotions on a regular basis are rare. Association with Adventist friends stood out in the study as an important factor that helps people to grow spiritually, or to prevent them from leaving the church. But only 25 per cent (mostly older people) indicated that Spirit of Prophecy books were important in their continued growth.

Most believers realized their lack of personal spiritual growth and were looking for ways to grow. Among those surveyed, 45-53 per cent suggested better sermons that make the Word of God understand able in people's actual life situation, as a means to continued personal growth. Better Sabbath school quarterlies and SDA publications were also singled out as needs. More fellowship among Adventists contributes to spiritual growth, it was found. All the growing churches were, indeed, churches with a very warm fellowship, stimulated by both the minister and the believers. Finally, the believers suggested that the minister give them more help through home visitation, lay-training programs, and assistance in their involvement in mission.

One of the most striking findings of this research was the immense diversity of the SDA constituency. Not only do individual believers differ but each local congregation has its own character, attitudes, spirituality, and pattern of growth. This diversity not only influences an individual's response to the various evangelistic agencies of the church, it also determines greatly a whole congregation's response, attitude, and activity. To help each church to grow and develop in accordance with its special character and situation, it is important that local churches be encouraged to develop programs and activities that seem to be most suited to their local personalities. This approach will also make it possible for a much larger percentage of the members to become involved in the activities of the church. Uniformity, based on the mistaken concept of "the one Adventist constituency," works as an obstacle to growth.

Changing role for the pastor

This study points, finally, to the need for a change in the minister's role in church growth. Structurally, his work at present does not stimulate him to concentrate on those factors that promote the growth of the church—sermon preparation, lay training, home visitation, participation in the church's outreach to the community, pastoral care and nurture, et cetera. Neither does much of his present training equip the minister for giving leadership to church growth. To improve that situation, it is recommended that each conference organize workshops in church growth for their ministers—as some conferences are doing already—to equip the minister better for the task of helping the church to grow. For, in spite of certain danger signals revealed by this study, Adventist members have a deep desire to serve God and to use their many spiritual gifts, their talents, and their funds to accomplish the task for which God has called them.

Gottfried Oosterwal, D. Litt., Ph.D., is professor of mission and comparative religion at the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.

June 1978

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