Although the following study deals only with factors influencing church growth among Seventh-day Adventist churches in North America, readers in other parts of the world and among other denominations will certainly find parallels and applications to their own situations. —Editors.
The church growth movement has drawn criticism for, among other things, having as its top priority the winning of new members. This diverts attention, say the critics, from the church's longstanding mission to minister to the needs of the - entire community and to serve as its conscience.
We readily allow that merely adding numbers to church rosters without truly integrating the new converts into the life of the congregation or nurturing their spiritual development is not only self-serving but counterproductive. And we can surely agree that the church does have a responsibility to society. Nevertheless, Christ's final word to His followers was a commission to go to all nations, baptize believers, and make disciples of them (see Matt. 28:18-20). Unless a church is experiencing conversion growth, unless people are hearing the gospel and leaving the world to unite with the body of Christ, that church is not fulfilling its mission.
In the past decade a number of mainline Protestant denominations have been declining in membership. Others have grown rapidly. Within a given denomination, some individual churches are growing rapidly while others are growing slowly, not at all, or even declining. Seventh-day Adventists have enjoyed reasonably good growth compared with many denominations. Yet individual SDA churches exhibit the same wide range in growth rates found in other faiths. Why?
The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists commissioned the Institute of Church Ministry at Andrews University to conduct a research study of church growth in Adventist churches in the United States and Canada. Its purpose: to identify those local institutional factors that are associated with rapid church growth as well as those associated with minimal growth or decline. Such information can enable pastors and others to emphasize the most productive factors, and it also provides a basis for developing curricular and training materials.
Methods
Using random sampling methods, 295 Adventist churches throughout the North American Division were selected. The total sample was subdivided into white, English-speaking; black; and Hispanic churches. The pastor of each selected church was asked to complete a personal survey form and also to have each member of his congregation present at a given Sabbath worship service complete similar surveys.
The surveys were especially constructed to measure attitudes, behaviors, and factors that might possibly be related to church growth. The items surveyed were selected after a review of church-growth literature, analysis of questionnaires from union and local conference presidents, and interviews with "successful" pastors. The pastor's survey contained sixty-eight items; the member's survey contained forty-three items. All results from a particular church were averaged for each item to provide a series of responses that would represent that church as a unit.
The surveys were administered during the late spring and the summer of 1980. Pastors of 250 churches returned their surveys, a response rate of 85 percent. A total of 194 churches returned 8,336 completed member surveys, a response rate of 66 percent.
To measure the amount of church growth, records covering the eighteen months between January 1, 1979, and June 30, 1980, were used. Two different measures of growth (or decline) were employed. An actual growth rate was obtained by subtracting a church's membership figure for January 1, 1979, from the membership figure for June 30, 1980, and dividing the result by the beginning membership. This figure was expressed as a percentage to one decimal place. In cases where the result represented a decline rate, the negative sign was used. The average actual growth rate for the year and a half was 6.1 percent, or about 4.1 percent yearly.
In addition a measure was used that disregarded growth or loss by the transfer of established members from one church to another. This would reveal how a church fared in terms of additions by conversion and losses by apostasy. This was designated as kingdom growth and was calculated by subtracting the number of members dropped for apostasy and as missing from the number added by baptism and profession of faith during the period under study. The result was divided by the beginning membership figure and expressed as a percentage to one decimal place. The average kingdom growth rate for the eighteen months was 7.8 percent, or about 5.2 percent yearly.
Each item on the pastor survey was correlated with both actual and kingdom growth rates for the church being surveyed. A multiple regression program was used that not only revealed direct correlations but also calculated a prediction equation in which a series of items was chosen that, taken together, provides the best explanation for the variation in the growth rates. The program also deter mined the order of strength for each items selected in the equation. The program was run on the total sample and also on the white, black, and Hispanic churches separately. The entire process was repeated for the member survey.
Findings from the pastor survey
When the 68 items on the pastor survey are compared with both actual and kingdom growth, a pattern begins to emerge. Certain responses were definitely associated with either or both growth measures. When the total sample is considered, the following items, roughly in the order of importance, seem to be the best overall predictors of a growing church:
1. Focus on church growth. Pastors were asked, "To what extent is every phase of church activity focused on church growth?" Those whose response tended toward a complete focus in this area were pastors of growing churches.
Peter Wagner lists as one of seven vital signs common to healthy, growing churches in America the fact that they have their priorities straight. He also says, "The indispensable condition for a growing church is that it wants to grow and is willing to pay the price for growth," The present study has confirmed this for Seventh-day Adventist churches. In growing churches nothing is allowed in the program that does not have soul winning as its aim; every individual activity is tailored to soul winning.
It should be added, however, that church growth is not merely baptizing people. It also includes incorporating them into responsible church membership and equipping them for further service. It is as concerned with quality as with quantity.
2. Percent of membership regularly attending prayer meeting. Regular prayer meeting attendance ranged from 1 percent to 98 percent, with an average of about 25 percent attending regularly. Churches with larger prayer meeting attendance were growing in spiritual life as well as numbers; their ratio of apostasies to baptisms was small.
3. Percent of membership meeting in small fellowship or study groups. People are attracted to a church where there is personal warmth and caring, where they can not only celebrate the worship service but can feel a part of a family. People, whether already church members or still considering church membership, will gravitate toward a group in which their personal needs are met.
4. Belief in growth potential. Pastors were asked to rate the growth potential of their local churches on a continuum from "no potential" to "unlimited potential." Those indicating a high potential pastored churches experiencing rapid growth. While it might be assumed that the pastors knew what their churches were capable of, it is more likely that the result represents the spiritual principle "According to your faith be it unto you." Simply put, we cannot do anything unless we believe that we can. This variable is related to the idea of "possibility thinking" that has been articulated so well by Robert Schuller.
5. Public meetings effective in baptisms. Pastors were asked to rate how effective public evangelistic meetings had proved to be in their churches as a method for gaining baptisms. Rating the method effective was correlated with both indices of church growth. Apparently the age of public evangelism has not passed away. Growing churches are finding the method effective.
6. Skill in personal decisions. Pastors were asked to rate their skill from low to high in gaining decisions for Christ through personal visitation. High ratings were correlated with actual growth. A growing church has a pastor who is comfortable talking with people on a personal level about spiritual things and who can lead them to a commitment to Jesus Christ.
7. Time spent in administration. Pastors were asked to indicate the average percentage of their time spent in church administration. On actual and kingdom growth rates, the correlation was negative. This indicates that growing churches have pastors who spend a proportionately smaller share of their time on administrative duties. Pastors need to be freed from much of the machinery of running the church to devote themselves to direct soul winning and to training members in the exercise of their spiritual gifts.
8. Pastor's Bible class. Since baptisms have been shown to correlate significantly with a pastor's Bible class held during the Sabbath school, more emphasis should be placed upon this activity. The research reveals that on any given Sabbath only one church in twenty is holding a pastor's Bible class.
9. Number of evangelistic series held. Pastors were asked how many evangelistic series were held in their church areas during the previous year. The responses were significantly related to kingdom growth. This predictor is closely related to predictor number 5.
The white sample
Each of the nine predictors of church growth listed above for the total sample was also influential in the white sample and in roughly the same order. Focus on church growth was the most important factor for both actual and kingdom growth. Prayer meeting, small fellowship groups, belief in growth potential, public evangelistic meetings, and skill in personal decisions all ran strong. But in addition, three other predictors stood out in the white sample:
1. Church growth goal. Pastors were asked to state their church's growth goal for the year in terms of a percentage of their present membership. Responses ranged from no goal at all (25 churches) to one church that had set its growth goal at 100 percent of its membership! The higher goals were correlated with church growth in one of the strongest relationships uncovered in the study.
2. Educational level of the congregation. According to the survey, the more highly educated the white congregation is, the more likely it is to experience both actual and kingdom growth.
3. Preferred time in ministry to members. Pastors were asked what percentage of their time they would like to spend in ministry to members. Those pastors who wish they might allot a smaller percentage of time to internal ministry were more likely to be in growing churches. This probably means that they are oriented to their mission to the world rather than to a shepherding style.
The black sample
The indicators of actual and kingdom growth in the black sample turned out to be quite different from those in the total and white samples. They are as follows:
1. Percent of membership in witnessing classes. Pastors were asked what percentage of their membership was enrolled in or had graduated from classes in witnessing or giving Bible studies. A high percentage response was significantly related to both actual and kingdom growth.
2. Leadership style. Pastors were asked to rate their leadership style on a continuum from "I make most of the decisions" to "members run the church." The more democratic style proved most favorable for both actual and kingdom growth.
3. Accessibility of church to prospective converts. This surprising finding showed negative correlations to both actual and kingdom growth; the more inaccessible the church, the more it grows! More study and thought needs to be given to a valid interpretation of this factor.
4. Study of the local community. "How much effort has your church invested in a study of your local community, its makeup and needs?" Much study correlated positively with actual growth.
5. Health ministries effective in baptisms. Rating health ministries as an effective means of securing baptisms was associated with both actual and kingdom growth.
6. Ministry for all ages. Pastors were asked how completely their churches conducted a ministry for all age groups. Those who had programs for all age groups were churches experiencing growth. While this factor may appear to be an internal work, remember that people will join a church where their felt needs are met.
The Hispanic sample
The Hispanic sample proved similar to the other samplings in some respects, while differing in others. Five of the indicators for church growth found in the total and white samples are also found in the Hispanic sample: focus on church growth, belief in growth potential, percent of membership attending prayer meeting, number of evangelistic series held in the church area, and a pastor's Bible class effective in securing baptisms.
The Hispanic sample also shared two indicators of church growth with the black sample: the negative correlation with church accessibility and the percent of church membership enrolled in or graduated from classes in witnessing or giving Bible studies.
But the Hispanic sample also had three other strong indicators not found in the Other groups:
1. Percent involved in personal out reach. Pastors were asked to give the percentage of their congregations who were actively engaged in some form of personal outreach to nonmembers. A high rating was associated with both actual and kingdom growth.
2. Bible studies by the pastor effective in securing baptisms. This variable also correlated with both actual and kingdom growth.
3. Preferred time in ministry to nonmembers. Pastors were asked to list the proportion of their time they would like to spend personally working for nonmembers. A high proportion correlated with both actual and kingdom growth.
Findings from the member survey
The following indicators seem to be the best overall predictors of a growing church as indicated by the results of the member survey. In terms of the total sample, they are listed in roughly the order of their importance:
1. A soul-winning church. It is easy to pick this as the number one factor, for it had the highest correlation with both actual and kingdom growth. This also held true for the white and Hispanic samples.
Members were asked to rate their churches on a scale of 1 to 5 as soul-winning churches. Those with higher ratings tended to be the growing churches. A certain mindset is operating here similar to the variable "belief in growth potential" that was found in the pastoral survey to be a good predictor of church growth. Even as the pastor needs "possibility thinking," so do the members. There is a sort of team spirit here—"God is working through us! We are in partnership with Him! Our church is serious about fulfilling the divine commission." When the members sense that their church exists for the purpose of bringing people to Christ, things begin to happen.
2. Years as a baptized Adventist. Churches where most members have been in the church for twenty or more years are not growing. Growing churches have a great proportion of their memberships made up of recent converts. This is logical. New converts are the best potential soul-winners because they still have many contacts with nonchurch members in the environment from which they came. Adventists who have been members for many years find most of their close friends and social environment among fellow members. They simply do not have the open doors of the newly baptized. And often the new convert in his first love will be more active in telling his friends what the Lord has done for him.
3. Amount of family income. This factor is difficult to explain in terms of church growth, but it did show a good correlation. Congregations with higher average incomes tend to grow more rap idly. Perhaps this is because more money is available to invest in soul-winning pro grams. Perhaps also the more affluent congregation is seen as more prestigious by its surrounding community and has better facilities. This may illustrate the sociological principle that people are more likely to wish to affiliate with a group that they look up to and respect.
4. Assurance with God. Where members are more certain about being in a right relationship with God, the church tends to grow. People cannot share what they do not have. An attempt to proclaim the truths of the church's message that is not undergirded by transformed lives experiencing joyous and satisfying living may only come across as empty words. When church members know that they are forgiven, justified, and filled with the Spirit, they will be able to "go home . . . , and tell . . . how great things the Lord hath done for [me]." And listeners will respond.
5. Holds church office or service position. The larger the proportion of the congregation who are put to work in the church, the more likely it is that growth will take place. Pastors alone cannot get the mission accomplished. As members become actively involved in the life of the church, they feel a commitment to it and a responsibility to help carry out its goals. Ways must be found to turn passive members into active ones. This variable was an even stronger selection in the white sample.
The white sample
Of the five predictors of church growth listed above, all except "assurance with God" were strong selections in the white sample. In addition the white churches had three other important indicators:
1. Pastor places emphasis on soul winning. Members were asked to rate the emphasis their pastor places on soul winning on a scale of 1 to 5. Growth is more likely in those congregations where the pastor averages a higher rating. The pastor is definitely the leader of church growth. While he cannot do it all by himself, his members take their cue from him. If he is constantly putting soul winning and church growth into top priority categories, so will they. If he relegates them to a lesser role, the congregation will relax their efforts.
2. New members involved in the church. Respondents were asked to rate the church's attitude toward new members on a continuum from "ignored" to "involved." Growing churches involve their new converts. People are more likely to join a church where they feel needed. Involved members are not as likely to grow discouraged and drop out.
3. Years of attendance at Adventist schools. Growing churches average more time spent by members in Christian education. The Adventist school provides a channel for biological growth. It also furnishes a staying power, controlling apostasy and thus facilitating church growth.
The black sample
The black sample was similar to the total sample in selecting "a soul-winning church" and "years as a baptized Adventist." In addition there were two unique selections:
1. Attended witnessing training program within the past year. In black churches this showed the strongest relationship with actual growth. Proper training of members is necessary and can make a difference.
2. Certainty about spiritual gifts. In black churches where a high proportion of the membership feels quite certain that they have identified their spiritual gifts, both actual and kingdom growth are likely to be taking place. The church growth movement has been much concerned with the identification of spiritual gifts. In order for churches to grow, members must not only become involved, but they must be doing those tasks that God has best fitted them to do.
The Hispanic sample
The Hispanic sample revealed some of the same correlations as in the total sample. Two other variables were unique selections for this group:
1. Working to win non-Adventist relatives. Those churches with large pro portions of the membership reporting that they are actively working to win their non-Adventist relatives are churches experiencing kingdom growth.
2. Age group. The younger the aver age age of the baptized membership, the more likely the church is to be growing.
Conclusions
An examination of the findings that have been presented suggests several conclusions:
1. The North American Division is composed largely of small churches. Pro grams and strategies must be planned that will not depend on large congregations, extensive facilities, or sophisticated equipment. They must be capable of being directed by pastors of multichurch districts.
2. There is no size advantage when it comes to church growth. Small, medium, or large churches can all grow at the same rate if other conditions are equal. Pastors and members of small churches need not become discouraged and feel that they do not have a sufficient base from which to work. Pastors and members of large churches need not feel that the task of making a good percentage gain is too herculean. Any church can grow if its leaders and constituents really want it to grow.
3. There are some differences in growth-facilitating conditions between the total church in North America and its ethnic components. White churches tend to have growth indicators very much like the overall pattern. Black churches, while sharing some common predictors, tend to grow under quite different conditions from the total church in many ways. Hispanic churches tend to have some indicators in common with the other groups plus a few uniquely their own.
4. Church growth is a result of concentrated effort and planning. There is no stronger finding in the study than the one that reveals that growth does not just happen. The growing church sets a yearly growth-rate goal. Everything that happens in that church is focused on reaching that goal. Every other program and ministry is evaluated by the extent to which it contributes toward attaining the goal. The pastor places prime emphasis on soul winning. He spends less time on church administrative duties and in routine ministry to members and devotes major portions of his time in ministry to nonmembers and in training laity. The church studies and knows its local community. It gears its programs to meeting the felt needs in that community.
5. Church growth is an adventure in faith. The pastor is a "possibility thinker" who dreams great visions. He believes in the potential of his church to grow. He believes that nothing can stop it from growing. The members also are filled with eager anticipation. They have a sense of camaraderie. They are a team working together for God. They know that their church is a soul-winning church.
6. Church growth comes as the membership develops a deep, inner spiritual life. They come together to pray and praise God. They meet together in small fellow ship and study groups marked by loving and caring. They have assurance that their sins are forgiven and they are accepted by God. They identify, accept, and use their particular spiritual gifts. God adds His blessing to these congregations with an influx of converts. Because the church has quality, it can be trusted with quantity. It is a safe environment for new members.
7. Church growth comes to a congregation that is trained and working. The members are likely to have a higher educational level than non-growing churches, and the education is more likely to have been gained in Adventist schools. The members have a prominent role in making decisions and operating the church. A large percentage hold church office or other service positions. They enroll in and graduate from classes in how to witness and give Bible studies. They put the information to use. They are actively engaged in various forms of outreach ministry to those within the circle of their influence and especially to their non- Adventist relatives.
8. Church growth is found where new members are quickly incorporated into the life of the church. Converts are not ignored but given meaningful work to do. A high proportion of the growing congregation consists of relatively recent members who in the zeal of their first love are sharing their testimony with their unconverted friends. This church tends to have a somewhat younger average age also. Young people and young families are essential to the growing church.
9. Church growth follows the use of proper methods. Skillful use is made of public evangelism. The pastor holds a Bible class during Sabbath school. He visits prospective members in their homes, studies the Bible with them, and has developed his skills as a personal soul winner. The church reaches out to the needs of the community with various creative approaches.
10. Church growth, both numerical and spiritual, moves forward when apostasy is controlled and eliminated. This is best accomplished by fostering the spiritual life of the members, actively involving them in the internal and outreach life of the church, and creating a climate that is warm, friendly, and caring.
