Two Sure Ways to Grow Your Church
June 30, 2008
By Ken Horn
It has been my great privilege
over the years to observe thriving AG ministries up close around the world.
Little by little, as I wrote stories and cataloged notes, I saw patterns begin
to emerge. I began to see certain things that were almost always present in any
successful church or ministry.
Let me share just two of my
findings.
It is hardly a news flash that
prayer is one of the traits successful ministries hold in common. But it is a certain
kind of prayer that marks revival churches. Successful churches always have
vibrant prayer programs.
Yes, I said “programs.” I know,
somehow that doesn’t seem spiritual enough. Nevertheless, great churches do not
leave prayer to chance. I saw the power plant of a church of 60,000 people
— a little room in which 12 or 15 people can kneel together. The room is
never empty — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, there are people praying
together in that room. A person in charge keeps schedules to make sure the room
is never empty.
But there is something else
interesting here — the object of their prayer. This is not a general
prayer meeting by any means. They pray only for their pastors!
And the church has exploded.
Think of it — at any time of day or night, whatever challenge a pastor
might be facing, he or she knows a group of people is in that basement room,
fervently interceding in their behalf.
I admit this is the only place
where I have seen 24-hour prayer for pastors. But I have seen repeatedly that pastors
of great churches have above-average support from their congregations. I
believe a church can be transformed by this principle.
So, two sure-fire church growth
methods:
1. Have an active prayer program.
Don’t leave prayer to chance. Make sure your church is bathed in prayer.
2. Pay special attention to your
pastors. They are carrying the majority of your church’s spiritual burden; they
need consistent support.
In short, pray for and love your
pastors. Your church can only grow as a result.
— Ken Horn is the editor of Today’s Pentecostal Evangel and blogs
at Snapshots (khorn.agblogger.org).
