Comments on: McGavran and Church Growth http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/ Sam Metcalf's blog about a new generation of leaders for the global church. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:44:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: What’s wrong with Church Growth? » Steve Addison’s blog » World Changers http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2915 What’s wrong with Church Growth? » Steve Addison’s blog » World Changers Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:42:00 +0000 http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2915 [...] Excellent post by Sam Metcalf on Donald McGavaran, “father” of the Church Growth Movement: McGavran and Church Growth [...] [...] Excellent post by Sam Metcalf on Donald McGavaran, “father” of the Church Growth Movement: McGavran and Church Growth [...]

]]> By: Keith http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2687 Keith Sun, 18 Feb 2007 10:36:51 +0000 http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2687 I have relied on McGavran's writing and keen missiological thinking for more than 15 years in various countries of ministry. I've also seen it be warped into a slick marketing package or a narrow way to assess ministry 'success'. McGavran himself wrote in his later years that he regretted the term "Church Growth" and preferred "Church Multiplication Movements". That's the term I've closely identified with over the years. My personal calling is to facilitate church multiplication movements worldwide. By 'church' McGavran meant Church - big C, as in the Body of Christ for that people group. Not one local church. When I train mission leaders using McGavran's principles without referring to them as "church growth", I get a very good response. But you're right Sam, there's an alergy out there to the term "church growth". I believe that McGavran's thoughts are completely relevent to us overseas today as well as for the Emerging church movement (we are both being missional). It's all about joining God in His redemptive work in a way that takes culture, Gospel, and Christian community into context. Keep up the fight to free McGavran from the specter of Church Growth. I have relied on McGavran’s writing and keen missiological thinking for more than 15 years in various countries of ministry. I’ve also seen it be warped into a slick marketing package or a narrow way to assess ministry ‘success’.

McGavran himself wrote in his later years that he regretted the term “Church Growth” and preferred “Church Multiplication Movements”. That’s the term I’ve closely identified with over the years. My personal calling is to facilitate church multiplication movements worldwide. By ‘church’ McGavran meant Church – big C, as in the Body of Christ for that people group. Not one local church.

When I train mission leaders using McGavran’s principles without referring to them as “church growth”, I get a very good response. But you’re right Sam, there’s an alergy out there to the term “church growth”.

I believe that McGavran’s thoughts are completely relevent to us overseas today as well as for the Emerging church movement (we are both being missional). It’s all about joining God in His redemptive work in a way that takes culture, Gospel, and Christian community into context.

Keep up the fight to free McGavran from the specter of Church Growth.

]]> By: andrew jones http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2565 andrew jones Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:10:58 +0000 http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2565 very true. Maybe we should bring McG's writings back to life a bit more. i think something similar is happening with missiologists like L. Newbiggen and the emerging church. very true. Maybe we should bring McG’s writings back to life a bit more.

i think something similar is happening with missiologists like L. Newbiggen and the emerging church.

]]> By: McGavran and Church Growth - US Church List http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2554 McGavran and Church Growth - US Church List Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:25:09 +0000 http://www.undertheiceberg.com/2007/02/15/mcgavran-and-church-growth/#comment-2554 [...] via: Sam Metcalf’s Blog » Under The Iceberg | [...] [...] via: Sam Metcalf’s Blog » Under The Iceberg | [...]

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