NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT
Natural Church Development has quietly become a worldwide movement that is helping churches improve their health and is drawing people closer to the triune God.
“This is what the kingdom of God is like.
A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 (NIV)
THE RESEARCH
A series of research projects from 1986-1995 finally culminated in a highly reliable scientific study of over 1000 churches in 32 countries and led to the publication of Natural Church Development: A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches by Christian Schwarz. The eight quality characteristics identified are:
A survey was developed to be completed by the pastor and 30 key lay people. This survey helps churches identify their strengths (maximum factors) and weaknesses (minimum factors). Unique to the NCD process was the teaching that the minimum factor is the strategic point of leverage and, when addressed, significantly improves the overall health of the church.
Also introduced were six growth forces that supported this new paradigm for the church and encouraged the development of a church health team and led to the training of coaches to come alongside churches engaging in the process. These growth forces were identified as:
THE RESULTS
As of 2006 there were over 45,000 churches from a combined 70 different countries that had taken the survey.
We look at all the churches that had completed three or more surveys and discovered the following:
- 85 percent of the churches completing three or more surveys have experienced increases in both quality and quantity.
- The average quality in these churches increased by six points over 31 months on average.
- Their growth rate increased by 51 percent. In other words, if the church had been growing by ten people per year before beginning the process, that number would now increase to 15 people per year.
- The average quality in these churches increased by six points over 31 months on average.
- Churches working with an outside coach have experienced even greater improvements.
- These results do not represent a few select success stories. Rather, these are the average results of all the churches that have completed three or more surveys. This includes those who experienced overwhelming success as well as those who struggled or failed.
SOME REFLECTIONS
As of July 2007 over 50,000 churches have completed NCD surveys world-wide.
In the USA we are now working with over 60 different denominations.
- NCD is a long-term process – not a “quick fix.” If your church has been in decline for ten or twenty years, it will take more than 30-60 days to reverse that trend. However, the research shows there is hope for your church!
- Invest significant time preparing your church to begin the NCD process:
- Educate your people about the eight quality characteristics and the value of improving the health of the church.
- Cast a bold vision. Help your people dream about being a healthy, vibrant, life-changing church and instill a “want to” attitude in your leaders.
- Build a team of people who will focus on improving the health of the church because the pastor cannot do it alone.
- Trust the wisdom of working on your “minimum factor.” The minimum factor is the quality characteristic identified as the weakest area of health in the church. Just as sports teams draft “impact players” to improve the quality of their team for the next season, your church must address the minimum factor to improve the health of the church.
- Find a good coach who can come alongside and help guide your church through the process. We have found that churches who work with a coach are at least twice as effective in improving the health of the church. We have several denominations who have been utilizing NCD for five or six years now. They require their churches to work with a coach and the results have been quite dramatic.
- Be clear about your mission: make sure your motivation is “mission driven”, not “survival driven.” Jesus said in Mark 8:35 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for me and for the Gospel will save it.” God has a mission for your church in your community and it can easily be summed up in the Great Commandment and Great Commission: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Then go and make disciples everywhere!
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?
What will ministry look like in your church this next year?
Will it be “business as usual” or will you make an intentional decision to
assess the health of your church and then take strategic steps to move forward?
We want to help you improve the health of your church!
If you would like to find out more about NCD or schedule the NCD Survey please contact:
Stan Rieb, Associate Director
(303) 772-1205
Natural Church Development has quietly become a worldwide movement that is helping churches improve their health and is drawing people closer to the triune God.
“This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 (NIV)
THE RESEARCH
A series of research projects from 1986-1995 finally culminated in a highly reliable scientific study of over 1000 churches in 32 countries and led to the publication of Natural Church Development: A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches by Christian Schwarz. The eight quality characteristics identified are:
A survey was developed to be completed by the pastor and 30 key lay people. This survey helps churches identify their strengths (maximum factors) and weaknesses (minimum factors). Unique to the NCD process was the teaching that the minimum factor is the strategic point of leverage and, when addressed, significantly improves the overall health of the church.
Also introduced were six growth forces that supported this new paradigm for the church and encouraged the development of a church health team and led to the training of coaches to come alongside churches engaging in the process. These growth forces were identified as:
THE RESULTS
As of 2006 there were over 45,000 churches from a combined 70 different countries that had taken the survey.
We look at all the churches that had completed three or more surveys and discovered the following:
- 85 percent of the churches completing three or more surveys have experienced increases in both quality and quantity.
- The average quality in these churches increased by six points over 31 months on average.
- Their growth rate increased by 51 percent. In other words, if the church had been growing by ten people per year before beginning the process, that number would now increase to 15 people per year.
- The average quality in these churches increased by six points over 31 months on average.
- Churches working with an outside coach have experienced even greater improvements.
- These results do not represent a few select success stories. Rather, these are the average results of all the churches that have completed three or more surveys. This includes those who experienced overwhelming success as well as those who struggled or failed.
SOME REFLECTIONS
As of July 2007 over 50,000 churches have completed NCD surveys world-wide.
In the USA we are now working with over 60 different denominations.
- NCD is a long-term process – not a “quick fix.” If your church has been in decline for ten or twenty years, it will take more than 30-60 days to reverse that trend. However, the research shows there is hope for your church!
- Invest significant time preparing your church to begin the NCD process:
- Educate your people about the eight quality characteristics and the value of improving the health of the church.
- Cast a bold vision. Help your people dream about being a healthy, vibrant, life-changing church and instill a “want to” attitude in your leaders.
- Build a team of people who will focus on improving the health of the church because the pastor cannot do it alone.
- Trust the wisdom of working on your “minimum factor.” The minimum factor is the quality characteristic identified as the weakest area of health in the church. Just as sports teams draft “impact players” to improve the quality of their team for the next season, your church must address the minimum factor to improve the health of the church.
- Find a good coach who can come alongside and help guide your church through the process. We have found that churches who work with a coach are at least twice as effective in improving the health of the church. We have several denominations who have been utilizing NCD for five or six years now. They require their churches to work with a coach and the results have been quite dramatic.
- Be clear about your mission: make sure your motivation is “mission driven”, not “survival driven.” Jesus said in Mark 8:35 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for me and for the Gospel will save it.” God has a mission for your church in your community and it can easily be summed up in the Great Commandment and Great Commission: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Then go and make disciples everywhere!
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?
What will ministry look like in your church this next year?
Will it be “business as usual” or will you make an intentional decision to
assess the health of your church and then take strategic steps to move forward?
We want to help you improve the health of your church!
If you would like to find out more about NCD or schedule the NCD Survey please contact:
Stan Rieb, Associate Director
(303) 772-1205