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Perry Heights Page 2 
OK. Maybe the words “pen points” are a little out-
dated, but they go well with “preacher”! The fact is, 
I wouldn’t exchange my computer and Microsoft 
Publisher software for a thousands ink pens; but I do 
look forward to sharing some ideas with you 
through this weekly column. 
For the next few weeks I want write about church 
growth and to think out loud with you about Perry 
Heights—where we’ve been and where we’re going 
in view of the principles we’ll consider together. I 
hope that you will find the series interesting and 
useful. Let’s think about: 
Church Growth Cycles 
People who study churches professionally have af-
firmed that virtually all of them go through organ-
izational stages or cycles of growth. Let’s consider 
those stages and some of the characteristic features 
of each stage. 
Stage one—Pioneering & Growing 
Most churches begin bound by a common vision of 
what kind of church they intend to be. There is great 
enthusiasm and passion to recruit others and the 
members acknowledge the challenges of the future 
with confidence and hope. Each person sees a role 
he can fulfill in achieving the church’s goal. All 
these ingredients work together to produce steady if 
not explosive growth. 
Stage two—Programming and Slowing 
 As the church moves toward maturity, emphasis 
shifts to accommodation of the new growth, imple-
mentation of programs for the congregation, and less 
stress on evangelism. There is the need for planning 
and building accommodations and setting in motion 
programs for the newly acquired members. The 
“who will we reach and why” of the stage one has 
changed to “how can we serve those already 
reached” in stage two. The church is very busy; but 
growth is slowing as time for evangelism is replaced 
by other activities.  
Stage three—Maintaining and Plateauing 
The successful organization and implementation of 
needed programs and facilities tends to give a 
church a sense of arrival and reputation. It is as if all 
that the pioneer church hoped for has been achieved. 
Thoughts of evaluation and meaningful change are 
rare. Now the future depends upon teaching our 
children and continuing to preserve the structures 
implemented. Conversion of outsiders has become 
increasingly rare. Already the seeds of decline have 
been planted and are awaiting their full manifesta-
tion. 
Stage four—Declining & Losing 
At this stage the church has begun to lose members. 
The losses may be due to various factors, some over 
which the church has little control and some which 
the church has created. The morale of the church 
wanes as attendance figures slide downward. Weak 
members are the first to move away. Stronger mem-
bers of the church can be overcome with depression, 
discouragement, and even capitulation to the down-
ward trend.  Here the church is faced with a critical 
decision— to make the needed changes to turn 
things around or to let things run their course and 
watch the church be reduced to a shell of what it 
once was or even become an “ex-church”. 
(Next time we’ll explore in more detail the common 
characteristics of churches in decline.) 
—Johnny Felker 
Preachers’ 
 Pen Points