ASBURY SEMINARY 1092032879 ABSTRACT An Analysis of the Unique Growth at Evangel Christian Life Center in Louisville, Kentucky with Insights Recognized by the Church Growth Movement. by Dossie Morris Wood Jr. An Analysis of the Unique Growth at Evangel Christian Life Center in Louisville, Kentucky with Insights Recognized by the Church Growth Movement. The focus of this study has been the examination of Evangel Christian Life Center in Louisville, Kentucky and its founding pastor, Waymon L. Rodgers. The project has sought to answer the following questions. What are the theologies that underlie church growth at Evangel Christian Life Center? What are the philosophies that provide the operational framework of the growth at Evangel Christian Life Center? What are the methods and ministries that produce church growth at Evangel Christian Life Center? There were four propositions that guided this study. They were: That growth at Evangel Christian Life Center was the result in part of the practice of basic principles recognized by the Church Growth Movement. Evangel Christian Life Center as a model may be appropriate for use in other settings. Church growth principles can be obtained by a detailed study of Evangel Christian Life Center. Church growth at Evangel Christian Life Center was biblically motivated and theologically sound. The research included a review of documents pertaining to Evangel Christian Life Center. The survey tools utilized were the "Personal Profile System" and a form of the "Style of Leadership Questionnaire" . Focused interviews were used to obtain data with both individual and group interviews utilized. Library research focused upon a review of the relevant literature in the church growth field. The writer became as often as possible a participant in the life and ministry of Evangel Christian Life Center. Following the introduction chapter, there is a literature review that includes basic church growth principles. Chapter three is a growth history of Evangel Christian Life Center. Chapter four is a biographical study of the life and ministry of founding pastor W.L. Rodgers. The next phase is a comparison of the growth and ministry at Evangel Christian Life Center with Church Growth principles ascertained by the Church Growth Movement. The writer gives reflection on the growth and ministry incorporated by Evangel Christian Life Center as they flowed through the life of Senior Pastor W.L. Rodgers. Observation on the past and future of Evangel Christian Life Center as a church growth model in the Assemblies of God are presented. The author presents his conclusion with recommendations to strengthen weaknesses discovered in the investigation into the life and ministry of Evangel Christian Life Center. DISSERTATION APPROVAL This is to certify that the dissertation entitled An Analysis of the Unique Growth at Evangel Christian Life Center in Louisville, Kentucky with Insights Recognized by the Church Growth Movement. BY Dossie Morris Wood Jr. has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for the DOCTOR OF MINISTRY degree of Asbury Theological Seminary Wilmore, Kentucky An Analysis of the Unique Growth at Evangel Christian Life Center in Louisville, Kentucky with Insights Recognized by the Church Growth Movement. A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirments for the Degree Doctor of Ministry by Dossie Morris Wood Jr. May 1992 � 1992 Dossie Morris Wood Jr. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Table of Contents List of Figures ix Acknowledgments x Chapter 1. Introduction 1 Statement of the Problem 3 Proposition 3 Theoretical Framework 3 Methodology 5 Review of Documents 5 Sample Survey 5 Field Observation 6 Area Analysis 6 Focused Interview 6 Library Research 7 Congregational Reflection Group .... 8 Limitations of Study 8 Definition of Terms 8 Annual Growth Rates 8 Church Growth 9 Church Growth Movement 9 Evangel Tabernacle 9 Decaded Growth Rates 9 Chapter Headings 9 Chapter 1: Introduction 9 Chapter 2: Literature Review 10 Chapter 3: Growth History: Evangel Christian Life Center . 10 Chapter 4: Biographical Study: W.L. Rodgers 10 iii Chapter 5: Comparison: Church Growth Principles/Evangel Christian Life Center . 10 Chapter 6 : Additional Observations : Theoretical Reflections . 11 Chapter 7: Summary 11 Summary 11 2 . Literature Review 12 Church Growth Authors 12 Donald Anderson McGavran 12 Charles Peter Wagner 18 Winfield C. Arn 21 George G. Hunter III 22 Elmer L. Towns 23 Principles of Church Growth 24 Biblical Mandata 24 Homogeneous Unit 25 Crop Testing 26 Receptive People 27 Fatigue Factor 27 People Movement 28 People Webs 29 Incorporating New People 29 Ministry to Felt Needs 30 Multiplying New Units 30 Pastoral Leadership 31 Pastoral Longevity 31 Spiritual Gifts 32 Church Growth Eyes 32 Power Evangelism 33 Pragmatism 33 Three Types of Growth 34 Critics of Church Growth 34 John H. Yoder 35 Orlando E. Costos 35 Rene Padilla 35 Critics of Church Growth 35 Summary 36 iv 3. Growth History: Evangel Christian Life Center 37 Deering Avenue 37 Financial Crisis 38 Fern Valley Road 4 0 Prayer Ministry 41 Bethesda Nursing Home 43 Bus Ministry 44 Youth Camp Ministry 4 6 Chapels and Churches 47 Lampton Street Chapel 48 Valley Station Chapel 49 Scottsburg, Indiana 50 Evangel Day Care 52 Evangel Schools 53 Minors Lane 55 Specialized Ministries 56 Missions Outreach 58 Prayer Mountain 60 Word Broadcasting Network 61 Radio Station WJIE 62 Evangel Christian Life Center 63 The Lord's Kitchen 64 Summary 66 v 4. Biographical Study: W. L. Rodgers 69 Early Life 69 Wayward Years 71 Commitment to God (Christ) 71 Call to Ministry 73 The Rodgers Family (Marriage) 75 Owensboro, Kentucky 75 Louisville, Kentucky 76 Pastoral Ministry 77 Leadership Style 81 Ministry Gifts 84 Theology 86 Devotional Life 88 Strengths 90 Weakness 92 Summary 94 5. Comparison: Church Growth Principles/ Evangel Christian Life Center 96 Pastoral Leadership 96 Biblical Mandate 100 Homogeneous Unit 102 Crop Testing 103 Receptive People 104 Fatigue Factor 105 People Movement 107 vi People Webs 107 Incorporating New People 109 Ministry to Felt Needs Ill Multiplying New Units 112 Spiritual Gifts 112 Church Growth Eyes 113 Power Evangelism 113 Pragmatism 115 Three Types of Growth 116 Summary 117 Additional Observations: Theoretical Reflections 119 Intangible Factors 119 Evangelism Focus 119 Personalized Identity 120 Spiritual Dynamics 122 Leadership Philosophy 123 Communication Weakness 124 Church Growth Model 125 Past 125 Future 127 Summary 128 Summary 130 Theses Restated 130 Research Methods Summarized 130 Review of Documents 130 Sample Survey 131 Field Observation 131 vii Area Analysis 132 Focused Interviews 132 Library Research 132 Congregation Reflection Group 133 Data Assembled 133 Conclusion 134 Recommendations 135 Summary 136 Appendices 137 A. Style of Leadership Questionnaire 137 B. Personal Profile System 139 C. Church Background Questionnaire 140 D. Learn Why Some Churches Are Growing 142 E. Interview Checklist: Senior Pastor 144 Bibliography 14 6 viii FIGURES Figure 1. Worship Attendance 63 2. Worship Attendance 64 ix Acknowledgements There are several people who contributed in the preparation of this dissertation. This writer wishes to express appreciation. Dr Everett N. Hunt, Jr. provided guidance and counsel as faculty advisor. Dr. Stephen A. Seamands served as reader The congregation, staff and Pastor Bob Rodgers of Evangel Christian Life Center allowed their church to be the subject of this project. The pastors who composed the Congregational Reflection group. Dr Harry Smith and Norma Smith assisted with proof-reading drafts. Lynn Baskin contributed by transcribing tapes. Elizabeth Collins labored as typist. My mother, Mary Ellen Wood, opened her home as a base of operation during many trips to Louisville. To my children Naaman, Jeremy and Erin who have lived with their father's project. Maria, my wife, who has been supportive, encouraging and sacrificial. X CHAPTER 1 Introduction The General Council of the Assemblies of God is concerned with church growth. The writer is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God serving in the Kentucky District Council. The decade of the nineties [that includes 1990 to the year 2000] has been designated as the "Decade of Harvest" by The General Council of the Assemblies of God. Charles T- Crabtree, director for the United States Decade of Harvest, writes, "No one can deny that goals are fundamental to spiritual renewal .. .Across our fellowship the 'Decade of Harvest' is recognized as the spiritual agenda for the 1990 "s."^ The following goals have been established: "U.S. Decade of Harvest Goals: To enlist one million prayer partners To plant five thousand new churches To train and disciple twenty thousand new ministers To win five million persons to Christ Kentucky Decade of Harvest Goals : To enlist 13,062 prayer partners To win 82,380 persons to Christ To plant ninety new churches"^ I have answered the call to ministry for the past twenty- two years. Of that period, thirteen years have been in the pastorate. During this time, I have developed an interest in ^ Charles T. Crabtree, "Reap The Opportunities." Pentecostal Evangel , ed. Sue Montgomery, August 13, 1989:19- ^ "Decade of Harvest Chronicle." Pentecostal Evangel, ed. Sue Montgomery, August 13, 1989:19, 25. 2 the dynamics of a growing church. The awareness that some churches are alive and growing while others remain stagnant began to grip me in the summer of 1980. This awareness came through interaction