GROWING HEALTHY CHURCHES
2015 Serving Churches & Their Leaders
Christcentered, Spiritempowered, and Biblically directed Leaders & Churches
Š 2015 Growing Healthy Churches. All Rights Reser ved.
CONTENTS Celebration Program & Annual Report 2015
EVENTS
REGIONAL CLUSTERS
04/05
20
C E L E B R AT I O N I N F O
RECRUITMENT
06/12
21
EXECUTIVE MINISTER
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
14/15
22
GHC PRESIDENT
KINGD OM NET WORKS
16/17
22
T R A N S F O R M AT I O N
FINANCIAL REPORT
18
23/26
CHURCH PLANTING
BALLOT
19
27
EVENTS 4
To g e t h e r. One In Christ. a network of leaders growing together
Leadership Retreat April 10-12-2016 Cambria Pines Lodge Cambria, CA
Find A GHC Cluster Near You S I E R R A N E VA D A A R E A
S A N F R A N C I S C O B AY A R E A
Meets with Bill McCreedy: 1st Wednesday of each month at 8:00 am at Adele's Restaurant, 1112 N Carson St, Carson City, NV 89701
Meets with Tom Cullen: 3rd Thursday of the month from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Locations vary, please check the GHC website calendar.
SACRAMENTO AREA
S PA N I S H S P E A K I N G
Meets with Curtis Mitchell: 1st Thursday of each month at 9:00 am at Antioch Progressive Church, 7650 Amherst St, Sacramento, CA
Meets with Pablo Zelaya: Last Saturday of the month at 9:00 am at Primera Iglesia Bautista 3645 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA
N O R T H C E N T R A L VA L L E Y A R E A
CHURCH PLANTING
Meets with Pete Shaw: 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm Locations vary, please check the GHC website calendar.
Meets with Tom Cullen: Email tomcullen@growinghealthychurches.org for more information.
N O R T H B AY A R E A Meets with Pete Shaw: 4th Thursday of the month from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Locations vary, please check the GHC website calendar.
Get More Info at GrowingHealthyChurches.com
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37
GrowingHealthyChurches.org
|
info@growinghealthychurches.org
5
6 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HANFORD 9 1 2 5 1 3 1 / 2 Av e | H a n f o r d , C A 9 3 2 3 0
Tu e s d a y, O c t o b e r 6 , 2 0 1 5 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 11:15 AM 12:30 PM 1:30 PM 3:00 PM
O p e n i n g S e s s i o n | To m M e r c e r Break S e s s i o n I I | To m M e r c e r Lunch S e s s i o n I I I | To m M e r c e r End
S O U T H VA L L E Y C O M M U N I T Y C H U R C H 1 0 5 0 We s t B u s h S t r e e t | L e m o o r e , C A 9 3 2 4 5
We d n e s d a y, O c t o b e r 7 , 2 0 1 5 9:00 AM 9:30 AM 10:45 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:15 PM 2:30 PM 3:00 PM
Business Meeting Opening Session | Tim Brown Break Breakout Session 1 Lunch Breakout Session 2 Closing Celebration Concludes
Growing Healthy Churches
7
CELEBRATIoN 2015
October 6& 7
HANFORD, CA
|
LEMOORE, CA Tw o a r e b e t t e r t h a n o n e , because they have a good return for their labor Ecclesiastes 4:9
C E L E B R AT I O N S P E A K E R S
Tom Mercer has been the senior pastor and primary teacher at the High Desert Church of Victorville in Southern California for the past 31 years. During that time, HDC has grown from 125 to over 11,000 and has been featured in a number of publications, including The New York Times. He received his formal education at Biola University and Talbot Theological Seminary.
Tim Brown has been the Executive Minister of Growing Healthy Churches for over 2 years. Tim was one of the most effective lead pastors in GHC who has opened up doors of ministry across denominations and geographical boundaries. He received his Doctorate of Ministry in Church Growth and Leadership from Northern Baptist Seminary.
8
We d n e s d a y
October 7, 2015 Come learn, get equipped and grow with some of the GHC Staff and other church leaders like you. Bring your note paper, questions, and your insight. Choose from 3 different Breakout Sessions at two different times. Breakout Session I begins at 11:00 am & Breakout Session II begins at 1:15 pm with lunch in between. We appreciate the opportunity to grow along side of you!
BREAKOUTS 9
Recruitment Consultant
Administrator
Regional Consultant
Gilbert Foster
Pam Breen
Bill Hoyt
Gilbert is a Scotsman who has spent many years helping people and churches. With the uncanny knack of causing people to rethink who they are and what life is all about he calls everyone to avoid apathy and embrace the adventure of life.
Pam joined Growing Healthy Churches in 1987 and has served as Administrator since 1997.
Bill has served as Pastor, Seminary Professor, Executive Minister of the Southwest Baptist Conference and a consultant to churches, denominations and other notfor-profit corporations.
He is the Recruitment & Development Consultant for Growing Healthy Churches. Additionally he is the cofounder of the nonprofit children's charity When I Grow Up. He lives and breathes the achievable goal of kicking extreme poverty off the planet in our generation – and churches being at the leading edge of the work of justice and empowerment.
A LEADERSHIP C O N V E R S AT I O N : My r e a l i t y, t h e d i s c o v e r y o f g r o w t h e n g i n e s , w h a t ’s g o i n g on behind the pulpit & how entropy always lurks.
Prior to this, her primary focus was in the area of missions and stewardship. Pam brings to the role a 20 year background in banking that included positions of teller through that of Assistant Vice President in charge of Operations. Pam has served in many church roles including treasurer and moderator (her favorite) that have been helpful in her current role.
TOP 10 MOST CHALLENGING THINGSHURCHES M U ST D O T O S TAY IN BUSINESS
Bill has been privileged to observe countless churches from many different vantage points. His consulting has included a wide range of areas including leader development; strategic ministry planning; governance structures and boardmanship; fund raising; conflict intervention and change agentry. The breadth of this experience enriches what he has to offer churches, pastors and executives.
C O N G R E G AT I O N A L SELF-ASSESSMENT
RECOGNITIONS 10
G R O W I N G H E A LT H Y C H U R C H E S
RECOGNITIONS N E W PA S T O R S Rev. Steve Pridemore | Hillside Church of Marin in Corte Madera, CA Rev. Bob Cherry | First Baptist Church in Tulare, CA Rev. Jim Day | The Journey Church in Sonora, CA Rev. Zachary Darrah | First Baptist Church in Madera, CA Rev. Charles Northrop | First Baptist Church in Rio Linda, CA NEW CHURCH PLANTS Heavenly Grace in Dublin, CA | Lead Pastor/Planter: Vijay Sanagasetti
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything
RETIREMENT Rev. Dave Bray Rev. Dave Stroder Rev. Donald Ng
I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
I N L OV I NG M E MORY Rev. Dr. Vincent Coletta
Matthew 28:19-20
11
O R D I NAT I O N
ANNIVERSARY 20 YEAR
50 YEAR
Rev. Dr. Lawrence Jay Rev. Terrie Purgason Rev. Gilbert Foster Rev. Dr. Peter R. Shaw
Rev. Dr. Caroll Broadfoot Rev. John Eby Rev. Ray Gentle Rev. Henry Gaines Rev. William Harrison Rev. Darrel Smith
30 YEAR Rev. Gregg Svalstad Rev. Sam Estes Rev. Lauran Bethell
60 YEAR Rev. Neville Arroues Rev. Myrwood Guy Rev. Douglas Siden
40 YEAR Rev. Stephen Sprinkel Rev. Ben Chin Rev. Donald Ng
T h a n k Yo u f o r S e r v i n g
EXHIBITORS 12
VISIT THE EXHIBIT AREA We d n e s d a y O n l y Grab a cup of coffee and come network with your partners in ministry. Find out how they can help you and How you may be able to help them!
13
$ 1 0 K M AT C H I N G F U N D S Chr istian C ommunity Credit Union
We are celebrating over 20 years of giving with "The Cards that Give to Missions” program.
Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU) has offered a $10,000 matching fund for gifts to California Fire Relief through OGHS available through November 15, 2015 or when the match has been met, whichever comes first. Those who wish to take advantage of this offer should mark their donations with “OGHS - CA Fire Relief - CCCU.” Matching funds will come from Christian Community Credit Union’s “Cards that Give to Missions” program.
To date, total Credit Union donations to international and local missions projects has surpassed $4 million!
Visit us on We d n e s d a y i n t h e Exhibit Area
While we offer a wide array of personal and business credit cards, we also have many personal financing options, such as savings and free checking accounts, and even church and ministry-financing loans.
At Christian Community Credit Union, our focus is on people, not profits. We help build God’s Kingdom by partnering with individuals and ministries to help them manage their money in a God-honoring way.
Support GHC Missions:
Yo u r Money Building God's Kingdom™
GrowingHealthyChurches.com/give
EXECUTIVE MINISTER 14 GHC is an association of approximately 150 churches working together in covenant to help advance the Kingdom of God by pursuing the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Although we are small in number we are demonstrating that when we join together we can have a substantial impact in the Kingdom of God. I now have almost three years under my belt as the Executive Minister and I am filled with more hope and excitement about our future than ever before. WHEN I ACCEPTED THIS POSITION, I HAD THREE BIG CONCERNS.
TIM BROWN EXECUTIVE MINISTER For those of us who live in the central valley of California we are no strangers to fog. During late fall through early spring, we can go days without seeing a glimpse of the sun due to that thick impenetrable force known as Tule fog. Occasionally at night, it is so foggy that we cannot even see our neighbors’ houses across the street. We may see the dim luminescent glow of a streetlight. I was surprised to read that a dense fog covering seven city blocks with a depth of 100 feet is actually composed of less than one glass of water, according to the Bureau of Standards in Washington. That amount of water is divided into about 60 billion tiny droplets. Yet when those miniscule particles settle in a town, city or countryside they have a visible consequence. The force of these small water droplets, when joined together, can almost blot out everything from sight. Seemingly small things when joined together have a substantial impact. These are the thoughts that keep me inspired these days when I think about Growing Healthy Churches…not fog or that things are foggy! But rather, when seemingly small things join together there can be a substantial effect.
1. FINANCIAL STATUS: GHC had successfully helped many struggling churches experience turnaround and had helped to plant over 50 new churches. However, financial support through mission giving had decreased from approximately 1.1 million in 2006 to $400,000 in 2012. Sadly, many of the churches and church plants that we had invested time, money and resources in were either not supporting GHC at all or investing very little in GHC. And, while the mission giving was decreasing, the expenses of ministry and church planting were increasing. GHC had been operating in deficit for many years. 2. LACK OF SHARED VISION: Confusion about our vision existed. Many questions were common among leaders. For example a common question was “Are we a church planting organization or do we help existing churches or do we do both?” I feared this was leading to a lack of unity in various ways. 3. RELATIONAL FRAGMENTATION: In conversation with others, I was aware that many of our churches and church leaders felt as if they did not matter to GHC. Some felt alienated due to slow growth in their churches or due to the size of their congregation. Some expressed concerns because of where they were located in the region or their racial ethnicity. Many of our church planters did not realize that GHC was actually a denominational region and were confused as to why we do what we do. And both planters and existing GHC church leaders had questions about resource allocation.
15 In my first 4 months on the job, our GHC staff conducted a survey. All of our pastors were interviewed either in person or by phone and Bill Hoyt produced a region-wide survey. The surveys and interviews validated my initial concerns and highlighted a few others as well. It was apparent that we needed to work towards a stronger and sharper identity and a re-visioning of GHC. However, in order to do so, we needed to strengthen our relationships. SO, MY PRIMARY OBJECTIVES IN MY FIRST TWO YEARS WITH GHC WERE TO: 1. Reestablish relationships with our GHC churches and leaders. 2. Refocus our connections through our clusters. 3. Reconnect with churches and groups who felt abandoned or confused by GHC. 4. Formulate a financial strategic plan to address our financial deficiencies. For those who have experienced and understand organizational transition, it quickly becomes evident that the transition process takes longer than you would think. And, it is difficult work. Many want to rush the process and find themselves back at the same spot a few years later. Transition demands and requires patience. And it takes a great team of people working together. And the staff of GHC has worked relentlessly in reestablishing relationships with our pastors and churches. We implemented a financial strategy and roadmap that is helping us to become financially fit. During organizational transition it is also not uncommon to have some unexpected challenges. GHC has been no different. It became apparent that I had to make some changes in staff. Though difficult and sometimes unpopular, staff changes and realignment had to happen. We also had to work towards a more unified and sustainable approach in several areas of ministry including church planting.
Some decisions were not well liked; however, I believe we are now poised for another great season of ministry in GHC. In fact, 2015 has been a tremendous year for our staff team. Our team is more unified, energized and excited than I have ever experienced. We have connected with more of our pastors and churches than ever before. Weekly we are resourcing pastors and church leaders in numerous ways. On most Sundays, a GHC staffer can be found in a GHC church either visiting or speaking. More pastors are participating in clusters than ever before. Many churches are increasing their mission giving to GHC and many are reengaging with GHC. An increasing number of churches are engaging in strategic health assessments and coaching. We launched several new leadership clusters including one focused on assisting our Hispanic pastors. And from April 2013 to present, we have assisted in the starts of 23 new congregations. This year we also launched an international school for pastors in Huruma, Kenya. Huruma is a slum on the outskirts of Nairobi. Additionally, we began resourcing and training pastors and church leaders in Latvia. We also assisted in the launching of Heavenly Grace in Dublin, CA. The big challenge for us in 2015 has been working towards a unified understanding of our identity, mission, vision, core values and strategy. The GHC staff team has been working relentlessly towards that end for many months and hopefully we will complete our process in November. Growing Healthy Churches exists to serve churches and church leaders and we are exceedingly excited about the coming years. In my years of ministry, I have personally witnessed what happens when groups of leaders and churches come together to further God’s Kingdom. Although we may seem small and insignificant, when joined together, just like those water droplets, we are formidable force with which to be reckoned. I look forward to our association’s ministry together.
GHC
16
Get Involved Join the team by participating in our growth, the growth of your lay leaders and the growth of your church.
Tw o a r e b e t t e r t h a n o n e , b e c a u s e t h e y have a good return for their labor Ecclesiastes 4:9
GHC PRESIDENT 17
This past year, Dr. Tim Brown and the GHC Board have worked together as a team to tackle many of the challenges that were untended for years. Issues from personnel to policies have been our core focus as Tim prepares the Region for many positive changes impacting pastoral leaders, their churches and our part of God’s kingdom for years to come. Those who choose to join or remain on the GHC team will be the recipients of this hard but necessary work in the days ahead.
GARY COOPER GHC PRESIDENT Former basketball great Michael Jordan is quoted as saying “Talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” I would argue that this is true whether the challenge is secular or spiritual. The sports world regularly discusses the possibility of particular teams becoming a ‘dynasty’ within their particular sport. Few succeed, and those that achieve the milestone of winning multi-year championships inevitably face the task of having to rebuild. The stars of the 1970’s and 1980’s the Oakland A’s, Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers rose bright for a decade, only to fall back to earth. Alas, nothing lasts forever. Like championship sports teams, GHC celebrated a number of years of excellence from church revitalization to church planting. Some wonder if we can once again achieve such heights again. I believe the answer is yes, but to do so, we must exercise our recommitment to team GHC. We’re in this together.
Best practices in areas of personnel, policy and finances have already or will be implemented to insure that GHC is well positioned to tackle the major challenges facing virtually every religious organization in our country today. These changes will free Tim and his staff to focus on God’s Kingdom vision and its’ implementation. The Seattle Seahawks football team calls them the 12th Man, the all-important fan that shows up every game to lend thunderous support to the team they have come to love, through thick and thin. While possibly not as loud, thousands more arrive at their favorite college or NFL football stadium to cheer their respective team on – that’s what loyal fans do. Every time tech giant Apple releases yet another smart phone, thousands of die-hard Apple fans line up to make their next purchase – that’s what loyal customers do. This year GHC will once again provide the best in training opportunities; church best practices, webinars, pastors clusters, excellent 1:1 coaching and the chance to work alongside quality pastors and lay leaders. We do so as a team – that’s what GHC does. The only thing left for you and I to do is to join the team by participating in our growth, the growth of your lay leaders and the growth of your church. The stakes are far greater than a season championship, a trophy or MVP, they’re about the kingdom and – that’s’ what we do, because we are God’s team!
R E G I O NA L C O N S U LTA N T 18
regularly see evidence of God’s hand at work. It’s so neat to see Pastors growing spiritually and in their leadership skills. I love it when a church makes some changes, breaks through and moves to a higher level. Many of our pastors and church planters are gifted, committed risk-takers who love Jesus and are passionate about reaching the lost. So much of what I see so often cannot be explained in terms of human effort or skills. I get to see “God-happenings” all around GHC.
BILL HOYT R E G I O NA L C O N S U LTA N T As I travel around the United States and work with churches and other denominational groups, I find myself thinking time and time again, “I am so glad to be part of Growing Healthy Churches.” It’s not just that we have so many great pastors and lay leaders though it’s true, we do. It’s not just that we have so many solid, healthy, outward-focused churches, though it’s true, we do. It’s not just that we are so clearly focused on multiplication – the reproduction of believers through evangelism, of leaders through training and of churches through church planting. What makes me so pleased to be part of Growing Healthy Churches is that God is at work in our midst. In my coaching of GHC pastors and consulting with GHC churches, I
What inspires me is that I get to work with God and many of you, the pastors and lay leaders in GHC. I get to coach you, and in some instances, consult with you and your churches. I love seeing what God does when a church agrees to a church health assessment and the coaching that follows. Marked changes in ministry effectiveness follow and we, once again, get to see God at work. Together face incredible challenges – the increased secularization of our culture, the proliferation of government rules and regulations that impact churches, legal decisions in the courts that make ministering according to Biblical principles more difficult, our ineffectiveness in reaching Millennials, and the reality of plain, old, gardenvariety sin in our hearts and our churches to name a few. But God is still at work. He is still on the Throne. He is working in and through the leaders and churches of GHC. He is still “greater than he who is in the world.”(I John 4:4) So I am looking forward to seeing many more “God-happenings” all around GHC. Maybe as I get the privilege of coming alongside you and serving you and your church in 2016.
Making Disciples of All Nations
CHURCH PLANTING 19
Boldly Supporting Churches & Bravely Planting New Churches
TOM CULLEN C H U R C H P L A N T FA C I L I TAT O R The past year has been a year of transition and regrouping for our church planting ministry with the departure of its director, J. D. Pearring. JD made an enormous contribution to expanding the Kingdom of God with the many churches he helped plant and nurture since 2006 across the nation. He has also founded his own church planting ministry called Excel Leadership Network. With our thanks for JD’s work also go our prayers and best wishes for much success. In Tim Brown’s webinar on April 27, 2015 titled “Part 4 Reaching The Unchurched,” beginning at the 13:18 minute mark Tim states very clearly and passionately his and GHC’s commitment to church planting. Notable points he makes are:
• • •
Church planting is a major GHC strategy in reaching the unchurched Our goal is to plant 50 churches by 2020 A renewed focus will be on planting 20 of those plants in northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area
If you want to hear Tim’s vision for yourself contact the GHC office at info@growinghealthychurches.org or call (888) 290-2229 to obtain a link to the video. Right now we are having conversations with other church planting organizations to see how we might restructure to have an even better church planting enterprise. In the interim here are several ways you can be a part of Kingdom expansion through church planting:
• • • •
Make church planting a part of your personal and your church’s prayer life Make church planting a topic of conversation in your pastors’ clusters Challenge your congregation to support church planting through their giving Let me know how I can help!
L E A D R E G I O N A L PA S T O R 20
We have consistently offered cluster experiences in the North Bay, San Francisco, Sacramento, North Central Valley, North Sacramento Valley, and in the Reno/Tahoe area. South Central Valley will be re-opened before the end of the year. Look for an additional Sacramento option to emerge as well. We also offer a Spanish-speaking cluster in Stockton for our Spanish-speaking pastors – nearly two dozen attend, some driving three hours each way because they don’t want to miss out! I find their commitment particularly inspiring. If you already attend a cluster, I want to thank you for making it a priority. I know you have been ministered to because I’ve seen it or heard about it. And I know you have made a real difference in the lives of other pastors who needed someone like you to simply be there.
PETE SHAW L E A D R E G I O N A L PA S T O R At my church, we have been offering a men’s breakfast once a month on a Saturday morning. I didn’t know what to expect when we launched it. I knew the food would be good. I knew what I was going to share in terms of teaching was going to be helpful. But I also knew that if those two components were the only things that happened, it wouldn’t be enough. If the men didn’t connect on a deeper level with each other, allowing for genuine support and encouragement to take place, the breakfast ministry would be short lived. Gratefully, I have walked away humbled and amazed at how open and honest the men are who have come. Each month, someone – totally unplanned – opens up about what’s happening in their lives. Sometimes they weep. Always we encourage. Those are holy moments that I look forward to each month. There is great power in knowing you are not alone. Supporting someone when they need it is a sacred privilege. Both sharer and hearer somehow mutually benefit. GHC clusters are designed to be like that. We eat together. Helpful training resources are provided. But most importantly, space is created where pastors find support from the only people who really understand the complex leadership challenges pastors face: other pastors.
If you do not yet attend a cluster faithfully, I hope you will choose to make it a priority. I know you are busy – what pastor isn’t flying at Mach 1 most of the time? I also know that you probably get practical ministry tools and helps from multiple sources. I am fairly confident that you are able to find a meal somewhere else when the cluster you are not yet attending is meeting. But I know that you would greatly benefit from the non-competitive, it’s-okayto-let-your-guard-down environment that GHC clusters uniquely provide. You need this. We need you. You know it. Make it a priority. Your personal and ministry health will improve if you do. Many thanks to the following Regional Pastors who have given so generously of themselves to provide this space throughout the year: Pablo Zelaya (Spanish speaking cluster in Stockton), Kevin Wood (North Sacramento Valley and the Lost Coast), Curtis Mitchell (South Sacramento), Bill McCready (Reno/Tahoe), and Tom Cullen (San Francisco). You really have no idea what impact you make. Thank you to the pastors who haven’t just showed up, but who have trusted each other with the sometimes heart-wrenching stories that comes with pastoral ministry. Ministry crisis. Personal pain. Difficult transitions. We walked on holy ground together, and we are more whole for your sharing your brokenness with us. Ministry isn’t going to get easier in our culture. You need to eat. You need to be equipped. And most importantly, you need support. See you at the next cluster?
RECRUITMENT & DEVELOPMENT 21
In 2015 we have been helping several churches with their Pastor Recruitment • • • • • • • • • • •
GILBERT FOSTER RECRUITMENT & DEVELOPMENT Join GHC Staff and drive more than 14,000 miles a year up and down Highway 99! I loathe Highway 99 – officially termed State Route 99 and lasting 424.85 miles. It is the worst road in all of California. It is a bad excuse for a Highway. Forget a plan to build a high-speed railway in California, rip out the 99 and build a proper Highway. Have I made it clear – I really, really don’t like driving Highway 99. But, in 2015 I drove most of my 10,000 miles on it. Here’s what I discovered. Not far off of the world’s worst Highway are towns and cities with First Baptist churches and Community Baptist churches and Community churches and churches with cool, hip names. In these churches their Pastor, Staff and Congregations are serving together to see God’s Kingdom come and His Will be done. Driving the 99 is rough but the destination whether off the 99, the 101, the 80, the 5, and the 1 introduced me to churches that are making a difference and seeing the Gospel changing lives.
Fresno First Baptist Redeemer’s Church, Reedley WayPointe Christian Fellowship, Richmond First Baptist Church, Rio Linda First Baptist Church, Salinas First Baptist Church, Santa Clara Santa Cruz Community Church Community Baptist Church, Waterford East Princeton Baptist Church, Fresno The Journey Church, Sonora MacArthur Community Baptist, San Pablo
What’s been important for each church we have helped is GHC recognizing that every church is different. Some want us to lead the process others seek only our advice. Some require us to provide them with an Interim Pastor, others want us to stay on the edges of the process and be there should they require assistance. GHC knows that in today’s church scene one size does not fit all. In trusting us to help with the single most important decision a church will make – the hire of their new pastor – churches know that GHC consultants and staff bring years of experience, knowledge of how local churches work, networking with pastors and churches around the country and Alongside the core work of helping churches in their pastoral search we have also advised and consulted in areas including:
• • • • • • • •
Succession Planning Envisioning and Strategic Planning Pastor and Congregational Coaching Capital Campaigns Board Training Associate, Worship, Youth & Children’s Pastor Coaching Evangelism Training Giving and Budget Training
Thousands of miles leading to thousands of GHC congregation members being led by effective pastors changing communities. Makes every mile worth it. Keep journeying folks.
OTHER MINISTRY AREAS 22
PAM BREEN
PAUL BORDEN
A D M I N I S T R AT O R
DIR . KINGD OM NET WORKS
We are very grateful for the opportunity to work with and assist many churches again this year. Some of the items we have helped with this past year are: • By-law and constitution revisions and issues • Keeping corporations active • IRS and Franchise Tax Board Issues • New Sick Pay Laws • Employee vs. Contractor Issues • Ordinations • 501(c)(3) Requirements • References and Networking • Insurance Requirements • Church Policies
I continue to work across the nation, as well as in Canada and Australia with denominations seeking to lead the congregations in them, to again become healthy and grow. I have worked with over ten denominational groups and conducted fifteen congregational consultation since January of this year. I have also conducted numerous pastor conferences, pastor clusters and taught in two Doctor of Ministry programs. I have spent much of my time in the Northeastern part of the country helping a large region of Baptist churches to find new life and vitality and begin to grow.
We continue to strive to provide a wide variety of communications with GHC churches to keep them abreast of what is happening in GHC, how we are able to assist and serve our churches in any way we can.
I worked with the smallest congregation I had ever consulted with this year. The church has twelve acres of land, a new building and was averaging fourteen in the Sunday morning worship service. The average age of the congregation was close to eighty years of age. We had the church do a re-start and they launched the new congregation several weeks ago and had eighty the first Sunday.
Something new this year ... we are downsizing our facility WE ARE NOW BE LOCATED AT: 2410 Camino Ramon Ste. 271 San Ramon, CA 94583 Our phone numbers remain the same 888-290-2229 or 925-277-3980. Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you as we all strive to share our great Lord.
I and the people I work with, including Dr. Tim Brown and Rev. Gilbert Foster are seeing congregations go through deep spiritual transformation. As a result, congregations are not only growing but are seeing many people become brand new disciples of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom ministry of GHC is alive and well across the nation and around the world.
We have taken care of the details for our annual events: • Leadership Retreat • Small Church Conference • GHC’s Celebration
FINANCIAL REPORT 23 Missionwell, LLC serves many Christian ministries and churches, and their focus is efficient practices that will help GHC save money while helping us strategize on how we can continue to grow our influence by planting more churches while serving our existing churches better. Caryn Ryan brings over 30 years of for-profit and non-profit financial and strategic leadership experience to GHC.
CARYN RYAN FOUNDER | MISSIONWELL Trends in Net Income (Loss) are shown below.
2012
2013
2014
2015 Full Yr Est.
Revenue and Support
1,373
1,066
978
695
Expenses
(2,240)
(2,302)
(2,176)
(1,530)
(867)
(1,236)
(1,198)
(835)
377
86
689
(180)
(490)
(1,150)
(509)
(1,015)
Operating Revenues less Expenses Non-Operating Items Total Revenues less Expenses
Revenues and Support have been falling fairly consistently since 2008. From 2013 to 2014 the decline was $88,000. The decline estimated from 2014 to 2015 is due to loss of church plant support as is further described later in this section of the report. GHC’s strong focus on cost control which began in 2014 has resulted in a reduction in expenses to $2,176,000 in 2014 and these savings have continued and grown in 2015. Also in 2015, there has been a significant reduction in church plant expenses due to loss of church plants. As a result, the total loss (Operating Revenues less Expenses) narrowed in 2014 and 2015 despite lower Revenue and Support.
The Non-Operating items are quite variable from year to year. The main components of the variability are gains and losses on the sale of property and gains and losses on GHC’s investments (“savings account”). They can’t be controlled in the short term and so we separate those out. In 2012, a gain from the sale of a property positively affected non-operating items by $255,000. In 2014, a gain on the sale of the Oakdale church property added $224K.
FINANCIAL REPORT 24
There are two ways churches affiliate with GHC. Cooperating Churches represent the majority of GHC churches. These churches are in relationship with GCH and by extension with the American Baptist Church denomination, of which GHC is a member. Affiliated Churches affiliate with GHC because they believe in GHC’s mission including church planting, pastoral coaching and networking and church health programs. They do not covenant with American Baptist Churches – their relationship stops with GHC. Affiliated churches are mostly but not all Church Plants and largely joined GHC during the period from 2006 to 2014. As can be seen, the giving for affiliated churches grew through 2014, but is estimated to be significantly less in 2015. Seventeen affiliated churches, all church plants, have withdrawn from GHC during 2015. GHC’s church planting is therefore in re-build mode. As GHC strategizes new and positive directions, it is also clear a different approach for church planting is necessary – GHC’s approach for the last 9 years has allowed silos or divisions between church plants and more established churches. This will not happen going forward. Thank you to so many of the GHC churches who give so generously. With your mission giving, you are growing God’s kingdom through church planting and strengthening pastors throughout the GHC church network.
FINANCIAL REPORT 25
The three bars above show total investment in Church Planting; the proportion directly supported by CP Revenue versus additional Investment by GHC. While there is a significant impact on GHC from losing so many church plants the investment is not lost – the kingdom has the benefit of many new church plants and at this time GHC blesses those church plants with the investment that was made in them and for them.
Above is a chart showing how resources are spent by ministry area. It is using 2015 through July as a basis. Resources for Transformation churches total 28% (or 28 cents per dollar spent) and Church Planting will be 14%, significantly lower than 2014. Church planting includes activities of identifying church planters, assessing their gifts for church planting, supporting church planters through events and, at times, investments in their new church ministries. Transformation church activities include cluster groups for pastors to network with other pastors, mentoring and coaching by pastors for pastors, and conferences for pastors and church leaders. Management overhead includes leadership and office staff, professional fees and property/facility expenses.
FINANCIAL REPORT 26
Investments were written down approximately $600K at year-end 2013 reflecting closer estimates on defaulted and high risk church bonds, and lower redemption values for the illiquid portions of the GHC portfolio. Efforts in 2014 and 2015 have been focused on repositioning the GHC portfolio to a healthy state. This will take another few years. As of June 30, 2015, 14% of the portfolio remained invested in illiquid securities and 20% of the portfolio was in unrated and illiquid church bonds. ***** It is a pleasure for Missionwell to be Growing Healthy Church’s partner in mission. Missionwell supports churches and associations of churches with a wide variety of financial and human resource services. GHC has a wonderful mission to support church replication ensure churches are healthy and growing. We hope the Lord favors this mission today and in the years to come.
GrowingHealthyChurches.org & GrowingHealthyChurches.com
Give Online Support the Growth & Development of Churches & Their Leaders
27 GHC B OARD
N O M I NAT I O N BA L L O T
BALLOT
October 7, 2015
Lemoore, CA
C O R P O R AT E PRESIDENT
C O R P O R AT E S E C R E TA RY
R E P AT LARGE
2017 Felicia Woods
2016 Kevin Wood
2017 Al Marks
The Church on the Corner, Albany CA
First Baptist Church, Ukiah, CA
First Baptist Church Vallejo, CA
T h a n k Yo u f o r S e r v i n g on the GHC Board
GROWING HEALTHY CHURCHES 2410 Camino Ramon, Ste 271 | San Ramon, CA 94583 GrowingHealthyChurches.org | info@growinghealthychurches.org | (888) 290-2229