LIFEsync

How To Handle 5 Common Church Growth Barriers

I recently read this article and thought it was a good one to pass along to my blog friends, so check it out...

The Christian Post has a great article by Nelson Searcy of The Journey Church(New York City, NY) on how to deal with five common church growth barriers. Here is a list of the five barriers with a quick summary of Searcy’s thoughts on each.

1. Space
   >> When a room reaches 70% of its seating capacity, it’s full.
   >> Most churches face growth barriers when attendance reaches 65, 125, 250, 500, and 1,000.
   >> It is better to grow to 300 or 400 before starting a second service.
2. Self-Development
   >> If the church leaders have stopped maturing spiritually and progressing personally, the congregation is not far behind.
   >> Warning signs include stale sermons, the congregation’s passion waning, and the halt of staff and church growth.
3. Sharing
   >> Churches stop growing when they become inwardly (instead of outwardly) focused.
   >> Healthy churches should have a 5:100 ratio of first-time guests.
4. Weekly Worship Service
   >> To keep your service strong, always try to look like a church twice your size.
5. Staff
   >> Hiring staff is a faith issue.

For more on each area, read the full article from The Christian Post.

Spirit Baptism Experience - June 15

As a follow-up to our Water Baptism Experience, we are now planning a Spirit Baptism Experience for June 15, 2008.  We will gather "house to house" and pray with new believers to receive the Baptism of the Spirit.  I am convinced that "faith" and "strategic planning" are related concepts.  

We have a dream to be an "innovative, Apostolic church"!  God is going to do some cool things on June 15th!

Are We There Yet? - July 20, 2008

Yes, that is the title of my message that I will speak to ALC on July 20, 2008 at 9:00 and 11:15 AM. (the Good Lord willing, as my Dad has always mentored me to say)  I love it when God does this for me! 

Today, I had a lot of time to really think about our church, the future, and what God is doing in me personally.  I really feel that God began speaking to me directly about some things I need to share with the church.  I had an overwhelming sense of peace and certainty in my spirit.  

On July 13, we are beginning a new series called "The Family Trip".  Mickey Mangun will kick this series off with a bang!  If you have never heard "The Mick", you will not want to miss this moment.  I sincerely believer that the messages that I will share for the remainder of the series will be a turning point for our families and our church.  

We are all on a "truth trip" trying to reach heaven with our families.  I am feeling a strong word in my spirit to share with our church.  ALC Lifer's - watch out...get ready for some...[insert preachin' voice here] "no holds barred", "old school", ....AND extremely intellectual and relevant communicaton.

If you call ALC your "home", please make plans to be here for this series of messages, especially July 13th and July 20th!  I will be investing much time in prayer and fasting before this series.  We are needing God to lead us "off the map" on "The Family Trip!"

Jesus - take the wheel,

Jeff

What are Pirates doing at ALC?

Check out the pic for clues to what I will be preaching about this Sunday!  We are kicking off our new Summer Blockbuster Series.  Don't miss a Worship Experience or... we'll send the Pirates to get you!

Master Shipbuilder  a.k.a. Set Designer James Huff is creating an ALC masterpiece.  

Click the compass pic and follow a link to see more pictures of the production set.

Play It Forward Flickr Slideshow

Hey ALC Lifer,  

You can now view the Play It Forward presentation on flickr.  Click the flickr logo and you will be taken to the flickr website.  There is button on the top right corner of the website that says "slideshow".  Click the button and..."Let the show begin!" 

Please pray about how you will "invest" in the future of ALC!

Jeff Hennigan

Place your investment in the offering at the Next Worship Experience.

Want to donate online?  Click the envelope link above.

I'm glad Gibson is average!

This morning I was at the hospital very early.  Normally, I would be there to pray, comfort, or just visit with someone that is somehow connected to our ALC community.  However, today was a day for "me" to have a minor procedure.  It really did turn out to be nothing major at all.  It seems as though it is always easier to say "nothing major" after its over, right?  What do they say about hindsight?  

I must admit that I was very anxious about my "visit" to the hospital today.  My mind is very good at producing an array of possible bad outcomes. Ha. Ha.  When you have a Father who is battling cancer, you tend to be a bit of a hypochondriac.

We were sitting in the Consultation Room waiting for "my turn on the gangplank" when me and "The Gib" had a moment!  For a moment, my mind was erased of all fear, anxiety, and worry.  I remember reading that children smile an average of 400 times per day. Adults smile an average of 15 times per day.  Do you ever wonder why? 

I am not a real fan of "average!" Today, however, I was glad that Gibson was "average"!  I didn't actually count how many times he smiled, but I am sure it was at least 400.  His simple, innocent smile changed the rest of my day.  His "average" smile brought joy, hope, courage, and a renewed confidence in the power of God to create life!  Every time, it felt like anything but average.  When you check out "The Gib's" pic, I hope it brings a smile to your face.  Relive that moment with us.  

I think we adults should start working on increasing our "smile count!"  What do you think?

Summer Blockbuster Series begins Sunday

We start a new series this Sunday at ALC.  I have never been more excited the messages we will be sharing, preaching, and teaching.  I have been preparing and studying for this series for weeks!  You will NOT want to miss ONE week during this series. Each week will be an "in your soul, in your face" look into the Word of God.  I expect this to be 5 of the most powerful weeks of my life...and yours!  

We are calling the next 5 weeks our "Summer Blockbuster Series".  Please plan to be at a Worship Experience this weekend at 9:00 or 11:15 AM.

This will be a blast!  Spread the word!  Bring a friend, wait...bring all your friends!

Our Ship Has Come In

 

The ALC Drama team is busy making things happen around the ALC campus this week.  They have worked hard on this production.  They do an amazing job of producing an original script and set design. Gary and Laura Powers have an amazing team of people that help make the magic happen. 

 If you would like to volunteer to help in any capacity, please let us know.  (Don't think about it, just do it!) Our set design and construction guru, Jim Huff, is amazing.  I get that "kumbaya" feeling when I realize that God has allowed me Pastor this phenomenal church.   God is blowing our minds around ALC!

"Pirates of Patmos" that will be showing at Abundant Life Church on June 20-21.  Make sure you plan to be there and bring friends!  It will be a first-class production.  I promise...you will not be disappointed!  Who can forget such recent productions like..."And then there was one", and "Saturday Night Life"!  

Check out a few preview pics of the set design at: www.laurainsideout.com.  Simply CLICK the pic above to be taken to the preview pics at Laura's site.

The Whiteboard Sessions

Miquell and I are in Washinton DC for a conference called "The Whiteboard Sessions". I love being challenged in leadership thinking. Eight influential leaders unleashing their best stuff for 30 minutes each...what a stretch! God is stretching us! 

God has phenomenal things in store for ALC. We are stretching to reach for all God wants! I'll blog more later this week about the Clark Brothers and our Baptism Experience from last weekend. I love the church I lead. I'm blessed and want to be a great father, husband, and leader. 

Going to stretch! 

Jeff Hennigan 

Abundant Life Church 

[sent from iphone]

The Clark Brothers

Check out the Clark Brothers On MySpace

I'd love to have these guys at ALC! Wouldn't that just be fantastic! They are great friends and are working hard to be a "light for God"!