Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 2011 Development And Implementation Of A Small Group Program To Foster Numeric Growth At The Fresno Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church Antonio Huerta Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Practical Theology Commons Recommended Citation Huerta, Antonio, "Development And Implementation Of A Small Group Program To Foster Numeric Growth At The Fresno Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church" (2011). Dissertation Projects DMin. 324. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/324 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMALL GROUP PROGRAM TO FOSTER NUMERIC GROWTH AT THE FRESNO SPANISH SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH by Antonio Huerta Adviser: Ricardo Norton ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Project Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMALL GROUP PROGRAM TO FOSTER NUMERIC GROWTH AT THE FRESNO SPANISH SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Name of researcher: Antonio Huerta Name and degree of faculty adviser: Ricardo Norton, DMin Date completed: March 2011 Problem The Fresno Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church has a 65 year history in the city of Fresno. From the year of 1995 until the year of 2005 when I became the pastor for this church, I realized that the numeric growth rate in this congregation had dropped significantly. I soon became aware of the urgent need for a comprehensive analysis that would enable the Fresno Spanish Church to regain its growth momentum. Method The solution and the vision to solve the problem was the development and the implementation of a small group program that would help train, equip, and mobilize church members for ministry. The research began with the study of the literature on church growth and on how to turn around declining churches. A small group program was developed and implemented with as well trained team composed of dedicated church members. The recruiting and equipping of the team leaders took six months and once equipped and organized, the program was launched for a period of one year. Results The small group program to foster numeric growth at the Fresno Spanish Church was implemented in the year of 2007. The results were outstanding. The program impacted the life of the church and the congregation experienced much success. The morale among member improved and the church experienced numerical growth. On the year the small group program was implemented, the church experienced a 300 percent growth in membership. In addition to numeric growth, different outreach ministries were established and new leaders were developed to assist in the various community church programs. Conclusion The small group program implemented in the Fresno Spanish Church to foster numeric growth, I believe, can be replicated in other churches with similar challenges, especially in those churches were its leaders have a desire to positive impact their communities with the gospel of Christ. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A SMALL GROUP PROGRAM TO FOSTER NUMERIC GROWTH AT THE FRESNO SPANISH SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A Project Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Antonio Huerta March 2011 © Copyright by Antonio Huerta 2011 All Rights Reserved DEVELOPMENT OF A SMALL GROUP MODEL TO FOSTER NUMERIC GROWTH AT THE FRESNO SPANISH SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH A project dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by Antonio Huerta APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Adviser, Ricardo Norton y^rt/5-frcre/yWi _______ Dean, SDA Theological Seminary Denis Fortin Edttard"ScKmidt Date approved TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem......................................................................................2 Statement of the Task............................................................................................2 Justification for the Dissertation........................................................................... 2 Description of the Dissertation Process.................................................................3 Expectations for This Dissertation....................................................................... 4 II. THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS............................... 5 Community and Small Groups..............................................................................6 God Exists as a Small Group..........................................................................6 Small Groups in the Old Testament......................................................................7 The First Small Group....................................................................................8 Life Together as Covenant.............................................................................9 Joseph—An Ideal Leader.....'........................................................................ 9 Organizational Structures......................... 11 Community in the New Testament......................................................................11 Word Study onEkklesia ...............................................................................12 Word Study onKoinonia ..............................................................................13 Examples of Community in the New Testament.................................................14 The Book of Acts........................................ 14 Pauline Epistles............................................................................................15 Small Group Models............................................................................................15 Jesus and the Twelve Disciples as a Model for Small Groups............................17 Group Formation: Calling Disciples............................................................17 Group Training: Leadership Development ................................................. 20 Teaching................................................................................................20 Discipleship .......................................................................................... 20 Servant Leadership........................................ 21 Proper Use of Talents........................................................................... 22 Fellowship............................................................................................ 22 Worship.................................................................................................23 Prayer.....................................................................................................23 Ministry..... ...........................................................................................24 Evangelism ........................................................................................... 26 House Church as an Expression of Small Groups.............................................. 28 iii Church in the Post-Resurrection Era ........................................................... 28 Historical Background of the House Church............................................. 30 House Church References in the New Testament ............................................. 32 The Book of Acts.........................................................................................32 Pauline Epistles............................................................................................32 The Nature of Small Groups.......................................... 33 The Goal: Making Disciples........................................................................33 The Attitude: Love.......................................................................................34 Primacy of Lay Ministry..............................................................................35 Christian Character of Members of Small Groups............................................ 35 Jesus as a Model of Servant Leadership..................................................... 36 One Another in the New Testament ............................................................ 36 Small Group Functions.......................................................................................37 Small Groups as a Place for Learning ........................................................ 37 Small Groups as a Place for Evangelism ................................................... 38 Small Groups as a Place for Training ......................................................... 39 Small Groups as a Place for Ministry.......................................................... 40 Small Groups as a Place for Community.................................................... 40 Small Groups as a Place for the Holy Spirit............................................... 41 Small Groups as a Place for Discovery and Use of Spiritual Gifts............. 42 Small Groups as a Place for Prayer............................................................