True Growth vs Transfer Growth

[Pastor Bill]

Bill wrote:

Yes but is this transfers from other organizations or all new salvations?

I would say that less than 10% of our membership is transfers from any other churches.

We have a lot of people who grew up in a Catholic or other church, dropped out and have not returned in years. I don't consider them transfers; they were essentially unchurched.

I agree, those who "were" something don't really count the same, that's gathering lost sheep, not stealing from someone else's sheep pen.

[Dr. Ron]

I think pastor Gary has gotten the point exactly. I was speaking in the context of what I assuemed brought the question.

I was thinking of transfer growth in the context of having more than one church in an area of the same denom.....and the people just using that as an opportunity not to deal with issues.

As for you dolfan,.,,,I understand completely what you said. I applaud you for your desire to be above reproach in your approach to growth. I don't like nor do I endorse "slick" promotion that pulls people from other bodies and just puts the gold fish in a different bowl.

As for Wendy and Danny, I think you are right PG and I believe they are finding the real essence of what they need in their lives here. BALANCE!!!Thanks for letting me be loud on that one.

When people feel a need to move on...I have no problem with that. In our particular church ,interestingly enough, the very thing that draws them, sometimes sends them away. We are very intentionally focused on being "real". Sometimes when people have to face their own reality, they bolt for the door.

Currently, we have about 17 different cultural and denominational backgrounds....it gets real interesting!!!!!