APPENDIX 13
PROJECT PROPOSAL
THE REVITALIZATION OF AN AGING AND DECLINING BAPTIST
CHURCH THROUGH THE REINTRODUCTION OF
MINISTRY TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
American churches are in trouble. The reports of attendance trends from Christian faith groups vary only slightly.
Traditional Christian houses of worship have not fared well for the last half century. Currently, between seventy and
eighty percent of local churches either are not growing or are in actual decline. The pews are not filled and the faithful
who sit among the ample seating are growing older and older. That senior adults are more active and vital than ever
before hardly mitigates the warning signs. Unless something changes, many churches will decline beyond the point of
no return and simply die out.
Plainly speaking, the aforementioned concerns are the current reality of First Baptist Church of Madison, North
Carolina. Worship attendance is about half what it was twenty years ago. The church has not birthed a new church, a
hallmark aspect of its first century of ministry, in over eighty years. In June 2007, First Baptist celebrated the high
school graduation of four of her youth. Unfortunately, the celebration was mixed with sadness. On the one hand, the
church rejoiced that each graduate had been nurtured in faith, completed work for a high school diploma, and been
accepted for university study. On the other hand, these students were the last of the youth. First Baptist Church now
has no teenagers. Currently there are four children active in the church. Three of those children are those of the
pastor. First Baptist is in trouble.
In August 2006, this student arrived as the twenty-fifth pastor in the 165-year history of the church. As a retired Navy
Commander, this forty-nine-year-old pastor had a strong background in leadership and mission accomplishment
through ministry in the Chaplain Corps. The first year of ministry was dedicated, in part, to assessment of the situation
at First Baptist Church. This pastor’s conclusion in concurrence with the church’s leadership is that something must be
done to inject life back into the fellowship; exactly how to do so is the challenge.
That challenge is the impetus for this Doctor of Ministry project. This student proposes that the best days of First
Baptist Church are not behind her, but lie ahead. The revitalization of this church can be accomplished by deliberate
effort and focused strategy, and by trusting in God’s leading and power to transform First Baptist from “maintenance”
to a “missional” church. This process will take at least a decade to accomplish. The first step, the catalyst for all future
growth, is the reintroduction of ministry to families. In order to create balanced and relevant ministry to all ages, this
church must utilize the energies, insights, availability, and resources of mature believers to build, develop, and sustain
ministry to families with young children. This first step is the subject of this project.
Descriptive Evaluation of Ministry
Project Ministry Context
While First Baptist Church of Madison is the context of this project, in a larger sense, the setting for this effort must
include the local community. The church is composed predominately of Caucasian, upper-middle class, and highly
educated individuals. By contrast, the local community is composed of people who are from multiple ethnicities, have
lower socioeconomic strength, and are less educated. Both members and potential members live in three small towns
and surrounding areas located in approximately a twelve-mile radius of the church. The entire congregation will be
involved in this project as active leaders of change, prayer partners, and resource providers.
The participants in this project will recognize three critical facts:
• The projected cessation of ministry of First Baptist Church under current structure and vision;
• The high level of need in the local community for family ministry, especially ministry to at risk children;
• The missional history and theology of First Baptist Church.
Descriptive Object of Project
This project is designed to meet three objectives. Each of these objectives can be measured through survey, church
business minutes, attendance records, and anecdotal evidence as provided through evaluations and annual ministry
review. These objectives are as follows:
• To change the culture of First Baptist Church from maintenance to missional;
• To develop existing ministries and create and sustain new ministries that will reach out to families with
elementary school age children and younger;
• To welcome two new families with young children into the congregation;
• To reach, inculcate, and sustain twenty elementary-aged children in the ministry of First Baptist.
Time Overview
Brief History and Description of First Baptist Church
The church was organized in Madison in 1841. The original name of the church was Madison Missionary Baptist
Church. The founding of this church predated the establishment of the Southern Baptist Convention by four years.
The Southern Baptist Convention was formed in response to a disagreement regarding the acceptability of human
slavery. Madison Missionary Baptist Church was also begun from theological disagreement. In those days, the
Piedmont area of North Carolina was dominated by Baptist congregations that were heavily influenced by hyper-
predestination theology. Madison Missionary Baptist Church, by contrast, emphasized a larger human role in
soteriology than did their more Calvinistic brethren. The missionary emphasis was strongly influenced by one of her
early pastors, Lewis Hall Shuck (1860-1863). Shuck was the son of one of the first Southern Baptist foreign missionary
teams sent to China. Through his pastorate, he reinforced the missionary mindedness of the church as well as the
value of education in his role as head of the Beulah Male Academy.
Madison Missionary Baptist Church played a role in the founding of First Baptist Church of Greensboro in the 1850s.
In 1881, a remarkable man served as pastor of Madison Missionary Baptist Church. The Reverend W. H. Wilson came
and served for twenty-nine years. During his pastorate, five new churches were founded. In 1924, yet another church
was begun by the congregation of Madison Missionary Baptist Church. All told, this church helped birth seven new
works by its eighty-third anniversary. Each of these churches still exists and most are currently larger than First
Baptist of Madison.
The church was renamed First Baptist Church of Madison in 1954. At that time, the local economy was dominated by
the textile industry. By the mid-1980s, the bulk of the industry had relocated overseas. The effects of the economy
change had a distinct impact upon area churches, especially First Baptist. Many “white collar” workers and their
families left the area. Consequently, the church entered into a period of decline from which it has not recovered.
Church attendance in the mid-1980s averaged 150; roughly double what it is today. The large and active youth group
of the 1970s and 1980s gradually disappeared.
In spite of the loss of members, the church experienced great stability. This is evidenced by the long tenures of the
last three pastors. Dr. Larry Bennett shepherded the church for thirty-one years—the longest in the history of the
congregation. He helped guide the church through the turbulent waters created by sweeping changes in the Southern
Baptist Convention. The church retained its theological identity, refusing to be swept up in the fundamentalist tide that
pushed other Southern Baptist Churches further toward the right. In the early 1990s, moderate Southern Baptists
organized into what would become known as Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. By the time this student arrived as
pastor, no detectable debate regarding Baptist affiliation remained. Today the church partners with Cooperative
Baptist Fellowship and, though it remains connected with the Southern Baptist Convention through state and
associational ties, it has almost no connection with the larger Southern Baptist Convention.
Currently the church averages between seventy and eighty in worship on Sunday. Sunday school attendance
averages at fifty. No youth ministry remains. Children’s ministry is limited to graded Sunday school and the Children’s
Worship service, which this pastor instituted in early 2007.
Of special concern is the reputation of the church in the local community. Repeatedly, this student has heard grossly
inaccurate descriptions of the church, including adjectives such as “snobbish,” to describe the congregation. The
reality is far different. It is possible, however, to understand how those lacking first-hand information might assume
that the age, relative affluence, and educational level of the parishioners might result in an attitude of societal
superiority. That assumption on the part of the outsider, along with the loss of missionary zeal on the part of the
insider, has resulted in an image problem among the uninformed.
The reality is far different. First Baptist Church is a peaceful and loving church. Her members desire to welcome new
members into fellowship. They are ready to work hard to grow again. They just need to be shown how to reach their
objective.
In August 2006, this student began his pastorate of First Baptist Church. In early 2007, this pastor led the church
to adopt the following mission and vision statements:
• The mission of First Baptist Church of Madison is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to
love one another as Christ loves us. Because of his grace, we are free to be witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to
all people.
• Our vision is to worship God and celebrate life together; reach out with love and welcome all people; support
missions and people in need.
Church goals adopted in 2007 include specific initiatives in spiritual mindedness, fellowship, prayer, and outreach.
The first year of ministry was spent in getting to know the people and rhythms of both church and community. Informal
analysis of history, status, and forecast of the future of the church confirms this student’s initial suspicions. When
asked by the search committee in March 2006 how he would address the problem of an aging and declining
congregation his answer was, “Begin with the reintroduction of family ministry starting first with an emphasis on
children.” That answer remains the same.
Personal History of Ministry
Ministry Overview
The writer proposing this project was raised in a family that attended the Presbyterian Church. When he was a child,
he made a profession of his faith in Christ.
As the teen years progressed, the family ceased to attend the local Presbyterian Church in Maitland, Florida. For a
short while, the family attended a Methodist church, but never joined. Following a spiritual renewal at age sixteen, he
joined First Baptist Church of Winter Park, Florida, and was baptized. About one year later, he came forward upon the
invitation of the pastor and declared his long-held belief that God was calling him into the ministry. Along with church
involvement, he was heavily involved with the high school ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ at Winter Park High
School where he attended. Not only did he participate in evangelism and discipleship, but he gained enough
experience to teach both subjects to novice members.
Upon graduation from high school, he moved with his family to Houston, Texas. As a student at San Jacinto College,
he became a leader of the Baptist Student Union where he coordinated ministry efforts for international students.
After two years, the family moved back to Florida where he transferred to the University of Florida. The summer before
his senior year, he was licensed to preach by First Baptist Church of Freeport, Florida. In Baptist churches, licensing
may precede ordination for aspiring preachers.
During his senior year at the University of Florida, he met his future wife, Susan. They both began seminary in 1979.
In 1981, he married Susan after she graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master’s
Degree in Religious Education with a focus in counseling. In 1982, he completed his Master of Divinity degree.
After graduation, he and Susan moved to Plant City, Florida, where he accepted a call as associate pastor of
Northside Baptist Church. In August 1982, just after his twenty-fifth birthday, he was ordained for gospel ministry.
Ministry then took a surprising turn. In spring 1984, he accepted a commission in the United States Navy as a
Lieutenant, Junior Grade in the Chaplain Corps. In order to become a chaplain, he was endorsed by the Home
Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Life in the Navy proved a good fit. He enjoyed the challenges and did well in the variety of ministry scenarios he was
assigned to serve. He was promoted at every opportunity. As a Lieutenant Commander, he was assigned to a joint
assignment as the Armed Forces Chaplains Board Liaison to the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service
(AFRTS). There he was responsible for all the religious television and radio programming broadcast to the worldwide
military audience of nearly one million people. Needless to say, this was a position of great visibility and responsibility.
While assigned to AFRTS, his wife, Susan, was diagnosed with cancer. This proved to be a dramatic turn in his naval
career and ministry. He made a decision not to seek sea duty, choosing instead to remain on shore with his family.
That decision ultimately meant that he would not be competitive for promotion to Captain. A second decision that grew
out of the experience was that he would pursue pastoral ministry over other opportunities. While he has excellent
administrative skills, his first love and passion is pastoral leadership. Thus, he began to prepare himself for his
inevitable return to civilian ministry. A final decision compelled him to become informed and take a stand on issues
that were dividing Southern Baptists. This eventually led to his requesting to change his endorsement from the
Southern Baptist Convention to the fledgling Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in 1998. Along with two other Navy
chaplains, they became the first military chaplains endorsed by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
In October 2000, Susan died. He was left a widower at forty-three and a single parent of two children, one in high
school, and the other in middle school. By this time, he had been promoted to the rank of Commander. No longer able
to serve at sea because of family considerations he knew his career was terminal. Grief did not start when Susan died.
He began grieving long before that. The hope that cancer was beaten was dashed by each reoccurrence. Finally, the
last year of Susan’s life was the most painful.
The months after her death were bleak. He survived. Throughout the experience he relied on the support of other
chaplains and the conviction that God loved him and would make a way, even though he had no idea what that way
might be.
During the summer of 2001, he fell in love. Her name was Dawn and for him she became the dawn of a brand new
day. They married in August and began blending their families. Shortly afterward, he was reassigned to Naval Base
Coronado as Command Chaplain. At that assignment, he led a staff of a dozen chaplains and enlisted support
personnel.
Life as a Command Chaplain had its challenges. Although he had always been able to work well with other chaplains
at Coronado, he discovered that his luck had run out. During the three-year tour, he had numerous philosophical and
ethical disagreements with a senior chaplain. This Navy Captain was not in his chain of command yet, nevertheless,
exerted enormous pressure. After a year of ill treatment from this Captain, the professional crisis came to a head. The
senior officer became infuriated when he supported one of his chaplains who had been falsely accused.
A second test occurred when he himself was falsely accused of discrimination by one of his subordinates. The
complaint was thoroughly investigated and proved to be a false, self-serving accusation by a disgruntled subordinate;
however, the legal processes drug the chaplain through both doubt and embarrassment.
In the end, he was completely vindicated and even commended for his actions by the Commanding Officer in both
trials, though he was somewhat worn down from the experience. Nevertheless, he learned much from the arduous stint
as Command Chaplain. Much of it involved the true nature of pastoral ministry, what makes a quality minister, and that
leadership ethics is sometimes proved in the crucible of pressure.
In 2004, he was sent to his last assignment—Senior Protestant Chaplain at the Naval Base in Rota, Spain. Life in Rota
was delightful and easy. Responsibilities tended toward the administration and supervision of a team of chaplains.
During this tour of duty, he made a decision that the time had come to retire from the Navy. His last day in uniform was
in late June 2006 after completing over twenty-two years of honorable service.
Prior to retirement, he had received a call to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church of Madison, North Carolina. He
has been there one year and feels well suited to the area, the people, and the ministry opportunities of a pastorate in
a small town.
This writer’s personality/temperament has been evaluated several times and consistently his scores lean toward
Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judgment (ESTJ) on the Myers-Briggs Personality scale. Of primary interest to
him is the love and nurture of his family. This includes, in addition to his spouse, his three stepchildren whom he loves
as much as his own biological children. His spiritual gifts are pastoral leadership or shepherding and teaching. He
enjoys seeing others come into Christian maturity, is burdened by and for legalistic and hypocritical Christian brothers
and sisters, and dreams of a day when all Christians can join hands to love others into the Kingdom of God.
In the final analysis, this writer believes there are only a few things people can know for certain. They can know that
God loves them. Calvary proves that. They can know that God will provide a way. The empty tomb proves that. In the
end, all people will realize there is nothing but grace.
Doctor of Ministry Project Research
Research Areas
In order to attempt a project of this scope research has been undertaken in a number of disciplines. These research
areas are as follows:
• Ministry to children
• Church growth
• Church marketing
• Missional church transformation
• Team leadership
• Relational Evangelism
Ministry to children is a growing area of study as more and more churches are discovering the great need and the
inappropriate or lack of response. Too often, it is viewed as a way to get parents into church, and not as a ministry
worth time, effort, and investment for its own sake. The sources used in this project and reflected in the bibliography
are varied but have in common a desire to meet children’s spiritual needs.
Church growth studies often take a common sense, mission accomplishment approach to effecting meaningful and
attractive ministry. Indeed sometimes, the answers to reaching new people with the claims of Christ are rather simple
ones, yet most churches could use a degree of assistance in this area. First Baptist is typical in this regard. Church
growth studies will help to focus methods of appeal to prospective young families.
Church marketing is the ability of the church to tell her story to an audience that needs to hear. In marketing terms,
words such as “product” and “consumer” may be used, but the translation into gospel ministry is not at all far-fetched.
An image problem exists at First Baptist. Employing church marketing techniques will be of great benefit.
Missional church transformation may prove to be the single most important research area of this project. Taking a
slightly different approach than the church growth movement of the last three decades of the twentieth century,
missional church transformation attempts to correct the church. Her mission is not to get bigger, rather the mission of
the church is to be faithful to go and spread the gospel. Church health is emphasized over church growth. One of the
capstone features of missional transformation is the birthing of new congregations. This was once the trademark of
First Baptist. The question remains: Can this church become missional once again?
Team leadership is the research area that deals with the tactics of implementing a change strategy. This work cannot
be accomplished alone, no matter how well intentioned and hard working the pastor may be. Furthermore, appropriate
Baptist leadership is always team leadership. Autocratic leadership may accomplish change, but it typically runs the
risk of trampling over the input of others and leaving the flock uncommitted to the transformation. When the leader
departs, so does the dream. Baptists use a democratic, congregational polity. While this may slow change, if worked
diligently it will produce significantly better and longer lasting results.
Relational evangelism has long been an area of study and interest to this student. Evangelism will be important to this
project’s success. As church members connect with the hearts of their loved ones, lives will be changed and the
church will be revitalized.
The aforementioned research areas inform the project and provide guidance to this student. A listing of sources is
provided in the bibliography of this proposal.
Research Already Implemented
Research for this project informally began in August 2006 when this student reported as pastor of First Baptist
Church. The first year of ministry was devoted to understanding the rhythms and ways of the church in the community
as well as developing relationships with and among the members. This work continues, but a solid foundation for
commencing a project such as the one proposed in this paper has been laid.
Children’s sermon and Children’s Church have already begun. Started early in 2007, Children’s Church is usually
attended only by the pastor’s three children. Nevertheless, it is an important component to reestablishing the place of
children’s ministry at First Baptist. It also communicates a desire to reach children at a level that relates well to their
needs.
The volunteer leader of Children’s Church has been, effectively, the Director of Children’s Ministry at First Baptist
since April 2007. She meets weekly with the pastor to discuss ideas and projects designed to build a better ministry to
children. This is not, currently, a paid staff position.
In addition to her responsibilities in leading Children’s Church, the Director also runs a small preschool program at the
church. This is a separate activity and is not in any way administered or owned by First Baptist Church. The approach
of this pastor, however, has been one of cooperation and friendship as we partner together to reach children and
young families. This symbiotic relationship has further strengthened the foundation whereupon a successful ministry
transformation can be built.
Extensive reading, interviewing, and processing of input has already gone into this project. The reading is reflected in
the bibliography of this paper. Some sources, long since lost to the writer, may be used as well. Every reasonable
attempt to credit them will be pursued, but it is plain that even the most honest efforts cannot possibly acknowledge
the many beneficial ideas that are not original with this student.
Finally, in preparation for this project, this student reviewed several Doctor of Ministry projects available in the library
of Houston Graduate School of Theology. Additionally, this student studied Planning and Developing a Doctor of
Ministry Project for the Houston Graduate School of Theology Doctor of Ministry Program written by Becky Towne,
Barbara Worden, and Dianne Dallman (2007).
Doctor of Ministry Project Overview
Project Goal
The goal of this project is to assist the transition of First Baptist Church of Madison from maintenance to a missional
mindset. In order to accomplish this goal, the church must capture a new vision, be trained in specific ministry, and
move into the community with sustained missions. The needs of families with young children are enormous and not
being met in several vital ways in the local community. First Baptist Church has the persons, time, and resources to
help families. The anticipated result of this ministry thrust is that two new families with young children will be reached
and incorporated into the fellowship and that twenty elementary-aged children will be included in the ministry of First
Baptist Church in twelve months. This accomplished, the revitalization of ministry will be declared commenced for even
greater future ministry.
Project Standards
The Board of Deacons is integral to the success of this project. The deacon board will approve the initiative and each
phase of this project. Certain decisions will come before the entire congregation for approval as determined by the
deacon chair or established by church policy. This project will be used by First Baptist Church of Madison as a
template to develop and refine other aspects of overall church transformation for the twenty-first century. Additionally,
the procedures used and lessons learned from this project may be used by other churches facing similar decline
scenarios.
Project Steps
This student will read, reflect, and respond to models of children’s ministry, church growth, church marketing,
missional church transformation, team leadership, and relational evangelism as these lend insight into the
reintroduction of family ministry into First Baptist Church. Next, the student will design ministry programs that blend the
aforementioned into a unified, focused, and measurable ministry effort. While doing this, the deacon board,
committees, staff, and individuals will be consulted and incorporated into the transformation process. Finally, the
student will meet with deacon board as a review team to evaluate the results and recommend future actions based
upon the outcome of this project.
Intellectual Model Used
The intellectual model followed for this project will be a children’s ministry model to enable the student to design a
new ministry paradigm so that the anticipated goals of the addition of two new families with young children and the
incorporation of twenty elementary-aged children into the ministry of First Baptist Church in twelve months will be
reached.
Haywood, Janice. Enduring Connections: Creating a Preschool and Children’s Ministry. Hickory: The Columbia
Partnership, 2007.
Plan of Action
Timetable
The procedural timetable for this proposed project will be as follows:
• November 1, 2007 – Implement measurable device for determining missional awareness of the congregation
with special attention to the needs of a healthy church.
• November 1, 2007 – Meet with support team and discuss overall project goals, evaluations, and time frames.
• November 5, 2007 – First Mutual Ministry Review/ meet with board of deacons to discuss project.
• December 30, 2007 – Finalize children’s ministry strategy.
• December 30, 2007 – Finalize research and plan long-range church health strategy.
• January 6, 2008 – Implement missional transformation/children’s ministry strategy.
• June 15, 2008 – Mid-project review to evaluate results and plan ministry to reach young families.
• November 1, 2008 – Implement second measurable device to gauge missional awareness of the congregation
with special attention to church health.
• December 15, 2008 – Collect and interpret data from registrations/attendance, surveys, new ministries started,
anecdotal evidence and report same to deacon board at second Mutual Ministry Review.
Organizational Structure and Resources for Project Report
The organizational structure for the project report will be divided into three main sections following the introduction.
Part one will discuss theoretical perspectives. This will include material read and a description of how the synthesis of
intellectual models will produce the desired results. Alongside this discussion will be the results of interviews with
supervisory and advisory teams to confirm and adjust the project.
The second part of the project will consider the plan of action. Included in this will be detail regarding special events,
program additions or changes, ministry design and the appropriation of a new vision, church marketing, and change in
community perception. The impact of the project, both on the congregation and the target outreach group, will be
considered. Finally, a teachable strategy will be developed that can be replicated in other venues and may achieve
similar results.
The third section will evaluate the project. The EFCA Church Health Survey will be used to measure church attitudes,
strengths, and needs. This will be administered twice during the course of the project at a one-year interval. This
survey will measure church health in the following areas:
• Centrality of God’s Word
• Passionate Spirituality
• Fruitful Evangelism
• Spirit-filled Worship
• Great Commission Driven
• Leadership Multiplication
• Church Planting
• Stewardship of Resources
• Intentional Disciple Making
• Loving Relationships
The measures of effectiveness will also include consideration of attendance, new ministries, and sustainability.
Participant interviews will help bring information to the project. Another tangible product of the project will be the
development of a transferable strategy for cross application to churches facing similar challenges. Meeting all
procedural steps and timelines as well as describing strategy components and providing evaluations will provide
measure to this project.
Deacon Supervisory and Advisory Team Evaluations
The supervision for this project will be provided by the deacon board. The Board of Deacons is composed of twelve
elected and ordained men and women. One-third of the deacons rotate off the board annually. This project has been
timed to work with the same deacons throughout the course of this project.
The advisory team will be composed of individuals selected for their candor and expertise in specific areas. They are
as follows:
• Dick Boyer has a Bachelor of Arts in Business. Dick has served as president of six companies restoring
profitability and turning each company around through restructuring and better business practices;
• Carol Summerlin has a Masters of Arts in Education. She has served as an elementary school principal for
twenty-five years. Of special note is that she spent twenty of those years at Dillard Elementary School, which may be
of special significance to this project;
• Emily Angel has a Master of Arts in Education. Emily is a retired high school teacher who is well acquainted with
the local community and ministry of First Baptist Church.
Process accountability measures will include written reports to the deacon supervisory team at the monthly meetings.
Individual contact with the project advisory team will also be documented during the course of the project.
Bibliography
Resources on Children’s Ministry
Boyd, Charles F., and Robert A. Rohm. Different Children, Different Needs. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Press, 2004.
Ginott, Haim G. Teacher and Child: A Book for Parents and Teachers. New York: Avon Books, 1975.
Haywood, Janice. Enduring Connections: Creating a Preschool and Children’s Ministry. Hickory: The Columbia
Partnership, 2007.
Kruschwitz, Robert B., ed. Christian Reflection: Children. Waco: The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University,
2003.
Lidz, Theodore. The Person. New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1976.
Price, Max P. Help! I Teach Children’s Sunday School. Macon: Smyth and Helwys Publishing Inc., 2003.
Rainey, Dennis, and Barbara Rainey. Raising Children of Faith. Loveland: Group Publishing, 2003.
Scott, Jeffery W. Does Your Child’s World Scare You? Making the World a Better Place for Children. Macon: Peake
Road, 1997.
Thompson, Marcia Taylor. Help! I’m Leading a Children’s Sermon. Macon: Smyth and Helwys Publishing Inc.,
2004.
Tobias, Cynthia Ulrich. The Way They Learn: How to Discover and Teach Your Child’s Strengths. Wheaton: Tyndale
House Publishers, 1994.
Ward, Jim, and Ruth Ward. Coaching Kids: Practical Tips for Effective Communication. Macon, Smyth and Helwys
Publishing Inc., 1999.
Resources on Church Growth
Nash, Robert N., Jr. An Eight-Track Church in a CD World: The Modern Church in the Postmodern World. Macon:
Smyth and Helwys Publishing Inc., 1997.
Russell, Ronny. Can a Church Live Again? Macon: Smyth and Helwys Publishing Inc., 2004.
Stetzer, Ed, and Mike Dodson. Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can Too.
Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2007.
Wagner, Peter C. Leading Your Church to Grow: The Secret of Pastor/People Partnership in Dynamic Church Growth.
Ventura: Regal Books, 1984.
Resources on Transformation to Missional Church
Day, William H. “The Development of a Comprehensive Definition of Church Health,” The Ola Farmer Lenaz Lecture
submitted to the Faculty of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002.
Fain, Jim. “EFCA Church Health Survey.” Minneapolis: Free Church Press, 2007.
Hammett, Edward H. Making the Church Work: Converting the Church for the 21st Century. Macon: Smyth and Helwys
Publishing Inc., 2000.
________. The Gathered and Scattered Church: Equipping Believers for the 21st Century. Macon: Smyth and Helwys
Publishing Inc., 2005.
Mead, Loren B. Transforming Congregations for the Future. New York City: The Alban Institute, 1994.
Vestal, Daniel. It’s Time: An Urgent Call to Christian Mission. Atlanta: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, 2002.
Resources on Team Leadership
Bandy, Thomas G. Coaching Change: Breaking Down Resistance, Building Up Hope. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
Cordeiro, Wayne. Doing Church as a Team: The Miracle of Teamwork and How it Transforms Churches. Ventura:
Regal Books, 2004.
Edwards, Judson. The Leadership Labyrinth: Negotiating the Paradoxes of Ministry. Macon: Smyth and Helwys
Publishing Inc., 2005.
Herrington, Jim, R. Robert Creech, and Trisha Taylor. The Leader’s Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and
Congregational Transformation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 2003.
Rendle, Gilbert R. Leading Change in the Congregation: Spiritual and Organizational Tools for Leaders. New York
City: The Alban Institute, 1998.
Resources on Relational Evangelism
Breen, Mike, and Walt Kallestad. The Passionate Church: The Art of Life-Changing Discipleship. Colorado Springs:
NexGen, 2005.
Engel, James F., and H. Wilbert Norton. What’s Gone Wrong With the Harvest? A Communication Strategy for the
Church and World Evangelism. Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corp., 1975.
Hunter, George G., III. Church for the Unchurched. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996.
Klass, Alan C. In Search of the Unchurched. New York City: The Alban Institute, 1996.
Thompson, W. Oscar, Jr. Concentric Circles of Concern. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981.
Towns, Elmer. Winning the Winnable: Friendship Evangelism. Lynchburg: Church Growth Institute, 1987.
Resources on Church Marketing
Barna, George. Church Marketing: Breaking the Ground for the Harvest. Ventura: Regal Books, 1992.
Reising, Richard L. Church Marketing 101: Preparing Your Church for Greater Growth. Grand Rapids: Baker Books,
2006.
Project File
Materials that will be used in the completion of this Doctor of Ministry project
will include the following:
• Research readings, summaries, and entire bibliography;
• Participant interviews;
• Evaluation forms for Children’s Ministry workers;
• Gift surveys used to determine lay leadership pool.
Documents that will be used in completion of this Doctor of Ministry project will include the following:
• A transferable strategy developed for other aging and declining churches;
• Report of results from metrics used;
• Mutual Ministry Reviews – observations, evaluations, and recommendations;
• Supervisory/Advisory team letters and other letters and observations from interested parties.