Traits of Growing Churches

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Vol. IV, No. 3, April 1991

Howard Ramsey of the HMB staff has studied in depth 25 of the 30 the SBC churches which baptized more than 100 in 1989 and enjoyed at least a 10% increase in average SS attendance. He identified five traits common to all these churches: (1) Pastoral vision for growth shared by the people. (2) High commitment of leadership: daily quiet time, giving well above the tithe, regular witnessing, and a higher priority on service to the Lord than on free time, position, or secular employment. (3) Exciting worship with an air of expectation and with visitors realizing they are welcome and free to participate. (4) Flexibility and innovation, not allowing location, lack of space, condition of facilities, or limited finances blur their vision; they contact all classes of people and have a deep sense of caring for people. (5) Evangelism: a total commitment to one-to-one witnessing and meaningful invitations; the pastors always model personal evangelism. (BP)