The Evangelism Handbook
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1D. Types of Church Growth 
Biological Growth
Biological growth results from raising and retaining the children of members within the church. In practice, this rarely succeeds except in close-knit and small communities where the church is the sole source of social activity and entertainment as well as being the religious focal point. Strangely, the Baptist and Pentecostal Churches seem to do better in this area than others. People go to church because they always have, and their parents and grandparents did! Tozer grasped this truth very clearly when he wrote, "One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
Many young people today reject the concept of biological growth because they wouldn't go to their parents church anymore than their parents would go to their youth group. Some "biological growth" churches actually grow even though they do nothing!
Transfer Growth
Transfer growth occurs through at least two sets of circumstances with the obvious one being the arrival of a new minister. He or she brings such initial enthusiasm and charisma to the ministry that people from other churches are attracted there. Perhaps these transferees were bored with their former congregation, had an argument, or something else caused them to get itchy feet!
During a new pastor's "honeymoon period" in a church this kind of transfer growth tends to happen, much to his satisfaction at the time. "See," he says to his bishop, "I've been here only three months and the congregation has increased by fifty percent already!" The bishop pats him on the back and counsels, "Let's wait and see, shall we?"When the dynamic minister leaves then so do many of his followers.
A change in the economic climate of an area can also result in transfer growth. One area of South London in England had been populated until recently with elderly people. Their children had always wanted to better themselves and invariably moved out to the newer suburbs until a downturn in the economy came along. Suddenly, enthusiastic young married couples came flooding back into the area. The local church was given a grand influx of new members without really trying.
Most churches have new families moving in but generally this does not lead to church growth unless there is a significant trend like that just mentioned. The problem is that it can just as easily reverse itself and become "church shrinking" should the circumstances change. Transfer growth is largely beyond our control, but there is another type of growth that can occur that is not good for us.
Fatness Growth
The Sunday school teacher had been telling the story of the Prodigal Son. "The elder brother was angry," she said, "because the Prodigal was getting such preferential treatment." After explaining the story thoroughly the teacher asked one little boy, "Was anyone sorry that the Prodigal son had returned?" For a moment the child hesitated and then answered, "Yes, the fatted calf."
Fatness seems to be the major form of growth in many churches. There are at least two forms of fatness that can occur. First, it happens in the "social" type of church. Here, they major on the big dinner, the bingo bonanza and the picnic party. The idea is that you invite people in to eat or to play or to receive some kind of enjoyment and hope that they will stay to make good church members. The fellowship of believers becomes little more than an exclusive club. Not many clubs have God as a member!
Evangelism Growth
Evangelism is the sole vehicle for lasting church growth. It seeks to add meaning to life for those within the church and endeavors to share the Good News with those outside. Evangelism Growth results in expansion both inside and outside. Inside, in that members are personally deepened and challenged as the Gospel is explained and the Word of God unfolded. Outside, in that being so inspired they want to share this same wonderment with others. As Charles Wesley expressed it in his classic hymn: "My chains fell off - my heart was free I rose, went forth and followed Thee."
T.V. or Local Evangelism?
I believe that John Wesley would have been amazed at the potential for evangelism available through the media, the internet and television. But is something lost over the airways? Is the personal touch lacking? Is the personal relationship essential?
Whenever the word the word evangelism is used, we think of Billy Graham at the podium expounding the Scripture on a late evening T. V. program. Alternately, we recall the itinerant faith healer in his expensive looking suit with his large striped tent on the parking lot at the local mall. The term "evangelist" conjures up so many different ideas centering around performance and the "big show."
Local Church Growth
While many of these gifted men of God performed an effective ministry within the church as a whole, the big flaw that people like Dr. Graham were quick to acknowledge was that very often they did not build up the local church as they should have. More often they tended to construct mini-churches where followers never met each other, their collection went in the mailbox, and they worshiped in the living room in front of the T. V. ! For this reason, Billy Graham invariably concluded his broadcasts with, "Be sure to go to church this Sunday." I know that in his heart local church growth was his great desire.
That so many do came to a very real faith through television and crusade evangelism cannot be denied. A questionnaire in the Liverpool area some years ago showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that of all the pastors questioned, more than half had been either converted or deeply influenced as a result of Billy Graham crusades.
I believe however that local evangelism is better than crusade evangelism. It concentrates on building a worshipping group and influencing a community for Christ by using the gifts and skills of the local church body. This book is dedicated to doing just that. Local evangelism is faith gossiped. It is truly for the people, of the people and by the people. It is the non-addictive, freedom bringing, joy expressing opium for the masses. It builds changed lives, strong families and healthy, prosperous nations.
It is easy to bubble over about the possible effects of local evangelism on the church, the community and even upon the nation, but first let us consider why it has not been all that successful in the past. Let us look at some of the things which obstruct growth.
Question For Discussion
Consider your own congregation, is it a friendly group to be with?
"Practical Christian Outreach in the Local Church"
