Brad Powell’s book, Change Your Church for Good, is actually a revised edition of a 2007 book by the same name. Essentially, it is just another book about how a pastor took a struggling church, made a few tweaks, and it is now a thriving mega church. The emphasis is on developing leaders and casting vision for the future. It’s a decent book if you’ve never read a book about such things.
However, as with all such books, the strong implication is that if you make similar changes, your church can become “mega” too.
To be frank, I’m tired of these kinds of books. I am sure Brad Powell is an excellent pastor, a great man, and a fine leader. He’s a fairly decent writer, handsome, and has done quite well in becoming the pastor of a mega church. I wish him continued success.
But the truth is that for every pastor who changes a struggling church into a mega church, there are a 1000 pastors who do the same things, lead the same way, and try the same changes, but still see their church decline. It’s not just about working harder, or having bigger faith, or pressing on until you see the blessing, or choosing leaders carefully, or sharing your life, or being passion ate when nobody else seems to care (all things Powell talks about in his book). Lots of pastors do these things, and their churches still die.
So what’s the answer?
Maybe, just maybe….our goal should not be to become a mega church. (Gasp!) Maybe, just maybe, the sign of success is not necessarily a bigger budget, bigger buildings, and more people. (Double gasp!) Maybe, just maybe, size has nothing to do with church effectiveness, and even if you get more bodies, bucks, and bricks, you still may not have a “church.”
I’m beginning to think that the key to being a church is not getting more people into the church building, but getting more people out. When is someone going to write a book called, Close Your Church for Good?….that’s a book I’d like to read. Maybe I’ll write it.
If you mean by ‘getting out’ that churches should be making apostles instead of members, I agree. Churches should stay the same size, or even shrink, because people are going out and spreading the gospel, and planting new churches.
Interesting, Jeremy. I’ve been on staff in small, rural congregations and on megachurches – including one of the ten fastest growing congregations in America for a time. I’ve also consulted with numerous other small, medium, large and megachurches.
Having seen the “dark side” I’ve thought of writing a series of articles that consist of interviews of those who have voluntarily left the megas (either pastoral staff, administrative staff or lay leadership) or who have been discharged because they were no longer useful.
I also think there’s a rich body of future research to further developed what Willow Creek did in its _Reveal_ study. Much as I love and respect these guys, I think it is almost impossible for a mega to get away from substituting moralism in place of developing the spiritual maturity of its people.
So, write the book!
Elna,
I’m not sure I would call them apostles…but I think that in general, I may agree with you. I would rather see 1000 gatherings of 10 people then 1 gathering of 10,000. I think it would be much more effective in making disciples and living as the Kingdom.
Hi,
I agree with you on this.
What about the hybrid model of mega church with small group settings. Honestly I see a lot of disciple making in these churches, more so than the small churches I have attended. Because they are so large they rely on many to serve, feed, and grow the flock. In small churches one or two leaders carry the load and the rest show up. I see a great deal of people who would other wise not be disciple makers, sitting as leaders of small groups making disciples. The model absolutely requires disciple making for success.
Yes, that is a move in the right direction. It depends in large part, I suppose, on how one defines “disciple.”
Bud,
Good to hear from you again. Thanks for the note. I agree that it’s nearly impossible for a mega church to change. But time will tell.
With all your experience in various churches, I will appreciate your input as chapters are posted!
I have been a member of very small churches and am just now affiliated with a small church that is a plant of a mega church. How do we determine success of a church. In my opinion its by the number of souls that turn to Christ. After all we all belong to one church and that is the church the body of Christ. If a small church brings two people to a saving knowledge of Christ and a mega church does the same well then both are successful in my eyes. No church large or small should compromise truth. However I have seen small churches do this just as much as mega churches are accused of it. If the message is the gospel, that we are sinners in need of a savior and that savior is Christ, and they can land thousands in the seat to hear it then they stand a good chance of success. I think before a mega church can be dismissed each needs to be evaluated and find out if in their success they are meeting the needs of their congregations. The one in my area does this in very large ways.
I am almost about to publish a book on this very topic! If you have subscribed to the newsletter, you will get a digital copy for free.
Right now I’m looking at becoming a member of a satelite-campus that meets on the Westside of our city, and am encouraged by the focus of being the church in our local area and having resources of the “parent” church. So, I will be reviewing this issue more and appreciate the article and comments which can assist me in thinking upon it.
Part of the problem I think we face is one that Paul addresses with the Corinthians namely, the cult of personality. We must not adopt this sub-cultural fad in our congregations, whether it be “our version” of Jesus, or being under the lead of some prominent person (most often the pastor). This cult of personality has affected churches that I have been in, both in small home groups or up to mega churches.
Thanks for challenging our thinking!
Great points. That cult of personality can be a real problem, no matter the church size.