Create a Powerful Culture of Growth:
(Matthew 12:31-32)

Bible quotation which illustrates the aspect we are concentrating on at the moment.
Jesus told them another parable:
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in the field.
Though it is the smallest of all seeds,
yet when it grows,
it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree,
so that the birds come and perch in its branches.

• DESIRE   : Churches only grow when the leaders and members have a desire to grow.
• PLAN      : Rather than doing lots of disconnected activities there needs to be a clear plan in place.
• ACTION : Churches need to act in order to grow. For churches to grow, this DNA needs to run through all the clergy, the leaders, volunteers and all activities of the church.
  

Prayer, Presence, Proclamation and Persuasion:
Kingdom Come (Matt. 6.10)

Prayer has to be integrated into our lives and the church, not just used at the beginning and end of services or meetings.
We should aim to increase our presence on websites and social media, ensuring we continue to be a welcoming and friendly church.
Spreading the good news at special events and services and finally telling everyone about our church and beliefs and welcoming new members to our congregation.

Positive Action

• Prayer postcards are in every pew in church highlighting our “Growth Prayer”.
• Quiet day for praying for LYCiG at Whalley Abbey.
• New visitors and families are continued to be made welcome.
• Palm Sunday Procession through the village therfore Increasing community presence.
• Continuing to promote our activities on this Website and our Facebook page.
• Messy Church is particularly well attended with their activities promoted on Website and Facebook.
• Village Newsletter distributed to every home in Chatburn and Worston.
• Vision 2026 updates continue to promote all the church activities.

Practice Fruitful Evangelism:
Catching Fish (Mark 1.17)

This session was held on the 11th March 2025 at Whalley Abbey. As Wendy Walker was unable to attend on this occasion David Ascroft represented Christ Church along with Reverend Catherine. The Bishop of Blackburn Rt. Reverend Philip North, Reverend Sarah O’Donoghue (Parish Renewal Officer) and Reverend Sue Cooke (National Director) of LyCIG led the session.

What is Evangelism?

• The proclaiming of the message of Good News.
• Helping people to respond.

Evangelism is about sharing God’s message with people and telling them about your story and how you came to faith.

Telling your story

i) Before knowing Jesus

People were asked:-
What their life was like before they came to know Jesus.

ii) During

When Jesus became real to them in their lives, how they chose to follow him or alternatively when their faith deeper or more committed due to a significant event.

iii) After

After knowing Jesus what it meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ, or alternatively, reflect on how their faith had changed them as they grew up.

Our special people.

Participants had to identify 5 people who they knew who might be interested in God and want to know more about their life in the church.

Ways to share faith with your special people.

I) There may be an opportunity to share your story.
ii) There will certainly be opportunities to invite them to a special event or gathering.
Iii) At the right moment you will see an opportunity to simply ask them what they think about God.

Key Phrase for inviting people.

I’m going, it’s going to be good, would you like to come with me?

Questions are important.

1. Who are you:-
Tell me about yourself, life, family, work, hobbies, etc.
2. Where are you (with God)?
3. Do you believe in god? Have you ever prayed? Have you ever sensed that there is more to life than meets the eye.
4. Why don’t you…? Have you heard about the special service in church, or the course we are running? Why don’t you come along…?

The Engel Scale

The Engel scale was developed by James F. Engel as a way of representing the journey from no knowledge of God, through to spiritual maturity as a Christian believer. It can be used to identify where a person is on their Christian journey, help with conversations or messages in a more effective way.

Questions to be asked:-

What do you think about God?
What should individuals be doing?
What should the church be doing?

On Tuesday 27th March 2025 Reverend Catherine invited Reverend Sarah Parish Renewal Officer to our mid week Holy Communion Service. Following the service we shared hospitality with Sarah and she told us her story about her own faith journey. Others present shared their faith journeys and special ‘God ‘ moments. It was an excellent discussion with people feeling they could share very personal stories.

Develop Engaging Worship:
Holy Ground (Exodus 3.5)

The fourth session in ‘Leading Your church into growth’ was held at Whalley Abbey on the 13th May 2025.
The evening was led by Reverend Sarah Donoghue (Diocesan Renewal officer) and Reverend Linda Tomlinson(Rector of Ribbleton).
Reverend Catherine was unable to attend and was represented by Lynn Farrimond on this occasion.

General Points to consider:-

1. Worship is not about seeking perfection but rather it is about integrity and an honesty around our skills.
2. The church is the ’shop window’ and an entry point for those searching for faith. Church can turn people on or off.
3. Worship should be interesting, attractive and enjoyable.
4. Successful growing churches adopt ‘a lets give it a go’ mentality. These churches try different initiatives as experiments - if they work they invest in them, if they don’t they drop them.
5. The process of attracting people is divided into three stages:-
i) The people who pass through our churches become the occasional.
ii) Then occasional people become regular.
Iii) Regular members become committed and involved in the life of the church.
6. As we come into church we have to remember that we are meeting with the risen Christ and treat church as an ‘encounter with Jesus Christ’.
It would be preferable to mark a silence before the service begins and for all the congregation to be in their places.
7. A warm welcome should be extended to all the church family and the ‘Peace’ is important, but need to be mindful that some people cannot tolerate touching or closeness.
8. People should be encouraged to stay for refreshments after or before the service.
9. Sharing family news is very important and celebrating birthdays.
10. People find sacred silences in a service difficult but these should be encouraged. ie.After the sermon and before the creed.
11. Changes of posture should be incorporated. If anyone wishes to kneel in the aisle this should be encouraged.
12. Worship should be user friendly. Not everyone knows the service and may need guidance through it.
13. Little things can make a big impact. The service and instructions should be easy to understand and legible for all either in a booklet form or on screen. Larger print bibles and hymn books should be available.
14. People with mobility issues or other disabilities should not be excluded from the awesome family moment when Holy Communion is distributed. Need to consider everyone receiving at the steps rather than at the altar. For those wishing to go to the altar consider having a monthly service where this is encouraged.
15. Consider asking someone to be a ‘mystery worshipper’ and give honest feedback about a service to the incumbent/PCC.
16. Worship is enriched with music. Hymns and songs should be appropriate to the theme and in line with theology.

Questions to be considered.

1. What might make people happy?
2. What might make them sad?
3. What might confuse them?
4. What might make them angry?
5. What might bore them?
6. What might interest them?

CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND WORSHIP.

1. Children and young people are an integral part of the church, not a ‘bolt on’ or a section in our worship.
2. Ask children what they would like to see in services and involve them as much as possible in the service.
3. What ‘faces’ do children/ young people see at church. Is it a smiling glad to see you face or a scowling face where people want to see them come, but not heard.
4. Are young people given an active role in worship?
5. Are young people able to understand and engage in the service?
6. Will children and young people want to come back?
7. If there are only one or two children present is there still something available for them to engage in.

I would draw your attention to a June (newsletter article) which was written by Lynn following this session.

Become a Welcoming and Inviting Church:
Banquet (Luke 14.21)

15th June 2025

Make a Pathway for Seekers to become Disciples:
Make Disciples (Matthew 28.19)

9th September 2025

Begin a Planned Journey of Growth:
Early Church (Acts 5.14)

October 2025