"Keys to Church Growth," a recently released video based on Dr. Don Posterski's book, Where's A Good Church?, looks at three growing Anglican churches in British Columbia. The churches are examined in terms of four elements that, according to Posterski, must be present and in balance- namely orthodoxy, community, relevance, and outreach.
These churches, St. David's Tsawwassen, St. Simon's North Vancouver, and St. Matthew's Abbotsford, have all run numerous Alpha courses over the past few years and contribute much of their successful growth to Alpha. The Rev. Trevor Walters of St. Matthew's speaks for all three churches when he states, "For all of us, I think we would say without a doubt that in the past three to four years of being involved in Alpha, we have seen more people come to Christ in those three years than in all the years put together of our ministries before Alpha. It's very much a question of 'before Alpha' and 'after Alpha' in terms of the growth and development of our churches."
The video also discusses the challenging tension between orthodoxy and compassion, the importance of worship, balancing the needs of the church community against relevance to those outside the church, and equipping the saints for service. Each church is mission-oriented and strives for a norm that "every member has a ministry."
"Keys to Church Growth" was produced by Norlynn Audio Visual Services and co-sponsored by Anglican Renewal Ministries . Copies can be ordered from Norlynn Audio Visual for a cost of $19.95 Canadian plus $3 shipping ($13 US plus $3 shipping) by calling (604) 988-3441, e-mailing stuart@lightspeed.bc.ca, or writing Norlynn at Box 86548, North Vancouver, BC, V7L 4L1. The web site for Norlynn has more information about the video. (UK residents may request a PAL version of the video for 9 Pounds plus 2 Pounds shipping.)
Yours in Christ, Ed Hird+
Missioner, Anglican Renewal Ministries of
Canada
Member, National Alpha Canada Board
p.s. You are encouraged to let your network know about this video and to
e-mail this message to Christian friends.
This is an abridgement of an article in the Winter 2000 "Anglicans for Renewal" obtainable from Anglican Renewal Ministries.