Principles for Church Growth….From a Toyota mechanic

My father-in-law worked for Toyota for over 20 years. He is a mechanic's mechanic. The man knows automobiles inside and out. He's also been a member of his local church for well over 40 years. Most, if not all of that time he has been involved in ministry. He's been a youth leader when the church had over 200 members in a town of less than 1000 people. He's been a Sunday School superintendent, board member, and along with his faithful wife, they have supported their church with time, talent, tithe and truckloads of hard work. So what does Dan Hughey have to say about church growth? Plenty. Dan and Marie have faithfully served their church and contributed to the kingdom of God for decades. They have served under pastors who had long tenure, tenuous circumstances, and short experiences. The church has grown, declined, and grown, and declined. What's the insight that requires such an introduction? Simply this: Churches grow when the people of the church have something good to say about the church. Most of us in church know the feeling: there is the sense of emptiness, hurt, frustration and disappointment when attending a church that seems to not have its priorities straight. It may be the pastor, it may be the circumstances the pastor is working with, and it may be the people. One thing is certain…it's disappointing….leaving a church service feeling worse than when you came. No one should have to feel that way, but many do. Naturally, these people cannot speak positively of their church. It's a discussion changer. On the contrary, when things are going well….it's easy to talk about…and enthusiastically endorse what is going on in church. To my insightful father-in-law, it's a game changer. When people can talk positively about their church, the church will grow because the greatest benefit to an organization is word of mouth. For church leaders it's a new way of thinking about Acts 20:28. As James would assert in James 3:8-12, the dangers of our speech and it's inconsistency are lurking. May the challenge of James 3:17-18 be our goal.