11/7/2018 Baptist General Association of Virginia

Thinking About The Future Vienna Baptist Church Leadership Retreat Lost River April 22 & 23, 2016

What is going on externally in the culture that is changing? What do you expect to happen as a result of these changes? What else could happen instead? What do you want to see happen? What are you going to do to make that happen? Futures Framework

External (Disruptive) Changes

6 Marketplace Realities TIME – Americans are working more, longer work weeks Work/life conflicts 80% of families are dual income Managing technology Do you think our model is a time intensive one for our volunteer workers and leaders? 6 Marketplace Realities That did not exist 25 years ago and have irreversibly changed the playing field

6 Marketplace Realities EXPECTATIONS – Consumerism has infiltrated the church Members/attenders want to know whether they are making a difference, how is their money being used, how much is going for bricks vs missions/ministry ROI…in church? Do you think our model has clearly defined desired end results or measures? 6 Marketplace Realities That did not exist 25 years ago and have irreversibly changed the playing field

6 Marketplace Realities CHANGING CHURCH LANDSCAPE - More mega churches, more newer models of church, more mergers, more closures greater diversity = more choices, more competition Are we sufficiently focused in what we are about, and to/with whom? 6 Marketplace Realities That did not exist 25 years ago and have irreversibly changed the playing field

6 Marketplace Realities GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES – 1st time in history there are 5 living generations, 4 of them working together with growing differences in needs, preferences, values and types of organizations they associate with. Are we sufficiently attentive to the needs defined by the generational/style differences among our churches? 6 Marketplace Realities That did not exist 25 years ago and have irreversibly changed the playing field

6 Marketplace Realities COMPETITION – between churches….ouch but also for people’s time, (traveling sports teams, etc) and where they go for help on spiritual matters. Bricks and mortar vs. online, and mobile apps Do you think we are preserving a conservative, tradition bound nature in our approach among churches? 6 Marketplace Realities That did not exist 25 years ago and have irreversibly changed the playing field

6 Marketplace Realities TECHNOLOGY – Internet arrived in early 1990’s, and then grew by 100% annually during the decade. Web 2.0 arrived in 2005 w/ social media. 96% of millennials have joined a social network. How are we doing adapting to the new technical realities? Caught up, lagging, or leading….? 6 Marketplace Realities That did not exist 25 years ago and have irreversibly changed the playing field

3 D’s Decline – 11% decline in # of self professing Xians in 20 yrs. “Home field advantage” is largely gone. $, conflict- incidence, & cumulative corrosive effect Dropouts – 70% of young adults leave, and ½ of them eventually return. Discipleship – we’ve done better at getting them than growing them….. Are you aware of indicators of hope in these areas, or still seeing the elephant?

External Changes Of the cultural trends presented, select one that you think will make the most profound impact on the future of the church. Where will we end up if these trends continue?