One of my great mentors is Dr. Elmer Towns (co-founder of Liberty University) and I’m excited to share with you a challenge from him today inspired by a recent intensive study he conducted on the Ten Most Influential Churches (see the PS for an exclusive resource based on that study).
This study was about finding the 10 most influential churches in the world in the past 100 years. What a task.
First, I had to determine the 10 major influences on Christianity in the past 100 years. Second, I had to discover the churches that best reflected these 10 influences, and then link their influence to worldwide Christianity. Third, I had to research the small details and the larger scope that explains the greatness of each church. Fourth, I had to write the facts of each church in a compelling story that would accurately tell why each is an influencer-church. Then, finally, I had to write each story to actually convince you to go be an influencer-pastor.
I want this study to motivate both scholar and fellow researcher to continue studying churches. But mostly, I want pastors and church workers like you to get a greater desire to build their church. I want you to be influential in your church, just as the 10 pastors I studied were influential in their churches.
There have been many innovative churches that did things differently and were effective in their innovations; and, yes, they probably influenced churches around them. But to be one of the 10 church influencers in the world, a congregation had to be influential both cross-culturally and span across a century of time.
Why Did I Do This Study?
I want pastors to know that the great things God has done in the past can be done today. I want them to realize they can influence the future.
The past church influencers should challenge us to be more influential in the future. Some of these church leaders in influencer-churches were average people whom God used in above-average ways. Some of these church leaders had little or no theological education, yet they overcame obstacles and built some of the greatest church influencers in history.
Why not you?
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Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
P.S. This is just a glimpse of the research that went into this impressive study of the Ten Most Influential Churches of the Past Century. Based on his 200th book of the same name, my friend Dr. Towns presented this practical teaching live at one of my coaching events. Dr. Towns shared exclusive content with this resource that is NOT in the book and is focused on practical applications for you and your own church growth.
Understanding the history of these 10 churches, you can compare your own experiences to these trends. You’ll have new insight into what to change – and what NOT to change.
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