Church Growth 101 by Glenn Mollette: A Chapter Summary

Introduction and Overview

In his 2012 book Church Growth 101: A Church Growth Guidebook for Ministers and Laity, Glenn Mollette offers valuable insights on pastoral leadership, evangelism, church ministry, church development, and other aspects of pastoral work. With extensive reference to biblical text, the book is organised into 15 chapters. This paper offers a chapter-by-chapter summary of the book, followed by a reflection on its implications for the author's personal life and ministry.

Pastoral Vision, Connection, and Soul-Winning (Chapters 1–3)

The first chapter is about vision. It is based on Proverbs 29:18, which states that "where there is no vision the people perish." According to Mollette (2012, p. 1), "vision begins with calling." He narrates the encounters of Paul, Moses, and Peter to illustrate how calling is the basis of our vision, driven by our intrinsic desire and strength to serve God. Our internal drive is motivated by what we see or hear God doing in our lives and the lives of others. However, Mollette points out that living a vision-oriented Christian life is not an easy endeavour — it is a journey full of ups and downs, challenges, tribulations, and temptations. In spite of these hardships, vision is vital for the growth of the church. Having vision means having a passion for living for God. We orient our lives to the service of God and develop a strong relationship with Him at the individual level, which ultimately builds our fellowship with other Christians. This creates a healthy church — an environment where love, forgiveness, help, and inclusiveness abound.

Chapter 2 focuses on connecting people to God and to one another. The overarching message is that a church that helps its congregation connect with God and fellow Christians will experience growth. This message is anchored in Luke 10:27, which urges Christians to love God with all their body, mind, and soul, and to love their neighbours as themselves. According to Mollette, connecting with God and fellow Christians contributes to church growth by enabling conversion. When we connect with God, we gain the power to introduce others to Him, thereby expanding the congregation. Connecting with God also increases our commitment to the church — not only devoting ourselves to serving God, but also fulfilling obligations such as financial support and helping the needy. Connecting with God also gives us a sense of completeness. As Mollette explains, we may find fulfilment in family, friends, work, and material wealth, but nothing brings ultimate completeness like our relationship with God. The church fosters this completeness through activities such as ushering, music, prayer, and preaching.

The third chapter dwells on winning souls for the kingdom of God. Mollette explains that pastors and passionate Christians have a responsibility to bring the lost to the church — they have a mission to help people become born again. It is important to note that the lost are not only people who do not attend church or who are non-Christians. There are also many people who claim church membership but are not born again. Paying attention to this group is important for building the church. Every church service presents an ideal opportunity to reach the lost. They can also be reached through relevant preaching, a welcoming church environment, personal invitations, and home visits. Mollette adds that outreach should also target people who have never heard the gospel. Essentially, the core message of Chapter 3 is that pastors and committed Christians must endeavour to win souls for God — this is indeed the core mission of Christianity.

The Pastor's Role: Leadership, Outreach, and Care (Chapters 4–6)

Chapter 4 pays attention to the role of the pastor in the church. According to Mollette (2012, p. 19), "the pastor is a central figure in the community." In the church context, the pastor wears several hats simultaneously. He is not only a preacher and a minister, but also a shepherd, a counsellor, a consoler, a healer, a leader, an organiser, a motivator, and a role model. These roles are especially important given the day-to-day hardships the congregation faces. From work difficulties and family problems to sickness and emotional suffering, church members often encounter adversities that might shake their faith. By offering spiritual, social, moral, and emotional support, the pastor can help church members overcome life's tribulations. While church members have needs, Mollette reminds us that the pastor also has needs — the pastor is human too. Thus, church members must also be willing to pray for the pastor and offer whatever support he or she may require. Chapter 4 is arguably one of the most insightful chapters of the book, as it highlights the multiple roles the pastor plays in building the church.

In Chapter 5, Mollette discusses pastoral outreach. This chapter builds on the role of the pastor described in preceding chapters. The pastor must be strongly committed to the growth of the church, achieved not only through preaching, teaching, and leading, but also through outreach. Outreach means visiting — and visiting may take several forms, including door-to-door calls, telephone calls, office appointments, Sunday morning surveys, and evening dialogues with church members throughout the week. Outreach contributes to church growth by presenting opportunities to convert the lost and gain new church members. The fundamental message of Chapter 5 is that church growth cannot be achieved at the pulpit alone. One may be a great preacher, but without outreach, growing the church can be very difficult. This is a challenge to many pastors — they must be personally involved in outreach. The chapter also acknowledges challenges pastors may face in outreach, such as the lack of an open-door policy in urban areas.

The role of the pastor is further developed in Chapter 6, which explains how pastors can demonstrate care through preaching. Pastoral care is a vital component of church ministry and an important skill for an effective pastor. As explained by Mollette, pastoral care is about ministering to the needs of the congregation and usually takes a substantial portion of the pastor's time. It may be carried out at home, in the hospital, at the pastor's residence, or from the pulpit. The prayer, help, and encouragement the congregation receives through these avenues go a long way in ministering to church members and building the church. Mollette notes that pastoral care goes beyond preaching about salvation — the pastor should also address life's problems such as depression, parenting struggles, failure, anger, divorce, and bereavement. These challenges can cause individuals to question God and ultimately reduce their commitment to the church, hence the need for the pastor to address them routinely. Chapter 6 is in many ways an extension of Chapter 4, reinforcing the breadth of the pastor's responsibilities.

Reference

Mollette, G. (2012). Church growth 101: A church growth guidebook for ministers and laity. Newburgh: Newburgh Press.