Vision Sunday 2018
Back in 2010, management consultant Tim Sims and his team conducted a research project on ‘Church Growth’. They interviewed Sydney Anglican rectors, studied the NCLS data between 2001 and 2006, and studied a range of other data to come up with 4 findings on what growing churches look like.
The first has to do with ministers not being too busy with weekly appointments to actually challenge the status quo and put this data into action. Furthermore, ministers of growing churches spent over 12 hours a week in private devotions.
The second showed Sydney Anglican churches do well with those under 20; due to a high level of satisfaction with our children’s and youth ministry. Our hard work in recent years is paying off in this area, thanks to Tamara, James and Ethan.
A third finding is the importance of inviting non-Christians to church services or church events. In the end, it doesn’t even matter if they say no, as that’s the Spirit’s job. Our job is simply to invite them.
The fourth finding showed that churches with a noticeable growth in spiritual maturity (particularly prayer) between the 2001 and 2006 surveys also reported an increase in attendance. This fits with the Bible’s teaching also, that mature Christians are usually the ones sharing their faith and inviting non-Christians to church.
While all 4 findings are important, it is this last one we wish to focus on for Vision Sunday 2018. While our members are already growing through our Sunday services and Bible study groups, there is another important factor the data highlighted; ‘discipleship’. We wish to promote a culture at Earlwood Anglican where Christians meet up one-on-one, to help each other grow.
Brendan McLaughlin
