IN THIS ISSUE:
1. REASON FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
2. CHURCH GROWTH
3. LEADERSHIP
4. CHURCH INTERNET WEB SITE
5. BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
6. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE

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1. REASON FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
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In 1955 Donald A. McGavran wrote "The Bridges of God" and with it started the "modern" church growth movement. C. Peter Wagner, then a missionary in Bolivia, referred to this book as "cockroach food." However, Wagner returned to the U.S. in 1971 and joined the faculty of Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission in Pasadena, CA.

McGavran is better known for "Understanding Church Growth" published in 1970. The second edition (1980) and third edition (1990) include three additional chapters. The third edition was revised and edited by none other than C. Peter Wagner, who now saw the full potential of "The Bridges of God." One chapter in "Understanding Church Growth" entitled "Streaming Across the Bridges" summarizes "The Bridges of God"

In short, the "bridges" are relationships -- family, friends, fellow workers, neighbors, and acquaintances. Church growth or evangelism is built first on the principles presented in the Bible and then relationships. The parable of the "Good Samaritan" -- to God and to one's neighbor" is the focus of church growth.

McGavran states: "Again and again I observed that though Christians are surrounded by thousands of fellow citizens, the Christian Faith flows best from relative to relative or close friend to close friend. This was true whatever the nationality or language." (p 395 2nd ed. / p 253 3rd ed.)

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2. CHURCH GROWTH
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In "Understanding Church Growth," McGavran writes (pp 263 - 264 3rd ed.): "One of the most effective plans to come to my attention, and one that could be used in congregations in the United States and every other nation, was the focusing of prayer by every member of the congregation on carefully chosen individuals. The story is this. In twenty-three small-town congregations of one denomination all but one were static. They had stopped growing at about forty members. They believed that in their circumstances, they could not grow more. One, however, had grown from the typical forty members to two hundred and twenty! What had caused this phenomenal increase? The town had grown no more than the other twenty-two. Of the several factors that influenced growth, one way, by the people themselves, called the chief factor.

"Each year in January that growing congregation had led every member to select from among his or her relatives and intimates that one person who appeared most winnable. ‘I like him very much.' ‘We spend much time together.' She thinks a great deal of me.' Each member then covenanted to pray daily by name for the salvation of that person. The pastor in the course of the weeks often prayed publicly for ‘our friends for whom each of us is praying.' The whole congregation had a keen consciousness of being God's instrument in the salvation of scores of their own best friends and loved ones. The outcome was summarized by one of the leading women, ‘We pray and every year God gives us those we pray for – some years ten, and some years twenty, and one year sixty new members.' The empirical relationship of prayer to the growth of churches is a field begging fresh research and understanding."

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3. LEADERSHIP
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The above quote from McGavran illustrates how bridges are built and maintained. Some churches have "Friends Day" when the church members are encouraged to bring a friend or friends to church and introduce them to others. The same principles apply to Gospel meetings.

During the next two months after "Friends Day" or visitors attending, the assimilating of those friends into the activities of the church and personal relationship is the most critical. Do things together as families or small groups. This follow up is very important in completing the bridges.

Most long term church members have about four friends outside the church, while a new member or friend has about twelve friends outside the church. Did you ever think of having friends bring their friends. The bridges already exist, so use them for the Lord.

One church used Elmer Towns principle of "The Law of Seven Touches" http://webminister.com/growth01/plan0361.htm and grew 50% in two years. This was establishing bridges, just as this Newsletter in the last issue presented Flavil Yeakley who wrote that at least six or more relationships need to be established for a new member to remain active. http://webminister.com/mailing/home.htm

Clayton Pepper wrote "Friendship Evangelism: The Kind Everybody Can Practice" http://4churchgrowth.com/chur4220.htm. Pepper explains how a church can grow by using the bridges of friendship that already exist with members to their friends and relatives.

"Cold Call" Evangelism (just knocking on someone's door or handing out literature) is the most ineffective form of evangelism because the bridges must be built before lasting evangelism can take place with few exceptions.

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4. CHURCH INTERNET WEB SITE
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The browser war has started again. A few years ago when someone asked who had the best browser, the answer was "The one who released the last version." The federal government's lawsuit against Microsoft, the bundling of Windows with Explorer, and the agreement of AOL and Microsoft left Microsoft with 70% of the market in the U.S.

With the soon to be release of Netscape 6.0 and the expiration of the AOL - Microsoft contact, and AOL's owning Netscape, Netscape's share within two years should move back to 60% of the browser market. Microsoft will become about 35% and other browsers will occupy the rest of the market.

According to the "Wall Street Journal (4/5/2000 p. b1), Netscape 6.0 is smaller, faster and easier-to-customize. Those working on foreign language web sites now have a built in language translater. My question is HOW WILL MY WEB SITE LOOK WITH THE NEW BROWSER? Another question is WHAT PART OF MY WEB SITE WON'T WORK NOW?

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5. BOOK RECOMMENDATION
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Donald A. McGavran's "Understanding Church Growth" is now in the third edition (1990). McGarvan's father and grandfather were both missionaries. This book is the results of a life time of experience on why certain congregations grow and others don't. This third edition was revised and edited by C. Peter Wagner, whose own books reflect MacGavran's teaching.

The book starts out with a review of the biblical teachings for church growth before discussing the gathering, interpretating, and concluding what is church growth. McGavran and Wagner now discuss the sources and causes of church growth, before covering special cases. The book ends with three chapters discussing the administration of church growth. This 3rd edition brings together new facts and illustrations and reduces the size of the book by 35 percent without removing the intent of the various materials.

"Understanding Church Growth" can be bought from Barnes and Noble with a 20% discount for $13.59 (paperback) plus shipping and handling at http://webminister.com/barnes/book5016.htm.

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6. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
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Visit http://mark1615.com which now indexes over 4000 church web pages from 20 web sites.

I need your comments, so e-mail me at webminister@webminister.com.

Let me know if you want to "unsubscribe."

In His Service,