The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Churches - Habit 1

This afternoon I read the first of the seven deadly sins of declining Adventist churches. They have been explored in a book by Ron Gladden – an Adventist Pastor in the States.

I received the book – The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Churches – in a parcel from my Dad last week. So far it is a very insightful and challenging read.

The first chapter focused on Pastors. Gladden suggested that pastors who are doing “the expected” are pastoring shrinking churches. But the Pastors who are focusing on three key areas are seeing growth in their members and their churches.

The three areas pastors of growing churches focus on are:

1. Leadership – Leading leaders is the key secret of massive growth – see Acts 6…
2. Personal Evangelism – Pastors who have a passion for one-on-one soul winning engender this passion in their laity.
3. Communication – Good solid preaching is at the heart of all growing churches.
   

Gladden asserts that pastors who are primarily focusing on these three areas are pastoring growing churches – or will be shortly!