State of the Church

From the Series—State of the Church
January 27, 2002

In November of 2001, we took fifteen minutes on a Sunday morning to do a 25 question survey. We do it every year for one very simple reason: the survey helps us serve you better!

According to Ephesians 4:12, the job of the church is to “equip God’s people for works of service.” That word equip has three distinct meanings. It means “to restore to original condition.” The image is that of a doctor setting a broken bone so that it can heal and be restored to original condition. Secondly, the word “equip” means “to complete.” The image is one of an architect who completes construction on a building project. We are all “under construction.” We’re “works in progress.” And, finally, the word “equip” means “to fit.” The image is that of a tailor who takes measurements so that the clothing they make for a client is a perfect fit. NCC’s annual survey is our way of taking measurements. We measure this body of believers so that our ministry “fits” NCC so to speak.

A Statistical Snapshot

NCC is 80% single

80% of NCCers are 35 or under

I’m thrilled that we’re reaching so many twenty and thirty-somethings. But we need to become more inter-generational. In Psalm 71:18, David says, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.” We want to meet the needs of our forty, fifty and sixty somethings as much as our twenty and thirty somethings. But I also want those of you who have been around the sun a few more times to see NCC as an opportunity to impact the next generation. We need your leadership. We need your mentorship.

50% of NCCers have attended 6 months or less

We experienced tremendous growth this past year! We have gone from an average attendance of 200 at the beginning of the year to a congregation of 400 at the end of the year. Part of the reason is the next statistic.

85% invited someone to NCC last year

Almost everyone invited someone to NCC. That one statistic may be the most meaningful to me. From day one, our goal was to create an experience on Sunday morning that you not only loved, but loved inviting people to.

65% heard about NCC via word of mouth

We do alot of creative marketing. We sent out 30,000 “Admit One” cards last Easter. We advertise before every movie on every screen at Union Station. But our most effective marketing is good old fashioned word of mouth. 65% of you are here because a friend invited you! Study after study has shown that 50% of people will accept an invitation to church. Keep doing what you’re doing!

23% of NCCers didn’t attend church regularly prior to coming to NCC

I’ve said this before and let me say it again. God didn’t position us at Union Station--in the middle of the marketplace--to “hold the fort”. The Station is a strategic spiritual beachhead. We need to be a church for the unchurched. Let me tell you what that doesn’t mean. That doesn’t mean we water down the message or tone down the worship. We want high-octane teaching and worship. Postmodern people aren’t looking for a watered down experience!

Being a church for the unchurched simply means we’re going to do our level best to remove the unnecessary obstacles that keep people out of church. We’re going to speak in a language that people understand. We’re going to talk about issues that are relevant to people’s lives. And we’re going to create a spiritual experience on Sunday mornings help people connect with God and connect with others.

35% are involved in a community group

About 175 people are currently connected to one of our ten community groups. Our three-year goal is to train 100 leaders and launch 30 community groups. We had 25 current leaders and 25 potential leaders at our community group leaders retreat in January so we’re already half-way to our “100 leaders” goal.

27% are involved in a ministry

58% have never been through a spiritual gift seminar

66% of NCCers would definitely or probably go on an “Inward Bound” retreat

We believe that God has given everyone spiritual gifts. And we find fulfillment and fruitfulness by using those gifts. Let me make a distinction. Natural resources disappear when you use them. If you have one million square acres of trees you have a limited resource. The more you use the less you have. Human resources are the exact opposite. They disappear if you don’t use them. The less you use the more you lose. Our goal is

100% involvement in ministry. We’re at 27%. Our top priority in 2002 is to close the gap!

We are going to create an experience we call our “Inward Bound Retreat”. We are going to pour a lot of time and money and energy into doing it and doing it right. It is going to change the trajectory of people’s lives. It will deal with four dimensions of who we are: history, destiny, gifts, and passions. The capstone of that experience will be an interview or consultation with someone who’s been through the process. You’ll sit down for a half hour and process your gift mix and where you might fit in ministry. Our goal is to take 100 people on an Inward Bound retreat. And we want to double involvement in ministry in 2002.

One footnote. Let me tell you why we’re going to do it in a retreat format. In his book, A New Kind of Christian, Brian McLaren says, “I look back over my years of ministry and ask what has really helped people change and deepen spiritually: 1) retreats, 2) short-term missions trips, 3) small groups, 4) one-to-one relationships, 5) getting involved leading something or serving somewhere. I look over this list and wonder what they have in common. The biggest thing--intensity.” He says, “Odd: we try to make our spiritual formation experiences routine, and that maybe guarantees they become less effective. The more intense and the less routine the experience, the greater the impact. More spiritual formation takes place in a weekend retreat than in six months of weekly meetings. Intensity is an undervalued key to spiritual growth.”

45% of NCCers would probably or definitely attend a Saturday Night service

51% would be willing to be part of a 3 month “Simulcast” experiment

34% of regular attenders would definitely or probably be part of a Church Plant

That means that all of these are viable options. Three years from now, our goal is to be one church with three locations. But we need to take some intermediate steps first. In 2002 we’ll experiment with different services in different theaters just like there are different movies in different theaters. We’ll continue to step out in faith and “experiment” with different ways of doing church.

January 27, 2005

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Let me hit the fast forward button and talk for a minute about January 27th, 2005 . Here is where I’d like

NCC to be in three years.

NCC will be one church meeting in three locations.
NCC will have invested $300,000 in missions
NCC will have 30 community groups and 100 community group leaders
NCC will have taken 300 people through an “Inward Bound Retreat”
NCC will have a coffeehouse and offices at the corner of 2nd & F Street

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that’s at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20