Unlocking more growth 28 invited guests Most seemed

Unlocking more growth

“ 28 invited guests. Most seemed to enjoy the experience and the welcome. Some were quite emotional. Will they continue to attend? We will see. . ”

“a family who have been meaning to come to church since moving to area a year ago finally made the effort”

“A couple said they stopped attending a church years ago, and came because a neighbour invited them. They were pleased, and asked their neighbour if they can come back. ”

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The Anglican bishops were in mixed company outside Union Station, as half a dozen young women in kilted dresses handed out birthday cards for Alexander Keith's in a beer promotion. At least one passerby briefly thought the two groups were together before having the confusion sorted out. However, the Anglican Church and Alexander Keith's do share one thing: those who like it, like it a lot. National Post on Canada. com

We prove success through measurable results

World-wide 6000 participating churches with 100, 000 accepted invitations

51% increase in attendance across 43 churches

Survey after 6 months In Anglican Churches 10% of the invited stayed 90% did not stay

The Anglican Potential Ratio From 1 to 3 focused invitation Sundays per year 60% of the congregation invite (40%) 10% stay (90%)

Unlocking more growth Turning first time visitors into long term members

The reasons people don’t come back a second time The Seven Phrases that the turn away Turning failure into a friend Back to what? From Simon to Simon Peter 12 steps learning tool Experience Easter The Ten Keys to Keeping

Are we still learning? “We all need confidence to learn. Too much confidence we know it all. Are we still learning? Too little confidence we think we cannot learn”

The Mystery Worship Family & the brave Church Leader

“I am sharing their experiences (with their permission) as long as my Parish and Church are not identified as the 'generator' of their perceptions. ”

The reasons people don’t come back a second time

“What a beautiful church - its a shame the service did not come up to the buildings standards. ” “Nothing has changed - its just like Church when I used to go with my Gran. ”

“The congregation don't like Children - there were 3 little girls in church with their parents and it was obvious from the turning around and tutting that some of the congregation did not approve that they were there. ” “The Vicar blessed the new hymn books and people around us were tutting and muttering disapproval at the new books. ”

“The Choir were so old I thought they would need resuscitating. When they process into the Church the way they look sets the tone - its a church for old people. ” “I thought singing and music was to enhance the worship, music was slow, singing - did anyone know the hymns? It didn't sound as if they did - we ended up laughing at the music and singing!”

“The Sermon - what was that about? theology? - it did nothing for me (or us) the Vicar lost us after 3 mins and it went on for over 15 mins!!!!” “The lady on the door was nice, and checked up on us during the Peace - but no one else talked to us except the Vicar when we were leaving. ”

“There is a children's area but its for babies, there is nothing suitable for a wide age range of children such as our son. ” “If I wanted some motivation to become an Atheist attending this church was it!”

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Adding to the church Workshop Why did you stay? What stops people coming back a second time to your congregation? ?

Is adding to the church even on the agenda?

A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours wasted.

The Seven Phrases that turn 90% away

At number 7 “We’ve never done it that way before”

At number 6 “We’re not ready for that”

At number 5 “We’re doing alright without it”

At number 4 “We’ve tried it once before”

At number 3 “It costs too much”

At number 2 “That’s not our responsibility”

At number one “It just won’t work”

The Antidote – Behold He is doing a new thing We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us We need to be about our Father’s business We will reap a harvest if we do not give up Our needs are supplied by God according to the riches of His grace We are God’s ambassadors We are more than conquerors through Christ

How failure plays its part

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If I find 10, 000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward

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Shizuka Arakawa 20, 000 times falling down Why would anyone endure that…. . Because she did not interpret falling down as failure, it was not merely a means of improving, but evidence that she was improving and opportunity to learn develop and adapt

“To Lament is impatient insistent protest It takes courage to pray in this way Not to lament leads to our present situation Resignation, passivity, blind acceptance, numbness”

Are you a church into feedback or failure?

Feedback the Rocket fuel which propels the acquisition of knowledge Tennis-net Golf-out of bounds Aspiring sportsmen and women are keen to work with top coaches

Back to what? From Simon to Simon Peter

Christianity Today it’s more about knowing about God than knowing God – lowering the standard of Christianity

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The church genome

Protein molecule called Laminin It is the glue of the human body Look it up on line

Know me, focus me, care about me, inspire me

To explore our vocations our calling

He takes a Daniel & invades Babylon He takes a Esther & invades Persia He takes a Wilberforce and destroys slavery He takes ordinary everyday Christians and seeks to extend the Kingdom of God

Joseph had to go to Egypt to fulfill his destiny

For a few weeks live as if its really true. Pray as if God is really listening, read the bible as if God is trying to speak to you through it, meet with other Christians as if when they gather, God is really present among them. And live not only as if yourself loved by God live as if everyone you meet each day as well

Back to what? From Simon to Simon Peter

12 Steps learning tool (Doubling your congregation)

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Little Bo-Peep School of Mission Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, And can't tell where to find them; Leave them alone, And they'll come home, Wagging their tails behind them

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Introducing your friend to church is similar to a boy taking his girlfriend home to meet his parents

12 Steps learning tool Step One Did the church leader manage to get the vision of doubling our congregation across as a compelling vision? Step Two Did the church leader model invitation by inviting someone Step Three Did every member of the congregation get a personal invitation from me or the leadership team to invite?

12 Steps learning tool Step Four Did we explain the spirituality of friendship Step Five Did we use the Power of Story Step Six Did we ask God who He might want us to invite?

12 Steps learning tool Step 7 Did we practice the question would you like to come to church with me? Step 8 Did we pray as a church? Step 9 Did the congregation courageously make invitations?

12 Steps learning tool Step 10 Did we walk or drive with our guests to church? Step 11 Did we introduce our invited guests to our friends at church? Step 12 Did we invite them again the following week?

On scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being poor and 10 being excellent evaluate how things went

The Anglican Potential Ratio 3 focused invitation Sundays per year (50) 60% of the congregation invite (40%) 10% stay (90%)

Experience EASTER 78

t a h W t? i is A few years ago the Bishop of Gloucester asked some people in his diocese to do something that would make more of Easter… … they came up with an astonishing set of resources and ideas, which really work! Experience EASTER 79

s ’ e r e f H o e n o ir e h t as e id • churches set up 6 stages where people can engage in reflection and multi sensory activities through which they will EXPERIENCE EASTER Experience EASTER 80

Stage 1 The Triumphal Entry Experience EASTER 81

Stage Washing the disciples 2 feet Experience EASTER 82

Stage 3 The Last Supper Experience EASTER 83

Stage 4 Gethsemane Experience EASTER 84

Stage 5 The Cross Experience EASTER 85

Stage 6 The Empty Tomb Experience EASTER 86

s i o ? h r W s fo i th For church to reach groups of people in their community Occasional churchgoers Church members Experience EASTER Families Passers by… 87

s i o ? h r W s fo i th Baptism Candidates Work colleagues Engaged couples Experience EASTER Cubs, Scouts, Brownies Schools… 88

Belief System If you accept a belief, You reap a thought. If you sow a thought, You reap an attitude. If you sow an attitude, You reap an action. If you sow an action, You reap a habit. If you sow a habit, You reap a character. If you sow a character, You reap a destiny. • This poem shows the progress from our experiences leading to a belief and ultimately to our destiny 89

The ten keys to keeping

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The ten keys to keeping

1. God sent you His precious people

2. Spend more time with newcomers than regulars

3. Manage the first impression

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Greeted Directed Treated Seated

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Greeted: welcomed with a smile Directed: simply and politely shown where they need to go Treated: shown respect, and happily surprised with comfort food/drink. If you feed them they will come. I knew of one fast growing church that served donuts and coffee every week. Now there is a church growth strategy you can sink your teeth into! Seated: led to a comfortable, appropriate seat

Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it. - Mother Teresa -

4. The Power of Lagniappe

Appreciate

The unexpected extra The bakers dozen A wee bit more Create a sense of appreciation and delight Who can you team up to produce something purposeful with permanence?

Expectations Meet Exceed Delight Amaze

5. Practice Would you mind filling in the card?

6. Contact people in the first week, if not the first 36 hours

7. Go and visit them in their home

8. Send three invitations to do something fun with the church

Dinner, film, quiz walk

9. Introduce them into a small group

Wesleyan Revival • • Single Sex classes What sins have you committed? What temptations are you facing? What means of grace is God opening up for you? (Scriptures, fellowship, opportunity) 111

The Law of Attraction You are a living magnet You invariably attract into your life the people, situations and circumstances, that are in harmony with your dominant thoughts Birds of a feather Like attracts like What ever you wants you 112

One universally accepted keeping group • • Youth Group Young and single Engaged Couples Married & Single or Double Income no kids Full Nest Empty Nest Sole Survivor 113

10. Transform your welcome team into a keeping team

The Owner perspective “Don’t act like the host Be the host”

Introverts have a problem introducing themselves but once introduced they are very good listeners Extroverts have a problem shutting up and listening once they have made the introduction

What’s the most important part of this seminar? It is the actions you will take as a result of what you have learnt here Successful people develop the habit of taking action now Try a new idea 5 or 10 times before making a decision about it. Don’t expect to do it right the first time Like riding a bike Successful people fail over and over again

The ten keys to keeping

De-Sire Latin word To give birth to The effort of an unexpressed possibility within you that is seeking to be born All consuming obsession – fall in love with this

Training Resource for Dioceses and Denominations Michael Harvey: Unlocking the Growth DVD

The reasons people don’t come back a second time The Seven Phrases that turn away Turning failure into a friend Back to what? From Simon to Simon Peter 12 steps learning tool The Ten Keys to Keeping

Cartoons by Dave Walker. Find hundreds more at www. Cartoon. Church. com along information on republishing in church magazines etc