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MINISTRIES IN ACTION

HANDBOOK FOR CHURCH GROWTH

Written by Terry L. Gyger, Dave B. Calhoun, E. Walford Thompson

We are excited about finally being able to make this valuable resource available online for no charge. We won’t even ask you to register or fill out a form to get to the content, but we would appreciate you letting us know if the material is helpful. We encourage you to let others know about it, especially those you think would benefit. Each week we will put a new chapter online, and I’ll post a reminder on our News Blog as each chapter becomes available.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

    Purpose and Strategy
    Philosophy
    History

Section I: The Nature of the Church

Chapter 1: A Clear Definition

    Methodology: How Can We Know
    Identity: What Is the Church?
    Images of the Church in the New Testament

Chapter 2: Purpose and Goals of the Church

    Purpose: Why Does the Church Exist?
    Goal: Church Growth
        The Design of God
        Growth-Described in Paul's Letters
        Growth-Three Dimensions
        Growth-The Power Provided by God
        Growth-Through Four Permanent Functions
        Growth-Identifying Obstacles
    Supplement: John Calvin on Evangelism

Section II: Means and Methods for Church Growth

Chapter 1: Biblical Principles

    Model for Total Mobilization-Haiti
    Model for Total Mobilization-U.S.

Chapter 2: Organization for MIA Strategy

    Introduction
    Orientation for Pastor and Church Board
    Personnel Directory
        General Instructions to Church Coordinators
        Job Descriptions

Chapter 3: Small Groups

    Introduction and Overview

    Training Material-Outline
    Prayer in the Small Group
    How to Establish Prayer Cells
    Prayer Cel1 Leader Training
    Helpful Hints for Group Leaders

Chapter 4: Friendship Evangelism

    Introduction
    Outline of the Strategy
    Dynamics of Friendship
    Why Friendship?
    Overview of Friendship
    Hospitality Night
    Entertaining Strangers
    Friendship Night
    What Do I Do Now?
    Community Penetration Seminar
    Guide for Every Family Visitation
    Friendship Evangelism and Public Witness
    Helpful Hints-Building Friendships

Chapter 5: Public Witness

    Training Material-Outline
    Report on Past Events
    Overview of the Strategy
    Mobilization for Public Witness
    Direct Witness
    Training Materials Appendices 1-9

Chapter 6: Discipleship

    Introduction to Materials
    Personnel
    System of Discipleship
    Training of Big Brothers/Sisters
    Appendices 1-5
    Big Brothers/Sisters-Weekly Program

Section III: Leadership in the Church

Introduction

Chapter 1: A View from the Bottom

    Leadership Techniques-A Biblical View
    Christ's Leadership in the Gospels
    Key Words in the New Testament
    Biblical Example
    Historical Example

Chapter 2: Leadership in the Body of Christ

    Christ the Head
    The Body Itself
    The Pastor Teacher
    The Role of the Pastor
    The Members
    The Ministry of the Body

Chapter 3: Research as a Leadership Skill

    Leadership Skills in General
    Three Types of Research
        Community
        Community Data Form
        Cultural
        Congregational

Chapter 4: Goals and Objectives

    Difficulties in Setting Goals
    Advantages in Setting Goals
    Procedure for Setting Goals
    Accomplishing Your Objectives

Chapter 5: Selection and Recruitment

    Traits of an Effective Leader
    Tools for Selecting Leaders
    Tools for Recruitment

Chapter 6: Training

    General Thoughts on Training
        Trainers: Jesus and Paul
        What is Training?
        Practical Steps in Training
        A Training Illustration
    Training in the Church Supplement
    MIA Church Profile Instruction Supplement
        MIA Church Profile Questionnaire
        Interpreting and Implementing Survey Results
    Friendship Evangelism Learning Kits Supplement
    Direct Witness Appendix

Copyright © 1983 by Ministries in Action

Ministries In Action grants exclusively to the viewer the right to copy and reproduce selected pages of this work for the use of church study groups but prohibits the sale of any such copies and otherwise prohibits the reproduction or publication of the contents, except as noted, without the express permission of Ministries In Action.