1. REPORT
of the
CENTERS
and the
DEAN of the CABINET

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

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

4. 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

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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. STUFF I HAVE HEARD THIS YEAR
1.1%

9. 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.

10. 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.

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

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

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

14. 2% GROWTH 12 months ended March 2018
SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH
2% GROWTH 12 months ended March 2018

15. 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

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

17. 23% increase! SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF GROWTH
Grew from 1,845 in 2016 to 2,267 in 2017…
23% increase!

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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”

22. “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

23. “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

24. 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!

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

26. 100 NEW FAITH COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE
21 HAVE BEGUN OR ARE BEGINNING

27. “NURTURING A CULTURE
OF GROWTH”

28. PLANTING NEW CHURCHES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EXISTING CHURCHES

29. 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?

30. 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

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

32. 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

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

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

35. “MINISTRY PARTNERS”
ACTON UNITED METHODIST
GRANBURY, TEXAS

36. “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

37. 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.”

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

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