Growth Growth Growth

Dear Pastors

Happy New Year! I hope you have had a decent summer break and are now looking forward to a good year?

In May, June and July this year Jeanette and I will be ‘looking after’ Te Whanau Putahi (TWP) – A Baptist Church (and Social Services Trust) in Fairfield, Hamilton. This is our home church where our son Shane is the Pastor and Trust Manager. Shane will be heading off on sabbatical and Jeanette and I will ‘keep the seat warm’. Then in September I will be hosting (in partnership with Family Life NZ) Ron and Nan Deal from the USA for some pastors meeting in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton.

Ron is a bestselling author, licensed marriage & family therapist, podcaster, and popular conference speaker who conducts “laugh and learn” marriage and family seminars and professional training around the country and online. He specializes in both marriage enrichment and stepfamily education. More information will be communicated soon but in the meantime you can learn more about the Deal’s here.

Growth Growth Growth

How many times have you heard this phrase in the last month or so? Heaps, right? I am not about to comment on the positives and negatives of economic growth in this piece except to say that after attending the presentation of the ‘State of the Nation 2025’. Report by the Salvation Army yesterday, not all is well in beautiful New Zealand. I for one believe we need a lot more than a growth strategy to fix our worsening statistics in child poverty, domestic violence and food insecurity to mention just three of our very sad and deeply entrenched problems.

That said, I am pro-growth. I believe the Bible is pro-growth. From the garden of Genesis to the city of Revelation, God is a God who shows something of His life and energy through growth. Most growth is a good thing in this life. So I want to grow as a husband and father and grandfather. I want to grow in my competence in my work/job. And as a Christian I want to grow in my Christian life. So what about my church and your church —do we want our local church to grow?

And besides what’s the opposite? Decline. No body wants that.

Biblical church Growth is multi-faceted. Yes it is about numbers because according to the Bible itself “it is the will of God that none perish but ALL should come to repentance”. 2 Peter 3:9. I’m sure all of us pastors care deeply about spiritually lost people so the more we can rescue the better. So yes to numerical growth (children, youth and adults).

But let’s also say yes to:-

• Growth in maturity of believers (discipleship).
• Growth in devotion to Jesus and in heart felt worship.
• Growth in volunteerism.
• Growth in healthy marriages and family life.
• Growth in the daily practice of the ‘one another’s’ of scripture.
• Growth in community engagement.
• Growth in evangelism.
• Growth in income.
• Etc etc

I am convinced more than ever that spiritual and numerical growth is the will of God. I am also convinced that growth is a partnership that we as pastors enter into with the Holy Spirit. We plant, we water, we cultivate but God gives the increase. 1 Cor 3:6-7

Our world needs healthy, vibrant and growing churches and it needs it real bad. May the Lord help us all in 2025 to see this happen before our very own eyes.

And finally before I shoot off to do the school run this morning, please feel free to give me any feedback you may wish to share. I am making a fresh commitment to respond to every email I receive.

Blessings
Alan