Our Mission: Assisting the Life Cycle of the Congregation
Every congregation has a "Life Cycle" with corresponding gifts
from God. The birth and infancy of a congregation are
marked by discovery and experimentation. Childhood and
Adolescence bring growth, purpose, core values and mission.
As a congregation reaches Adulthood, relationships and
discipleship create the climate for unparalleled service and
outreach. When the congregation is in its Prime, it
has developed systems of accountability to strengthen stewardship,
foster relationships, and boaster outreach and missions. Prime
ushers in Maturity that is soon followed by the
Empty Nest period of congregation life. When management and
activities start to replace mission and outreach, the congregation
is said to be in Retirement. Old Age is
that state in which congregational life is nearing the end of its
viability. During old age, habit and tradition replace vitality and
the mission of the congregation is only a memory.
Redevelopment is ideally undertaken when a congregation is nearing
the end of Prime in the Life Cycle. At this time the congregation is
vital and relationships are deeply satisfying. The congregation has
a vital mission and is already journeying close to God.
Many congregations wait until Empty Nest or Retirement when
maintenance has replaced missionary vision. The congregation
becomes inward focused and dissatisfaction often creeps into
congregational meetings. The Good News is that if your congregation
is truly “ready,” God can lead you on a journey of redevelopment and
transformation. No, it will not be easy, redeveloping a
congregation in Retirement requires more dramatic changes and a
longer journey, but it is possible!
By the time a congregation has reached old age on the life cycle,
redevelopment is no longer possible. Something much more radical and
discontinuous with the past is needed--the congregation must journey
with God to reinvent itself. Such a reinvention is called
transformation and it is the most difficult of all journeys. Few
congregations stay the course on the transformation journey, but
those who persevere will find themselves reborn with all the
vitality and vision that come with infancy.
The Christian Church In Kentucky (CCK) journeys with congregations
through every season of life. Together we can discover new ways to
articulate mission, discern God’s direction, and learn to creatively
embrace conflict.
CCK takes your redevelopment journey seriously and has an
outstanding redevelopment team consisting of Greg Alexander, Steven
Johns-Boehme, and Lon Oliver. Together they bring 25 years of
congregational experience to their work and have studied
redevelopment and transformation with George Bullard, Alice Mann,
Roy Oswald, and Peter Steinke.
If you and your congregation discern that God is calling you to
begin the journey of Redevelopment, we stand ready to help you assess
your readiness and begin the journey. By God’s grace, your
congregation can become a vital mission-centered community of
disciples ministering to the hurts and needs of your community and
the world. You can journey towards reaching your full Kingdom
potential.
