What it meant ---we learned---was for each of us to “carry the church out of this building”—to our neighborhoods, schools and work places. Not by “preaching” or “confessing our faith”… but by getting to know those around us—the people we encounter every day --- better.
And finally, we asked all of you to reach out to 1008 people you didn’t know very well, get to know them better and tell us their names
… And you did!
Our steering team’s work is over, but NCD’s work will go on. It will go on through our existing groups--Connections, Deacons, Small Groups, the Apartment Ministry, Cross in the City, Bay Area Turning Point, and many more.
But more importantly, the work will go on through each of you. In the coming weeks and months we ask you to continue to get to know someone better, spend time with the new neighbor, student or colleague in your workplace.
Serve where you are, outside the walls of this building, over coffee or salad or pizza or even yard work!
Find new and creative ways to take Christ’s church “out of this building”!
Summary Report for NCD Phase I
Powerpoint - What we Learned
1008 by 2008
Invest and Invite
Challenge
Who?
You! If you’re a member of the choir, or in a band, or you’re a member of a small group, or you’re not a member of a small group, or if you’ve been on a mission trip, or if you’re in a class or in a Bible study, or in a family, or not in a family, then this is for you.
What?
Join with us to reach out to 1008 people between now and December 31 to invest in their lives in both large and small ways
How?
By deliberately planning an activity, inviting a friend, neighbor or co-worker to a CLPC activity, or thinking of a creative way to “invest” in someone and “invite” them to join you in an activity.
Need some ideas?
- Invite a new family in your neighborhood to dinner (if 10 families did this we could reach 40 people)
- Sponsor a mid-week dinner for parents of VISIONs students
- Pray for a co-worker or neighbor for 30 days, Tell us who you prayed for, why you chose them and what happened as a result. (If 50 of you did this, we could touch 50 people)
- Call 6 new Clear Lake residents and ask what information they need to know about the---schools, dry cleaners, etc.
- Host a dinner with several CLPC members. Each of you invite a friend or co-worker who is not a CLPC member. Plan an evening of fellowship and fun.
Want to Learn More?
Speak with any Session member or Contact anyone on the NCD Steering team: Lynn Calhoun, Kari Euker, Kathy Luther, Linda Meador, Don Metzler, Jud Sidman
Resources, Helpful ideas, Forms
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Ideas for ways to participate
Ideas for how to do a Prayer Walk
Praise Report Form (note, you can also email NCDSteeringCommittee@clpc.org)
1008 names poster
Natural Church Development
CLPC to go "Natural"
Does a church PLOW AHEAD during its INTERIM period (between called pastors) or does it SLOW DOWN to catch its breath? Well, some of both. Many of the normal dimensions of congregational life continue, such as worship, spiritual formation, the election of officers, etc. But the congregation also “plows ahead” by slowing down a bit to get a clearer sense of its general health and identity BEFORE it calls a new pastor!
As they lead the congregation in the interim preparation, the elders of CLPC have approved a congregational health assessment process called NATURAL CHURCH DEVELOPMENT.
What is NCD?
This approach to assessing and fostering church health was developed from an initial study of ONE THOUSAND CONGREGATIONS around the world. What the study discovered was that across languages, cultures, denominations, etc., growing and declining churches differ significantly from one another in eight key areas. The Natural Church Development inventory helps a church discover its relative health in each of these eight quality areas. Today, in the United States alone, over 10,000 congregations from over forty different denominations and communions are making use of NCD.
What are the quality factors of church health?
They are Empowering Leadership, Gift-Oriented Ministry, Passionate Spirituality, Functional Structures, Inspiring Worship Service, Holistic Small Groups, Need-Oriented Evangelism, and Loving Relationships.
How will CLPC use Natural Church Development?
A session-approved task force will lead CLPC’s use of the NCD process. Various representative members will be asked to participate in taking the NCD inventory. Testing with over 30,000 congregations has confirmed the validity and accuracy of the “snapshot” of congregational health this inventory provides. The task force will then engage CLPC leaders and members in utilizing our spiritual strengths to bring greater balance in the area of our greatest weakness.
What is the intended result?
The NCD Task Force will engage CLPC leaders and members over approximately 8 months in discovering and better utilizing spiritual resources God has given us in order to take distinct steps toward greater spiritual health and fruitfulness. The NCD approach assumes that ONLY GOD can bring spiritual growth, but that Christian believers can learn how to better cooperate and participate in the growth GOD wants to bring in His Church.
"He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Mark 4: 26-29
More about Natural Church Development
Summary of Natural Church Development
Why NCD?
Link to Natural Church Development Website
Email CLPC NCD Steering Committee: NCDSteeringCommittee@clpc.org
Results of CLPC Survey October 2006
This shows Need-oriented Evangelism to be our "Minimum Factor". This is an area which we will be looking at over the next year.
Please read the next section to find more about "Need-Oriented Evangelism". Check with a member of the NCD Team to see
how you can get involved in this area. Check back often to see what is planned in this area.
How do we meet people at their perceived point of need,
And help them to take steps toward faith through the church?
Need-Oriented Evangelism Fact Sheet
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