REPORT of the CENTERS and the DEAN of the CABINET

THE REVOLUTION CONTINUES DR. RANDY WILD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR MISSION SUPPORT THE THE REVOLUTION CONTINUES

What do the numbers mean? JEFF ROPER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ROBERTS CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP THE BY THE NUMBERS: What do the numbers mean?

1.1% 1.25% 1,845 3,500 THE CONFERENCE WIG METRICS BY 2026 MARKET SHARE GROWTH 1.25% PROFESSIONS OF FAITH GROWTH 1,845 3,500

STUFF I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR I DON’T LIKE the term market share.

The Cabinet HAS CHANGED THE RULES growing churches. STUFF I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR The Cabinet HAS CHANGED THE RULES on us with this focus on growing churches.

STUFF I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19

STUFF I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR 1.1%

I have seen this data on our church and community. STUFF I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR This is the first time I have seen this data on our church and community.

and discipleship. From x to y by when? STUFF I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR From x to y by when? SETTING MEASURABLE GOALS is changing the way we talk about hospitality and discipleship.

Worship attendance declined 1% per year from 2005 - 2016 SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH Worship attendance declined 1% per year from 2005 - 2016

Worship attendance declined 1% per year from 2005 - 2016 SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH Worship attendance declined 1% per year from 2005 - 2016

Worship attendance declined 1% per year from 2005 - 2016 SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH Worship attendance declined 1% per year from 2005 - 2016

2% GROWTH 12 months ended March 2018 SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH 2% GROWTH 12 months ended March 2018

2% growth may not sound like much, but: SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH 2% growth may not sound like much, but: First time we have had 2% growth as a Conference since 2005 50% of churches showed growth in 12 months ended March 2018 In 2005 only 42% of churches showed growth

Professions of Faith declined 2% per year from 2005 - 2016 SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH Professions of Faith declined 2% per year from 2005 - 2016

23% increase! SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH Grew from 1,845 in 2016 to 2,267 in 2017… 23% increase!

to grow the Methodist witness THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP The pastor is not just appointed to a church. The pastor is appointed to grow the Methodist witness in that area. Lovett Weems

GROWING, we’re always going to be out of our COMFORT ZONE. THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP If we’re GROWING, we’re always going to be out of our COMFORT ZONE. John Maxwell

THE “THE NATURAL STATE OF THE CHURCH IS GROWING” REV. MIKE RAMSDELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SMITH CENTER FOR EVANGELISM & CHURCH GROWTH THE “THE NATURAL STATE OF THE CHURCH IS GROWING”

“The Church added daily to the community those who were being saved” CHURCHES ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW! “The Church added daily to the community those who were being saved” Acts 2:47b

“Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about CHURCHES ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW! “Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about 3,000 people into the community on that day.” Acts 2:41

CHURCHES GROW BY REACHING PEOPLE WE ARE NOT ALREADY REACHING! CHURCHES ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW! CHURCHES GROW BY REACHING PEOPLE WE ARE NOT ALREADY REACHING!

GROWING CHURCHES HAVE evangelism CHURCHES ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW! GROWING CHURCHES HAVE evangelism as the leading edge!

100 NEW FAITH COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE 21 HAVE BEGUN OR ARE BEGINNING

“NURTURING A CULTURE OF GROWTH”

PLANTING NEW CHURCHES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EXISTING CHURCHES

Why do we want to reach people we are not already reaching? CHURCHES ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW! Why do we want to reach people we are not already reaching? Who are the new people we intend to reach? How are we going to reach the new people? When do we begin and with whom?

The GROWING church is centered around its CHURCHES ARE SUPPOSED TO GROW! The GROWING church is centered around its mission and vision! …NOT ITS TRADITIONS AND BUILDINGS

SOLD OUT FOR CHRIST THE DR. LEAH HIDDE-GREGORY CENTRAL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT & DEAN OF THE CABINET THE SOLD OUT FOR CHRIST

surely I am with you always, 19 Therefore GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and TEACHING them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19

“We want to be all in for Christ…” FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF MART, TEXAS

“Our passion is to see people be transformed by Christ…” FOUNDATION UNITED METHODIST TEMPLE, TEXAS

“MINISTRY PARTNERS” ACTON UNITED METHODIST GRANBURY, TEXAS

“The young man listened and then invited her to accept Christ DR. LEAH HIDDE-GREGORY CENTRAL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT & DEAN OF THE CABINET “The young man listened and then invited her to accept Christ as her Lord and Savior.” ST. STEPHEN UMC ARLINGTON, TEXAS

WINTERS FIRST UMC WINTERS, TEXAS “With the exception of two, the group consists of people who are not and have not ever been active in a church before.”

First United Methodist Church SEPTEMBER 15TH 9:00 A.M - 3:00 P.M. First United Methodist Church Gatesville, Texas

Location – to be announced FRESH EXPRESSIONS SEPTEMBER 22, 2018 Mansfield UMC PREACHING SUMMIT OCTOBER 25, 2018 Location – to be announced