Church Transformation/Revitalization
Here are the facts:
- 85% of all congregations in the U.S. are not growing
- Only 17% of the U.S. population is in worship on a given Sunday
- The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod has been in decline for 35 years
- Millions are dying each year without a saving relationship with Jesus Christ
What are we doing about it in the Mid-South District?
Church Transformation/Revitalization (“being turned inside out!”)
The current “maintenance” mindset of many congregations will need to be transformed to a “mission” mindset one congregation at a time. The goal of the transformation will be to:
- Turn unbelievers into believers
- Turn believers into disciples
- Turn congregations into armies for Christ
This will be what a transformed congregation looks like:
- 5%+ growth each year in average annual worship attendance
- 1:12 ration of adult confirmations to worship attendance
- Increased number of small groups
- A growing number of new leaders
- Engagement in the community through a variety of new ministries
- Plans to initiate or partner in a new church plant within 5 years
The Mid-South District will do this by:
- Retraining pastors to think like missionaries through monthly learning communities and monthly visits from the transformation consultant (District staff) while encouraging behavioral change on the part of the pastor through prayer, conversation and accountability
- Leading a congregation through an intensive week-end “line-in-the-sand” consultation event that will help them determine whether or not the congregation is going to make the tough decisions that will lead to health and growth
- Walking alongside the congregation for 12-18 months following the consultation to make sure the changes prescribed are being implemented
- Retraining congregations through effective lay training events
The District goal is to lead 50 congregations through the transformation process by the year 2012.
"Your gift will help congregations reach their communities for Christ's kingdom!"
