Tag Archives: Church Growth

FINAL REPORT FOR 2012

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December has been a great month.  Of course the greatest highlight of the month is the emphasis that is put on the celebration of the birth of our Saviour.  I love many of the aspects of Christmas.  The lights, finding the proper gifts, the meals, the friendships and family are all great highlights of December.  Our travels were brief.  I had the opportunity to preach only 11 times.  I felt like I was on a month long vacation.  The truth is, I really enjoyed being at home for most all of the month.  I was able to catch up on a few necessary items and spend some real quality time with the family. Nancy and I also had the be in our home church, Shawnee Baptist Church, on Wednesday evenings and a couple of Sunday nights.  Our Pastor, Bro. Dave  Delaney, has continued to grow in his role as a young pastor.  I am excited about the potential for the future of Bro. Dave and Shawnee Baptist Church.  I recommend you stop in for a service if you are ever in the area.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 2nd we were with the North Harrison Baptist Church in Ramsey, IN.  Bro. Paul Powell has many health issues and has been trying to retire for a few years.  I was blessed to spend some time with Bro. Powell and fellowship with the fine folks at North Harrison.  Pray for Bro. Powell and the future of this good church.  The Lord met with us in visible ways the times I had opportunity to preach at North Harrison.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 9th we had the joy of spending the day at First Baptist Church of Kenmore in Akron, OH.  The Pastor Dr. Rick Fox has been a faithful servant of God and wonderful pastor to the people of First Baptist.  He has been a personal blessing and inspiration to me.  I am thankful for men like Bro. Fox who have bedrock convictions and a strong soul winning convictions.  It was a real honor to teach Sunday School and preach AM and PM services.  The fellowship was sweet and God’s people were very responsive.

SUNDAYS DECEMBER 16th, 23rd and 30th I had the opportunity to teach the adult Sunday School and preach at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Taylorsville, KY.  The Lord met with us in a wonderful way.  While I was pastor at Shawnee Baptist we planted the church as a mission.  After about 5 years we thought the mission had gained the strength to become an Independent Baptist Church.  We had sent only two men to pastor the church.  Bro. Patrick Nix was the pastor who led them to become a church and they called him as their first Pastor.  Last March the church and Pastor Nix celebrated their 10th Anniversary and I had the privilege of preaching the Anniversary Services.  Bro. Patrick did a great job of leading the church to purchase land and build a a beautiful building.  I was greatly impressed at the strong base that has been built and the functionality of the facilities.  Bro. Nix believes that God led him to resign as pastor in order to be open to God’s leading in his life.  December 9th was his last Sunday at the church.  As a result I had the opportunity to fill the pulpit for three Sundays and give consultation concerning the search and calling of a new pastor.  Pray for this young congregation as they go through a process they have never faced before.

FAMILY TIME: God blessed us with the opportunity to spend some quality and quantity time with our family over the holidays.  I think we make a terrible mistake if we fail to see our families as one of our most important ministries.  We love our Kids (put up with their spouses  ….  Haha just kidding)  and Grandkids.  Church, eating, football, eating, bowling,  eating, Christmas and eating took most of our time.  We pray for our family many times daily.  Our desire is that our Heavenly Father would use every one of them as He sees fit.

FAREWELL 2012: We are excited about the new year and the open doors it affords.  I praise the Lord for 2012 and 63 meetings that included everything from one day meetings to six day revivals.  Then there were the additional number of times at Shawnee Baptist College where I had the privilege to teach a class or preach in chapel. I praise the Lord for the good number of people saved in personal soul winning and at the altar.  I rejoice in the decisions made at full altars week after week by church members.  I am hopeful because of the revival spirit I sensed  in the heart of pastors and church members in meeting after meeting.  Yes, God gave Nancy and I a good year with many good friends but now we must press on.  The fields are white unto harvest.

HELLO 2013: Please pray for Nancy and me.  We want to have a continued and increased passion for souls.  We want to be a blessing to pastors and churches.  We are praying for revival.  We want good health and safety as we travel.  We want a full schedule in this critical time.  At present we have 17 meetings scheduled and are tentatively holding four dates that preachers called us about and asked us to hold while working on their calendars.  If you have a need or an interest for a meeting in this year feel free to call me at (502) 386-5521 or click on the link to my calendar and you can see my schedule up to this point.

The Lord could well return this year.  Let’s all work and pray for Heaven sent Revival.  Let’s keep telling other about our Saviour.  Let’s pray for one another.

For Christ and for Souls,

Bro. Lonnie – John 15:8

START & GROW A CLASS

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Here we are at the beginning of a new year.  Christianity and especially Fundamental Independent Baptists have come under attack.  May I remind you that we should not be surprised when the Lord warned us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”: (1Pe 5:8)

Someone told me the best defense is a good offense.  If were not careful we will be so busy defending ourselves that we will forget to do the work God left us here to do.  I want to challenge you to reach the middle class adults in your area.  One of the greatest ways to do so is to start new classes.  New units grow faster than established units.  The Sunday School is the church organized.  Properly organized and administered the Sunday School will help close the back door and keep new folks coming in the front door.

In my years at Shawnee Baptist I tried to personally start a new class about every two to three years.  It was hard to leave a class I had built.  But, the joy of training new teachers and helping them succeed was worth it.  I developed a couple of check lists over the years  of things that helped me start a class and then build a class after it was started.  I have read many other helps.  The lists below are by no means exhaustive (maybe exhausting).  If you have an existing class you may find some helpful ideas that will trigger some new growth methods for you.

HOW TO START AN ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

1. Pray for the leadership of the Holy Spirit

2. Select a name for your new class

3. Determine the profile of your class (age, status, area, etc.)

4. Scan the church roll for prospects… Anyone on the church roll who is not enrolled in      Sunday School is a potential prospect.

5. Survey visitors for prospects

6. Set a date for your grand opening

7. Determine the location and arrangements

8. Plan the organization … Start with an assistant if possible (ushers, greeters, secretary, set up, song leader, etc)

9. Decide not to steal from other established classes Instead pray for laborers

10. Build a mailing data base and write letters introducing your new class

11. Organize your class schedule

12. Organize your class records

13. Organize your follow-up procedures… (call, write, visit)

14. Make directional signs to your class… Goal: Be the easiest class to find without being obnoxious or appearing competitive.

15. Make class calling cards or brochures

16. Gather and organize all class tools and materials

HOW TO GROW AN ADULT CLASS ONCE STARTED

1. Scan the crowd 3 times a week looking for prospects (meet every visitor)

2. Visit faithfully (visit every absentee the first time they are absent)

3.  Enroll new people every week

4. Have a goal of at least one lost person in attendance each week

5. Network with existing soul winning programs and outreach people to find more new prospects

6. Keep excellent records

7. Copy your roll book and prospect list as your Sunday School prayer list.

8. Promote the Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services goal: to build your members

9. Build loyalty to the pastor and church in the hearts and minds of your members

10. Set the right example in personal standards and faithfulness

11. Plan some activities (one major activity per quarter and minor monthly) By planning around church services and campaigns you help tie your people to the overall program of the church and build unity

12. Activities can be fun, convenient and inexpensive:

Sun PM pie & ice cream

Sun afternoon picnic – and games

Sundae Sunday night

Video presentation (approved of course)

Work party (paint your class, work on grounds, adopt a flower bed, etc)

Nursing home outing or sponsorship

Use your imagination … there are hundreds of ideas that will build your class without                                      breaking the bank.

13. Establish a class Soul Winning time…

14. Have a goal of winning Soul Winners – 2 Tim 2:2

May this be a great year of Spiritual and Numerical growth in our Sunday Schools.

GROW THAT ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

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Last week I had the opportunity to post some of the procedures and practices I used in building the Adult Sunday School at Shawnee Baptist Church while pastor there. I titled it: How To Start An Adult Sunday School Class.

Obviously getting started is just the beginning. Many people are good starters but they are not maintainers or finishers. We will never build strong Sunday Schools without leaders that faithfully practice a few basic things, even after the new wears off.

This week I am enjoying being part of the Spring Bible Conference in Dover, PA. where Dr. Sterling Walsh is the pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church and they are seeing some amazing growth filling all their Sunday School space. It is a joy to also have speaking Dr. Tim Rabon. Tue. AM they will host a preachers meeting at 10 AM. Mrs. Janet Walsh will also host a ladies meeting at 10AM where Mrs. Nancy Mattingly and Mrs. Sharon Rabon will speak to the ladies.

This coming Sat and Sun Nancy and I will be with Pastor Chris Teis at the Open Door Bible Baptist Church of Howell, NJ. having a Soul Winning training weekend.

I will post some reports on these meetings next week. For now I do ask you to pray for God’s presence and power.

Here is the outline of ideas for growing an Adult Sunday School Class once it is started.  Use the ideas.  Fill those classrooms.  Get the Word of God into as many lives as you can.  In a week or so I will post some additional Sunday School material that I have used to help Sunday School teachers reach more of their potential.

HOW TO GROW AN ADULT CLASS ONCE STARTED
Pastor Lonnie Mattingly

1. Scan the crowd 3 times a week looking for prospects (meet every visitor)

2. Visit faithfully (visit every absentee the first time they are absent)

3. Enroll new people every week

4. Have a goal of at least one lost person in attendance each week

5. Network with existing soul winning programs and outreach people to find more new prospects

6. Keep excellent records

7. Copy your roll book and prospect list as your Sunday School prayer list.

8. Promote the Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening services
goal: to build your members

9. Build loyalty to the pastor and church in the hearts and minds of your members

10. Set the right example in personal standards and faithfulness

11. Plan some activities (one major activity per quarter and minor monthly)
By planning around church services and campaigns you help tie your people to the
overall program of the church and build unity

12. Activities can be fun, convenient and inexpensive:
Sun PM pie & ice cream
Sun afternoon picnic – and games
Sundae Sunday night
Video presentation (approved of course)
Work party (paint your class, work on grounds, adopt a flower bed, etc)
Nursing home outing or sponsorship
Use your imagination … there are hundreds of ideas that will build your class without breaking the bank

13. Establish a class Soul Winning time…

14. Have a goal of winning Soul Winners – 2 Tim 2:2

HOW TO START AN ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

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One of the greatest tools God allowed me use and be involved in when I was pastor at Shawnee Baptist Church was the Sunday School.  I started several classes, built them to 30 or 40 then turned them over to the assistant, waited a few months then started a new class.
As a result I always felt like I was getting a fresh start and a fresh challenge.  In addition I was training adult Sunday School teachers.  The list below is only a skeleton and not all inclusive.  It is however, a great start to establishing a new class with the pastor’s blessing of course.
A little later I will give my list of things to do to grow a class once it is started.  A new class like a new church will grow faster than an established class.
Dr. Lee Roberson would challenge me every time he came to Shawnee Baptist Church to build the Sunday School and to reach adults.  If you have ideas that you have used to start an Adult class let me know.  I may add them to my list as I travel and share ideas with pastors who are trying to get their Sunday Schools motivated.
HOW TO START AN ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
1. Pray for the leadership of the Holy Spirit

2. Select a name for your new class

3. Determine the profile of your class (age, status, area, etc.)

4. Scan the church roll for prospects… Anyone on the church roll who is not enrolled in Sunday      School is a potential prospect.

5. Survey visitors for prospects

6. Set a date for your grand opening

7. Determine the location and arrangements

8. Plan the organization … Start with an assistant if possible (ushers, greeters, secretary, set up, song leader, etc)

9. Decide not to steal from other established classes, instead pray for laborers

10. Build a mailing data base and write letters introducing your new class

11. Organize your class schedule

12. Organize your class records

13. Organize your follow-up procedures… (call, write, visit)

14. Make directional signs to your class… Goal: Be the easiest class to find without being obnoxious or appearing competitive.

15. Make class calling cards or brochures

16. Gather and organize all class tools and materials