How to Start a New Service

Charles Arn

Description

Why, when, and how to start a new church service, encourage attendance, evaluate the service, and more.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christian worship

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 novembre 1997
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781585582181
• Langue: English

Extrait

For 20 years I have benefited from the creative flow of ideas from the mind and heart of Dr. Charles Arn. His new book How to Start a New Service flows with sparkling ideas and skillful methods--based on excellent research--for lay and clergy leaders who long to reach new people.
Raymond W. Hurn, Church of the Nazarene, General Superintendent, Emeritus
Charles Arn has done wonderful research of a very valuable approach to reaching the unchurched. This very practicable and understandable book should be read by pastors, church planters, and congregational leaders. In fifty years in ministry and supervision, I have not seen a resource that I would recommend more highly.
Clarence A. Kopp, Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Bishop Emeritus
Half of the congregations in North America need to expand their weekend worship services. Read this book and you will learn how to do it successfully.
Lyle Schaller, Author, Parish Consultant
This is a timely book that gives insight by a leading church growth consultant to help pastors and lay readers maximize church facilities and ministries for outreach and growth. How to Start a New Service is the best book I have read on how to start new worship services in the local church.
Ray W. Ellis, Free Methodist Church of North America, Director of Evangelism
I get more questions from pastors and planning committees on multiple worship services than any other subject. Now there s a primary source that I can recommend. Even if you are only beginning to think about adding a worship service to your weekend schedule, get this book. It will steer you into the right direction and help you make good decisions. And if you have reached near capacity on Sunday morning, or want to reach a new group of people, or start a new church, this book will give you a wealth of information and choices.
Dirk J. Hart, Christian Reformed Church of North America, Minister of Evangelism
How to Start a New Service is loaded with insights for any pastor with a heart for reaching others. Charles Arn is one of the most insightful thinkers in the church growth field today. Of course, I may be somewhat prejudiced!
Win Arn, Author, Producer
It s a good book. Exciting. I kept asking myself What if this really works? Imagine thousands of churches across America following Charles prescription. It would be wonderful.
Leith Anderson, Senior Pastor, Wooddale Church
How to Start a New Service demonstrates why Charles Arn is a leading spokesperson for the Church Growth Movement. Destined to be a classic, this strategic book presents both the why s and how s of adding new style worship services which will reach new people for Christ. Do you desire to see an increase in your total worship attendance? Then buy, read, and use this book.
Gary L. McIntosh, Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership, Talbot School of Theology
Should our church start a new service? is a critical question for thousands of church leaders today. Charles Arn s national research gives clear, practical answers. Here s what you need to know before you grow.
Kevin A. Miller, Editor, Leadership Journal
Charles Arn provides a much needed book for the church on a timely topic that continues to stir controversy. How to Start a New Service is not a philosophical dissertation on what might work. It is a practical tool, based on documented research, which shares strategic plans and tested procedures that lead to the implementation of a new form of worship. This book should become a much used resource in the library of every pastor and church leader that seeks to relate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to an ever changing world.
Kenneth W. Behnkin, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Missions and Evangelism, Pacific Southwest District
This book provides all the information any pastor would need to add a new church service. It is thorough and complete.
Charles Hackett, Assemblies of God, Division of Home Missions
Dr. Charles Arn uses a balanced approach to the subject. His thoroughly researched conclusions about adding a new service will help any leader considering the idea. This book is a must read on the subject.
Marlin Mull, The Wesleyan Church, General Director of Evangelism and Church Growth
This book tells you anything you ever wanted to know about how to start a new service. Charles Arn leaves no stone unturned. Pastors shouldn t even think about starting a new service until they have read this book.
Bill M. Sullivan, Church of the Nazarene, Church Growth Division Director
Charles Arn s book How to Start a New Service is a tremendous motivator. It is the most comprehensive publication that I have read on the subject. I sincerely believe God will use this practical book to resurrect many churches in America that have reached a plateau.
Bill Sheeks, Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee, General Secretary
Well researched, biblically sound, practical--must reading for anyone interested in reaching more people for Christ and his church. This book is not only a must for those considering addition of a new service but for those who have a passion for communicating the gospel effectively to modern society.
Jack Barker, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Executive Director, Board of Missions
Simple says it best. One can toss a flurry of church growth tactics to a congregation and create a fog or provide a well-focused formula and create a clear, productive path. Charles Arn teaches us that working smarter is better than working harder. Creating new worship services is clearly working smarter.
Paul Mundey, Senior Pastor, Frederick Church of the Brethren, Frederick, MD
Pastors, worship leaders, and lay leaders alike will find this book informative and helpful. It is a road map to better understand the dynamics of change within a congregation, the issues surrounding the development of an additional worship service, and the spark that can lead a church to new growth.
Stephen Wagner, Senior Pastor, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, TX
For churches experiencing bad news in church growth, this book is powerful good news. Dr. Arn relects a deep-seated optimism that God s people can be renewed and start a new thing.
Charles R. Shumate, Church Growth Ministries, Church of God, Anderson, IN
How to Start a New Service
Other Books by Charles Arn with Win Arn
Catch the Age Wave
Growth: A New Vision for the Sunday School
Live Long and Love It
The Master s Plan for Making Disciples
Who Cares about Love?
How to Start
a New Service
Your Church Can
Reach New People
Charles Arn
Foreword by Leith Anderson
1997 by Charles Arn
Published by Baker Books a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
E-book edition created 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-for example, electronic, photocopy, recording- without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-58558-218-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971, and 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
The Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Scale is reprinted by permission of the publisher from T. Holmes and R. Rahe, The Social Readjustment Scale, The Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2, 213-18. Copyright 1967 by Elsevier Science Inc.
For current information about all releases from Baker Book House, visit our web site: http://www.bakerbooks.com
To the two most influential people in my life, Barbara and Win Arn-my mom and dad. Thank you for the countless wonderful times we have shared together.
And to my new wife, Ann, as we begin our journey in life together.
Contents
List of Figures
Foreword by Leith Anderson
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Why Start a New Service?
2. The Role of the Pastor
3. Getting the Church on Board
4. What Kind of Service Do You Want?
5. What Kind of Service Do They Want?
6. When and Where to Meet
7. Designing the Service
8. Getting People to Come
9. Evaluating the Service
10. Getting People to Come Back
Epilogue
Appendix A: Prayer Group Agenda
Appendix B: Questions and Answers about a New Service
Appendix C: Conducting Successful Focus Groups
Appendix D: Discover the Power of Healing Hope (Sample Sermon)
Appendix E: How Was Our Service? (Evaluation Form)
Notes
List of Figures
1. Likelihood of New Service Negatively Affecting Existing Service(s)
2. Alternative Responses Available
3. Alternative Responses Available
4. Alternative Responses Available
5. To Whom Is Your Present Service Most Attractive?
6. Typical Church Life Cycle
7. Most Churches Do Not Grow Like This
8. Most Churches Grow Like This
9. Critical Points in a Church s Life Cycle
10. Pastor s Exposure to Risk When Adding a New Service
11. Willingness of a Congregation to Follow a Change Initiative of the Pastor
12. Probability of the New Service Being Discontinued If the Pastor Leaves the Church
13. How Members Will Respond to the Idea of a New Service
14. Diffusion Sequence for Introducing the New Service Idea
15. What Kind of Response Are You Seeking?
16. To Whom Is Your Present Service Most Attractive?
17. Age at Conversion
18. Service Evaluation Scale
19. Cultural Identity Scale
20. Selecting Your Target Audience
21. Selecting Your Target Audience
22. Selecting