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Moving Off The Plateau
Gary L. McIntosh, Ph.D.
First, allow the pastor to lead.
This means at least three things for pateaued churches:
a commitment to pastoral longevity, a commitment to
pastoral authority in making ministry decisions, and a commitment to pastoral
direction. Plateaued churches must commit to following growth leadership from their pastor if they hope to get off the plateau.
Second, create a growth
consciousness.
A growth consciousness will develop in the people as they understand God's mandate to find and fold the lost; when they see the possibilities for growth in their own church; and as they experience small growth successes.
Third, multiply groups.
Plateaued churches are
normally made up of one fellowship group. The fellowship is sweet and the people are neat. However, to grow off a plateau, they must start new groups and
ministries to involve new people.
Fourth, publicize the ministry.
This means developing a first rate web site that provides information on where the church is, when the church is, and what the church is (see the December 2009 issue of Growth Points for more information).
Fifth, focus on outreach.
Specifically, the natural networks of people
already in the church should be used to greater effectiveness. Keep trying different ways to evangelize until one works.
Sixth, motivate the worshippers.
It is best to motivate
people based on their gratitude to Christ,
obedience to the Great Commission, and love
for neighbors. Be sure to get people involved
in your community gathering information about needs and working in service projects.
Seventh, add staff.
One of the main reasons churches plateau is due to a lack of staff. Staffing at a ratio of one pastor for every 150 persons in the church is a good rule to follow.
Eighth, stress assimilation.
In some situations plateaued churches do a fine job of reaching new people only to lose
them with inadequate follow-up procedures. Think through the entire process for welcoming guests and establish a new process for visitor welcome and follow-up.
Ninth, expand the church.
The fact is some churches just do not have enough room to grow. Seating and parking are the primary issues to explore. Your church can only grow to around eighty percent of its seating capacity, and will only have an
attendance equal to two people per car. To grow off a plateau most churches need to go to two worship services, expand seating and parking, relocate, or use multiple sites.
Tenth, put the pedal to the metal.
Once you decide to grow off the plateau, put
in your maximum effort for three years. It takes
one year to put a plan into place, another year
to get it going, and results come in the third year. The pastor and church leaders must commit to seeing the process through. If, after three years you are still on a plateau, you should seriously consider obtaining the
services of a church consultant. There may be other issues involved that only an outside
resource person will be able to see.
The existence of plateaued churches in North America is a real issue, and a renewal of growth in many of these churches would greatly
expand the kingdom of God. Growing,
vigorous churches reach more people than do plateaued ones.
Article from:
Growth Points by Gary L. McIntosh, Ph.D.
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10-10-10 Initiative
Church Planting
The 10-10-10 Initiative is a cross-denominational emphasis on the urgency and importance of starting healthy new churches. The 10-10-10 Initiative seeks to catalyze hundreds of ministries partnered with thousands of existing churches to see millions of lives transformed through healthy new churches. The initiative seeks to serve networks, denominations, churches and individuals by accelerating the impact of how God is already at work through them.
Take a look at
101010initiative.org
Sponsored by Exponential
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Church Security Conference
March 26, 2010
SaddlebackChurch
or
SAVE $40 by registering through the Cutler Group: clink link or logo, then click on the NASC button on the left.
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  Coming Home
I read my son's comment on facebook that he is looking forward to coming home for spring break. What he actually said was, "four days 'til sunshine and flip flops." He's attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, so I think he may have been bragging about the fact that he's going to Southern California. As tough as some may have it, we do have many things to brag about around here at times. There is something to be said about looking forward to coming home. You see, we aren't home yet.."our citizenship is in heaven." (Phil 3:20) As we look around, it is tough in this world. People are struggling--earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, beggars on the street in Mexico, foreclosures in America--all are reminders that this is tough and we are not home yet. We are still in class. It's not time to quit. Another class is coming. God has given us just enough to handle here and reminds us of our need to stay ever so close to Him at all times. Every now and then we get a break, but tough times are always with us, which is why it's good to know God is with us always as well.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Hang in There. "Take heart."
Jim Smith
Executive Director
CB Southern California
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| Annual Meeting
Sunday, March 7
Grace Church of Glendora
3:45 - 8:00 pm
 Plan now to attending our 2010 Annual Meeting at Grace Church in Glendora from 3:45 - 8:00 pm. Get practical advice on how churches are making a positive impact in their communities for Christ. This year's Annual Meeting theme is "Five-N-Ten" - How to be eternally focused and have 5% growth rate in your church in 2010. Hear the stories from pastors and churches that have seen their churches grow in 2009 and what principles they learned as they grew. Come for the late afternoon seminars, the meal and then the Annual meeting.
Afternoon Seminars 3:45 pm
Churches Helping the Hurting in Their Communities
Dennis Bachman, NewSong Church, San Dimas
 Four Easy Steps for Freedom in Relationships, Life and Ministry Vicki Smith, CBSC Women's Director Celebrate Recovery Ministry - 3 Years Later Dave Metzger, Lakehills Church, Lake Elsinore Special Session with the CBSC Spanish Ministries
Tony Pezzotta, CBSC Ethnic Director
Help at Least 5% More Families Tithe in 2010
Michael Lindsay, Finances on the Rock
Approximately Four Things Every Youth Worker Should Know
John Hill, Sunrise Church, Rialto
Dinner 4:45 pm
RSVP needed for dinner: Call the CBSC Office at (909) 944-5900 or email us at cbministries@cbasc.com to reserve your meal. $10 per person - payment taken at the door.
General Session 6:00 pm
New Pastors Introduction
 New Board Members Voting
Fulfilling the Great Commission: Growing 5% in 2010
What These Church Leaders Observed as their Church Grew
Pastor Rick Klug - Calvary Baptist, Bishop
Pastor Chris Gillespie - Apple Valley Baptist
Pastor Gene Wood - Grace Church, Glendora
Location: Grace Church of Glendora
1515 S Glendora Avenue, Glendora, CA 91740
626.335.4067
Map
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New Pastor in  Santa Barbara
On Sunday, January 31, Calvary Baptist Church of Santa Barbara held the installation service for their new Pastor, Christian Schalesky. Christian and his wife, Jill, have been residents of Santa Barbara for a number of years. Before coming to Calvary, Christian served as the assistant pastor of Community Covenant Church in Santa Barbara and the couple live only two blocks from Calvary. Christian's former boss, Pastor Dennis Wadley, along with CBSC Executive Director Jim Smith and others, took the platform to welcome Christian to his new ministry. The search team looked at over 150 resumes in 18 months before discovering Christian in their own backyard. We welcome Christian to CB Southern California. Christian and Jill have two young children.
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One Year Celebration for Mountain View Bible Church
 On Sunday, February 21, Mountain View Bible Church Celebrated their one-year anniversary of existence. They actually formed their church in Alpine, CA, east of San Diego in January 2009, but waited to celebrate until February. Pastor Eric Motl invited Associate Pastor Jon Lutz to give the celebratory sermon. A potluck, in good baptistic fashion, followed. |
Pastor Greg's Hunting Trophy
 On February 6, Greg Atkinson, Pastor of Bayview Baptist in Guam, went hunting late in the day with his wife, Terri. Actually, Greg was sitting up in a tree watching the jungle and Terri was reading a book and catching the evening sunset and breeze on her face in a nice chair in some friends' Gazebo about a football field away. As Greg writes, "It was a beautiful, cool 78. The sun began to set with no action for my part, but I had a nice prayer time." As the sun was going down, he finally had a boar run within his sights and pulled the trigger! It took about 5 minutes of wandering through some shrubs and into the grass to see if he actually got the Boar, but he found it. Biggest Boar ever . . . almost 200 lbs. He and his wife, along with two other ladies, got the Boar into the truck. Congratulations on all that meat.
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Gaining Strength After Heart Issues
 In December, Pastor Brent Strawsburg unexpectedly fainted in his Shorelife Church office in Huntington Beach. He is relatively young, in good health, with good cholesterol levels and no sign of illness. However, sometimes our genetics catch up to us. In February, he had an angiogram and the doctors were surprised to see the report. It turns out that his fainting was the best thing that could have happened to him since it led doctors to discover a 95% blockage in his right coronary artery. They placed two stints into the artery to open it up. He is back at work and the doctors hope that this will explain why he fainted and permanently address this issue. Brent and his wife, Cheri, are doing well and appreciate your prayers.
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Restoration Service
 Gary Golike and Matt Hsieh proudly stand by Dan Bautista at his Restoration Service, conducted on Sunday, February 28, at Rancho Baptist Church in Temcula, in order to recognize the humbling and honoring efforts of a two-year process. It is good to see agents of reconciliation at work in the lives of a Pastor and his wife, along with friends and family. This Restoration began for Pastor Dan Bautista after his resignation from his position of Pastor of All Nations Gospel Fellowship in Temecula in the fall of 2007. Jim Smith asked Pastor Matt Hsieh, Pastor of Rancho Baptist in Temecula, to head up a Restoration process. Along with Pastor Gary Golike of FBC in Fallbrook, they formed an accountability team with Richard and Dixie Cabrera, Romy and Diosie Coloma, and Gene and Aurora Jacinto. The team worked through issues with both Dan and Norma Bautista, CBSC provided marital counseling through Dr. Dale James, and the process took them through many steps of confession and repentance over the past two years. The restoration team now recommends that the Bautistas seek the Lord as to their next step towards returning to vocational ministry.
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CBSC Haiti Relief Tops $17,000
 Through significant gifts from regional churches, CB Southern California has already forwarded over $17,000 to Missions Door for their work in Haiti. Missions Door purchased and opened a Medical Center which is making a great impact. The community is very happy and thanks God for this project. The first day, the clinic was opened during the afternoon only, and 70 people received service and good care. The second day, 140 people were seen. Daily, they are serving approximately 100 to 150 individuals. New medical centers are needed. Thank you for your involvement.
Delta Ministries Sending Teams
 Delta Ministries is another CB Partner Mission Organization that is going to help teams come to Haiti and deal with the significant recovery issue they face in two phases.
Phase One is what they call emergency response and will last approximately three months. During this phase they are working to provide medical care, food, water, and shelter in order to save as many lives as possible.
Phase Two will be the ongoing long-term stage of recovery. Haitian partners have told them of the effect that years of aid have had on the culture. Many Haitians have been culturally conditioned to take what is offered and simply wait for more assistance. Our partners' long-term strategy is to build new communities--complete with schools, churches, community centers, businesses, water treatment facilities, and homes. The inhabitants of these communities will have lots big enough for a garden and will go through life-skills training that will teach them "how to fish" so that they can support and provide for their families long-term.
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Pine Summit Digging Out
A staff member attempts to dig a pathway to the chapel.  Pine Summit had 51 inches of snow in one week. More has come and gone all winter. It has truly been a white winter this year up in Big Bear. After one storm, they had to hire a huge front loader to come in and dig them out. They also had to completely close down the camp one weekend, since they had no power and no one could get up the mountain in the blizzard. The snow has been a blessing for the groups that have been in camp as they enjoy the beauty that only comes with this winter covering. |
Sale Still Pending
 As you maybe aware, we have been working to complete the sale of Pine Summit to Peacemakers, a Christian Company wishing to manage the camp. They have been working on the possibility of purchasing the camp constantly since the beginning of 2009. The investors' broker told us that it has been one issue after the next, with the complex laws that govern this undertaking making it even harder, since some of the money is coming from outside the USA. Setbacks have befallen this undertaking and every time they had resolved an issue, a new one took its place. We have gone past deadline after deadline, but still hope that they will be able to resolve their issues and complete the purchase. However, the CBSC board has decided that we must make make the camp available for purchase to other parties. |
Significant Budget Cuts in CBSC
 With the uncertainty of income from the sale of Pine Summit, deep cuts have been made at CB Southern California in order to make budget. Plans have been made to move our regional office in Rancho Cucamonga to a nearby church. Tony Pezzotta will be retiring this year. We have reduced our staff by Fifteen members, including the Camp Director, Mike Harris. Jim Smith and Ed Reingrover will go up to Pine Summit to help the camp. We still trust that the camp will sell and desire your prayers during this transitional time.
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Hope Again's Walk of Hope
 This year's annual fund raiser for Hope Again will be on Saturday, April 24. Hope Again is a refuge for the disenfranchised people of the Hollywood area. Providing homes for men, women, and mothers with children, they work hard sharing God's love in action--helping needy people find economic, social and spiritual wholeness. The walk will start at 9 AM and be done by Noon. All those walking should meet at Hope International Church on Fountain Avenue in Hollywood. If you can't walk, you may send in a donation to Hope Again through CBSC's Executive Director, Jim Smith, who will be walking this year. Make checks out to Hope Again and send to: Jim Smith, CBSC, 9640 Center Avenue, Ste. 100, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701.
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May 14-16
Come up and enjoy the great facilities at Pine Summit and take a weekend to focus again on the Lord. This spring we have invited Pastor Jay Pankratz from Sunrise Church in Rialto to be our main speaker. Leading the music again this year will be Gregory Hooper, Worship Arts Pastor at Sunrise Church.
Relax in the mountain air, swim in the heated pool, take a nap, see a movie, play in some good competitions, hear a great message from the Bible, go on a hike, etc.... It all can happen if you come. Bring a friend.
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