Recently I asked Bob Harrington to present their story about the outstanding growth at the Calgary Church of Christ in Alberta, Canada. Here is a church that managed what 85% of churches of Christ never accomplish. They grew from a small church-broke through the 200 barrier-and became a large church. This accomplishment, in addition, was without a Bible Belt community to sustain transfer growth. The following article tells their exciting story.

We want Church Growth Magazine readers to know about a hard working church, and receive encouragement that there is always hope for their own congregation. And, we want to promote a better understanding of how churches grow. Their growth history can help in both cases.

For the past six years Bob has served as Calgary's pulpit minister, and has devoted himself to helping the congregation apply church growth insights and methods. Over the five-year period that I have known Bob, he continues to impress me, not only with his commitment for growth, but also with his understanding of the complex issues.

No individual staff person, elder, or member alone can generate positive change. With genuine teamwork between staff, elders, and members, Calgary Church of Christ has become a wonderful example -- even a classic example -- of how a congregation can grow. By this, I mean, how a group of dedicated Christians can effectively plant and water so that God can give the increase (I Cor. 3:6). We are partners with God by His own design, and must be concerned about using productive rather than non-productive methods. God has given the increase to Calgary, and they are now the largest church of Christ in Canada.

From reviewing a case study of growth such as Calgary's, the first questions that might arise from an observer are, "Why do some churches grow while others decline?" "Why are some congregations able to motivate members to evangelize while others can't even get their members to invite friends to the Sunday assembly?" Asking questions, especially the right questions, is a healthy start.

Avoid quick answers to any question. When members are asked to give reasons for their church's decline, I receive responses like, "Members are apathetic and lack commitment," or "Members are just :00 busy with secular activities." Occasionally members do get trapped by worldly concerns, but this analysis does not go deep enough.

Focusing on others is a non-productive problem-solving approach for church leaders. "Passing the buck" actually prevents leaders from asking the right kinds of questions. Better questions are, "What are leaders of growing congregations doing that others are overlooking?" "What could we do to cultivate a church atmosphere for growth, and what methods should we try first?"

Calgary's growth history can serve as a helpful case study in spiritual and numerical growth. A casual reading of their story is inspiring, but it's also worthy of careful study. A determined student will discover more than a dozen growth principles timely applied by their leadership.

Growth is seldom due to simply pumping up member's motivation level or finding just the right program to implement. These are important factors, but so much more is involved. Growth in a congregation is complex. No magical formula or single-factor analysis exists that church leaders can apply to generate growth.

The solution for some leaders might be more members conducting evangelistic Bible studies. For others it's a need for a dynamic worship service. Each area is very important, but alone each represents a single-factor analysis of a complex issue. Simple solutions for a complex condition can have serious consequences. For example, when a church emphasizes personal evangelism without an effective assimilation program, 50% or more of all converts become lost back to the world within a short period of time. Churches with effective assimilation efforts keep a significantly higher percentage of converts.

Leaders need "church growth eyes" -- the ability to recognize conditions and methods present in a church that contribute to growth or decline. Following Bob's article, I have presented a description and analysis of the key factors affecting Calgary's growth trend. Use it along with Calgary's case study to improve your own church growth eyes.

In my following article I take each area discussed from different sections of Bob's presentation. Calgary's growth history represents a masterful analysis of the many interrelated factors and a keen insight into growth principles. They carried through with so many correct, timely, and positive actions, that it would take volumes to describe in detail. I have, however, attempted to discuss some of the major strategies that contributed to their numerical growth.

No effort such as this could do justice in presenting a complete picture of all the good works. I apologize in advance. And finally, a sincere thanks to Bob Harrington for sharing the Calgary Church of Christ story with us.

1 John W. Ellas is editor of Church Growth Magazine since 1994. He has written Church Growth Through Groups, Clear Choices for Churches, and Measuring Church Growth. Ellas has completed a number of "Church Growth Diagnostic Evaluation" in helping churches grow. This editorial introduction was published in Church Growth Magazine 8 (October - December, 1993): 2.