Joshua L Henry GCRJ Book Review Writing Sample (original) (raw)
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Building a Vibrant, Healthy, Growing Church
2016
Not everybody can say they literally grew up in the local church. I did. I went from the hospital to a church building and stayed there till I left my parents as an adult. Pastors typically move every seven years, so yes, I grew up in three church buildings with my parents and siblings. Church has been my world, my reality, my everything. It was also my love for the church that gave me courage to "leave" for about 10 years, and to live and work among unchurched people as a missionary. This paper comes out of the recent research conducted by the Institute of Church Ministry, of which I am the director. With a trembling heart I take the opportunity to share my findings about building a vibrant, healthy church. Historical background of the problem Churches used to be strong in United States, sending missionaries, starting mission societies, and developing new methodologies to reach out not just individual people, but also entire people groups. When studying at the Seminary 20 years ago, I heard from my teachers about Donald McGavran, Peter Wagner, and other experts on Church growth who were writing methodological books and giving hope to many rising leaders that the church would continue to grow, fulfilling its purpose and stay dominant in society. However, their books were put aside when pastors who grew churches from nothing to 10, 15, 20 thousands or more came out with their own books. The focus shifted slowly from church growth formulas and methodologies to successful church models that were blowing people's minds; soon after, a number of pastors from all kinds of denominations (including the Seventh-day Adventist church) were copying and imitating these models, hoping it will bring similar results and fruits; rarely did it meet their expectations to the full extent. Whereas the books in 1970s and 1980s were focused in providing "magic formulas" (for numbers) and expert methodologies for church growth (summary in Wagner, 1987), the emphasis shifted more towards building vital and healthy churches with focus on quality (
Great Commission Research Journal, 2023
The data behind the study The Top Ten Challenges Facing Churches (Moody, 2023) is presented and analyzed with a focus on differences between growing churches and non-growing churches. Church leaders (N = 129) indicated how difficult they believed it would be for North American churches to overcome 50 potential challenges. For most challenges, no significant difference between the church leaders from growing and non-growing churches was detected. However, church leaders from non-growing churches viewed 1) attractiveness of programs, 2) retaining young adults, 3) youth programs, 4) small group participation, and 5) effective strategy as more difficult challenges to overcome than leaders from growing churches. Church leaders from growing churches viewed church conflict as a greater challenge than leaders from non-growing churches. An analysis of these differences provides insights for addressing these challenges.
Church growth strategies have long been employed throughout the United States. However, are general approaches for church growth and vitality applicable for all churches no matter their ethnic and cultural makeup, or should churches utilize unique strategies tailored to the ethnicities and cultures represented within their churches? This research investigated the distinctive factors that contribute to the thriving nature of Hispanic churches within the Christian and Missionary Alliance, an evangelical denomination within the U.S. Six key factors emerged that provide valuable information for current and future church growth strategies concerning the unique cultural factors present within these Hispanic churches. This research challenges the notion that church growth and vitality strategies can be one size fits all in their methodology. Instead, a more targeted approach may be more appropriate, one which gives serious consideration to the ethnic and cultural makeup and identity of the local church.
Upcycling Church: New Hope for Transforming Declining and Plateaued Churches
Great Commission Research Journal, 2014
This article introduces new language and an alternative paradigm to the topic of revitalizing declining churches, which presents a transforming process for pastors, church leaders, denominational executives, and consultants to implement when coaching revitalizing churches. The biblical foundation for this writing is Jesus' letter to the church of Sardis, recorded in Revelation 3:1-6. Five principles for upcycling a declining church are presented: embrace the crisis, answer the wakeup call, strengthen what remains, strengthen who remains, and return to spiritual roots.
Change from within: The ABC-AME church
Nonprofit Management and Leadership, 2004
This article describes the dilemma of a senior pastor whose urban church lost its community focus as the congregation became more affluent. His task was to determine what role the church should play in helping its less fortunate neighbors and how to get the members to support this new vision.