Dr. Ed,
I really enjoyed the comments about setting up and enviroment for evangelism. I like how another author put it "setting someone up to flourish and not fail". I believe when we give the opportunities to share the gospel then disciples will see it is easier than first thought and it becomes more of an evangelistic lifestyle and they share beyond the enviroments. Mahalo for that insight and may God continue to bless and use you noticeably!

". . . 3. Biblical growth is symptomatic of a healthy church (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10). The pattern observed in God’s creation is that living organisms—-including social organisms such as families and churches—-naturally experience a process of growth when the systems of which they’re composed aren’t dysfunctional or diseased. If they’re designed for it and possess at least a minimum degree of health, the organisms also can reproduce. The growth and reproduction of healthy churches should be virtually automatic—-when neither is so, there’s reason for serious concern. Check for the following symptoms of health and of disease, acting through the cell groups either to manage health or to cure disease: (1) baptisms: 6+ per 100 members points to health—-but, 5 or fewer per 100 members means illness; (2) finances: 33% of participants giving 66% of the money points to health—-but, 25% or less giving 75% or more means illness; (3) average member tenure in the church: 0-9 years points to health—-but, 10+ years means illness; (4) small group membership: a net annual gain points to health—-but, breaking-even or a net annual loss means illness . . ." (from http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Document.Doc?id=6920)

Also from the source cited above:

"A prediction: evangelistic cell groups will be the primary ministry vehicles which carry the Texas Baptist churches of which they are expressive successfully through the twenty-first century and into the next if the Lord Jesus delays His return.1

"The term 'cell group,' for the purposes of this article, refers to a church-sponsored gathering of fewer than twenty individuals meeting regularly either on or off of the church campus and led to aid in members’ recovery from dysfunctional behaviors, support for on-going life issues, and/or growth through study of the Bible. An evangelistic cell group, though, is a Christian small group whose members both acknowledge their responsibilities for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and enact corporately or personally strategies for doing so, enabling the larger body to grow. Traditional Sunday School classes and other church small groups which consistently balance the other functions of the New Testament church with its evangelism one may be considered evangelistic cell groups.2

"It’s been written that not a single county in the United States had in 1995 a percentage of churched persons greater than it did a decade before in 1985.3 That news was alarming at the time it was reported. Has another dozen years of orthodox biblical theology held firmly by conservative Christian congregations—and especially by wrangling Baptists ones—made a significant positive difference in church membership and attendance across America? Reports now indicate that church attendance in the U.S. appears to have risen since 1996,4 but only in Hawaii have increases in attendance at church services outpaced state population growth (during 2000 to 2004).5 Recent statistics from LifeWay Research show that, during the past ten consecutive years, only twenty-two of the 44,000 congregations affiliating with the Southern Baptist Convention were able to minister to their communities in such a way as to maintain both annual worship service increases and baptism rates of at least 26 new Christians (with congregant-to-convert baptism ratios of no more than 20-to-1).6 Over 27,000 SBC congregations reported only 0-5 baptisms during the year 2006—more than 10,000 of those churches recorded no baptisms at all. In Texas, where approximately one-half of the state’s twenty-three million residents is unchurched, 5700 Baptist congregations indicated baptizing almost 55,000 new Christians in 2006 (BGCT: 42,000 of the total).7

"In 2008, when relatively few leaders of American evangelical Protestant churches asked concede that telling the gospel is the top priority of either their congregations’ small groups or Sunday School classes,8 news of the Church’s growth in the United States isn’t great yet. But church cell groups have potential through evangelism actions for relating to contemporary culture, growing plateaued churches, and changing cities—and it’s time to make the most of it in Texas . . ."

I read your book comeback churches and I am taking my staff throught it and believe that God desisres our chruch to be a comeback chruch. Thanks for posting these sessions so we can hear you articulate this even more clearly. I hope that these are not removed from you site for a good while an if they are could we get a copy for the further training and mentoring of our leaders

Sincerly
Dave Williams
Pastor Reeds Baptist Church