A heart issue and skill deficit - addressing deep problems in Mission and Maturity - with Andrew Heard
Oct 31, 2023
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Andrew Heard discusses the decline in church attendance and drop in newcomers in Sydney Anglicans, offering insights applicable globally. Topics include evaluating ministry effectiveness, addressing heart issues for successful outcomes, balancing decentralized decision-making, setting targets for church missions, and navigating challenges in church leadership.
Churches face declining numbers of newcomers and attendance, requiring a wake-up call for Australian Evangelicalism.
Leaders should prioritize making disciples and deepening individuals' walk with Christ to impact lives effectively.
Deep dives
Decrease in Church Attendance and Newcomers
There has been a significant decrease in the number of newcomers joining churches over the years, as indicated by a graph showing a decline from 9.3 in 2011 to 5.4 in 2021. This downward trend in newcomers also correlates with a 7.5% drop in church attendance between 2015 and 2019, further exacerbated by the challenges faced during the COVID pandemic. This decline in church participation is not unique to Sydney Anglicans but reflects a broader issue within Australian evangelicalism, signaling a need for a wake-up call across various church contexts.
Emphasis on Making Disciples
Leaders and churches are urged to shift their focus from maintaining routines to actively making a difference by creating disciples and deepening individuals' walk with Christ. The call to fulfill the mandate of Matthew 28, which centers on winning people to faith and nurturing their growth in Christ, highlights the crucial task of impacting lives through intentional disciple-making efforts. The necessity to assess and align ministry practices with the goal of making disciples is emphasized, urging a reevaluation of strategies and effectiveness in fulfilling this core mission.
Challenges in Reformed Evangelical Churches
Reformed evangelical churches, including Sydney Anglicans, face challenges related to theological convictions, leadership approaches, and congregational dynamics that impact growth and effectiveness. The tendency towards a passive 'hyper-Calvinism' mindset, where divine sovereignty supersedes active ministry engagement, can hinder transformative outcomes within church communities. Issues of heart motivations, leadership vision, and congregational involvement in mission activities are highlighted as key areas where reformed evangelical churches need to reevaluate and enhance their practices for greater impact.
Addressing Heart, Head, and Hands Issues
The importance of addressing heart issues related to passion for reaching the lost, head concerns linked to strategic thinking and vision clarity, and hands challenges associated with skill development and organizational management is emphasized. By promoting a holistic approach that encompasses emotional engagement, strategic planning, and practical execution, church leaders are encouraged to navigate complex ministry challenges effectively. The need for a collective effort, external guidance, and intentional self-assessment to drive growth and transformation within church contexts is underscored as critical for overcoming existing obstacles and fostering sustainable change.
A few weeks ago on The Pastor’s Heart we talked with Zac Veron and Raj Gupta about issues confronting Sydney Anglicans.
The National Church Life Survey shows a drop in newcomers from 9% in 2011 to 5.4% in 2021 - a more than ten year trend of fewer people joining church.
Plus there’s been a 7.5% drop in attendance between 2015 and 2019.
But it’s not just the Sydney Anglicans that need a wake up call. It’s most of us in Australian Evangelicalism.
And if you are a senior pastor watching from around the world - it’s highly likely that there will be a massive overlap between your problems and our problems.
Andrew Heard leads the large and influential EV church on the Central Coast of New South Wales. He’s also the key person behind the influential Reach Australia movement. And is a leader in the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches