THE CHURCH GROWTH MOVEMENT

Emphasis by Christian to Look Realistically at How We Do Missions

Church Growth Movement

• Donald McGarvran – Founder and father of the Church Growth Movement – Missionary to India for 30 years – Saw the lack of long-term results – Wrote his first book “The Bridges of God” he evaluated the current methods of missions and proposed new mission methods

Church Growth Movement

• Donald McGarvran – New way of thinking of doing missions & methods used – Importance of numerical growth – Focus on receptive groups – People movements – Science as a valid tool – Right methods will improve results

Church Growth Movement

Significant Events  Donald McGavran publishes "The Bridges of God" in 1955  Establishment of the Institute of Church Growth at Northwest Christian College in 1961.

 Publication of the Church Growth Bulletin in 1964  Relocation of the Institute of Church Growth to Fuller Theological Seminary in 1965.

 Establishment of the William Carey Library in 1969 for mass publication and circulation of church growth books.

Church Growth Movement

Significant Events  Elmer Towns publishes "The Ten Largest Sunday Schools and What Made Them Grow" in 1969.

 First use of scientific principles of social research to establish church growth principles.

 Publication of McGavran's book, "Understanding Church Growth" in 1970.

 Alan Tippett publishes Church Growth and the Word of God.

 Ralph Winter publishes The 25 Unbelievable Years: 1945-1969.

Church Growth Movement

Significant Events  McGavran and C. Peter Wagner instituted the Fuller Evangelistic Association  Department of Church Growth at Fuller in 1972.

 Creation of the Institute for American Church Growth by McGavran and Win Arn in 1973.

 Provides information and research on North American church growth  Church growth movement grew in significantly during the 1970s and 80s.

Church Growth Movement

Significant Events  Donald McGavran died in 1990.

 C. Peter Wagner carried on the Department Church Growth at Fuller.

Church Growth Movement

Significant People  Donald McGavran  Elmer Towns  Alan Tippett  Ralph Winter  C. Peter Wagner  Win Arn  Flavil Yeakley (church of christ)  Tim Metheny  Center for Church Growth/C, P.O. Box 691006, Houston, Texas 77269-1006  John W. Ellas, Measuring Church Growth, A Research-Based Tool for Evaluating and Planning