Here is something to think about: In Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Church, he details a concept called The Circles of Commitment. This model involves 5 concentric circles. The outermost circle is Community. Community is all those folks within reasonable driving distance of our congregation. Next is Crowd. These are the regular attenders. Next, Congregation -- These are those who would be considered members. Committed -- The Commited is made up of members who actively pursue the work of the congregation. Finally, the Core -- these could be described as lay ministers.
Here's the interesting part: the numbers. At the time of the book's writing, the Saddleback Church is known to have upwards of 10,000 in attendance. Rick Warren breaks the numbers down like this:
Saddleback Church-----
Community: 31,000
Crowd: 10,000
Congregation: 5,000
Committed: 3,500
Core: 1,500
Using Rick's percentages as normative (and no one is suggesting that they are), here is how Sunshine might breakdown:
Sunshine Church ----
Community: 800
Crowd: 260
Congregation: 130
Committed: 90
Core: 40
The backbone of the Sunshine congregation might be made up of about 40 folks. Does this seem reasonable or far-fetched?
What are your thoughts?
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
40 People
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6 comments:
Ineresting numbers. I agree with your thinking. I think the gray area would be the difference between the committed and the core. I would imagine that there are some that feel they are the core, but may only be part of the committed. I think that is a gray area and am not sure why or how you would differentiate between the two.
I think Gabe's last statement is sad but true. But what is the answer? Sounds like are elders are trying to find the answers. But you can lead a horse to water......
Aaron
Issues of commitment are not unique to us. I hear many ministers from differing denominations share very similar-sounding complaints and concerns regarding their respective congregations.
I have a high regard for the work of Rick Warren because he tackles such issues head-on. He is very pragmatic in his approach to ministry. The Circles of Commitment are only a small portion of a much bigger picture. Warren articulates a plan for moving folks toward deeper levels of commitment. The tasks for each of these developmental milestones is different. For instance, the task of moving from the Community to the Crowd is far different than transitioning from Committed to Core. It may sound highly technical, but in actuality its fairly simple. Frequently when reading his book, you think to yourself, "That makes so much sense, why didn't I think of that sooner?"
I am apart of a small study group reading PDC. It has been very rewarding, especially given that the other members are from differing denominational backgrounds.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"
Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Jesus had the same problem. If he couldn't fix it, how do we expect to? People like the superficial things about church but when it gets down to the hard stuff there are few that are going to accept what it's really all about. It's hard stuff! Most like the idea of being a child of God and that they are really committed to it, but in the long run they let go when it goes against the worldly things that they enjoy also.
The fact of the matter is the church is always going to be surrounded by people who are watching from a distance but not fully committed. All we can do is encourage and proclaim the wonderful blessings that still remain out there for them to grab hold of and pray that they do grab hold of them.
You raise a good point. Yeah a lot of folks in any church are just "along for the ride." I would say that the "backbone" of Sunshine is probably about 40 people. However, that number shouldn't be confused with the most visible people. Just because some folks appear more in a public manner doesn't necessarily make them vertebrae. I've known many people who are invaluable to operations with their prayer life, phone calls, visits and behind-the-scenes work
This sounds like my "rule of the thirds." In almost any organization that I have been associated with it seems to go this way: 1) one third of the people do one third of the work; 2) one third will do two thirds of the work; and 3) one third are just along for the ride.
It is like the child being taught for several weeks at Sunday school that Christians are here to help others then asked his parents "what are the others here for?"
The answer to this question is that theyt are here for us (the Christians)to help along the way.
While at the Gaither Homecoming Concert last week, Bill Gaither commented that if the churches of this country were doing what we should be doing, there would not be any need for government social programs. This was made following the "Give it Away" song.
Question: Why are homeless people in this country sleeping under bridges, when there are empty Church buildings and fellowship halls sitting empty at night?
Anonymous said:
"Question: Why are homeless people in this country sleeping under bridges, when there are empty Church buildings and fellowship halls sitting empty at night?"
Outstanding question! I can't stand an empty church building!
This has always bothered me a great deal. It's just wasted space and wasted time.
Jennifer
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