10 Ways to Break the 65 Barrier ... and a FREE Resource

One tool that I find useful any time I go through any type of training (live, webinar, audio, book, etc.) is to write down my top 10 key learnings, and how I can apply them.

I recently received an email from Dr. Kenneth Sesley where he shared his list with me. Kenneth is the Pastor of Kingdom Advancers Family Church International in California, and a member of my Senior Pastors Tele-Coaching Network.

With his permission, I’m sharing his Top 10 Keys to Breaking the 65 Barrier at his church – it’s one of the best lists I’ve seen:

1. I must model ministry by serving as an example to the congregation.

2. I must mentor new leadership.

A. Hand pick them.

B. Ask them if they are willing to help me implement the things that need implementing.

C. Invest in them by pulling them together for occasional short training meetings.

3. I must continually cast vision for growth.

4. We must focus on making the Sunday Services better, by first planning them further in advance. This starts with using a preaching calendar.

5. The church must develop a childcare ministry – nursery, preschool, kindergarten and elementary classes.

6. We must utilize Big Days combined with special attraction series during key growth periods in the Winter (February), Spring (Easter), Summer (Mother’s/Father’s Day), and Fall (Back to Church Sunday).

7. We must use Personal Evangelism that focuses on inviting unsaved and unchurched friends and family, as well as using Friendship Evangelism to invite the community to church.

A. All of this must be combined with the power of Mass Promotion.

B. And then combine all of this with our loving First Impressions Assimilation Team.

8. To break through the 65 barrier completely we must get to 75-85 worshipers a week. This means that our facilities must have between about 95 – 125 seats.

In addition, we need a minimum of 40 to 50 parking spaces. This will require some changes.

9. We must add a staff member. Maybe a part time Worship Leader or Youth/Children’s Minister.

10. We must begin thinking 125 by:

A. Planning how and where we will seat 125.

B. Planning and preparing sermons and worship services for 125.

C. Keeping 125 in my thinking constantly.

D. Finding some pastors whose churches are at 125 and are growing and get to know them. Learn everything I can from them. Take some leaders there so they too can SEE the next step!

Great work Kenneth – I look forward to hearing how God honors these changes!

Are you struggling to break the 65 Barrier at your church?

I’d like to offer you a FREE Copy of Breaking the 65 Barrier (normally $23.95)!

Just click the “Ask Nelson” button on the right side of this blog and ask me for it – but hurry, I can only offer this for the next 3 days.

P.S. We’re exactly ONE MONTH AWAY from the start of my brand new Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Network, where we work together to break the growth barriers that your church is facing. For more information and to Apply Now, go to:

www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/telecoaching/

1. I must model ministry by serving as an example to the congregation.
2. I must mentor new leadership.
A. Hand pick them
B. Ask them if they are willing to help me implement the things that need implementing.
C. Invest in them by pulling them together for occasional short training meetings.
3. I must continually cast vision for growth.
4. We must focus on making the Sunday Services better, by first planning them further in advance. This starts with using a preaching calendar
5. The church must develop nursery, preschool, kindergarten and elementary classes.
6. We must utilize Big Days combined with special attraction series during key growth periods in the Winter (Feb), Spring (Easter), Summer (Mother’s/Father’s Day), and Fall (Back to Church Sunday).
7. We must use Personal Evangelism that focuses on inviting unsaved and unchurched FFANs as well as using Friendship Ecqnhelism to invite the community to church; combined with the power of Mass Promotion; coupled with our loving First Impressions Assimilation Teams/System.
8. To break through the 65 barrier completely we must get to 75-85 worshipers a week. This means that our facilities must have between about 95 – 125 seats. In addition to that there must be a minimum of 40 to 50 parking spaces. So we can’t reach 85 a week at the park. 65 -70 is probably our max.
9. We must add a staff member, such as a part time worship leader or youth or children’s minister.
10. We must begin thinking 125 by:
A. Planning how and where we will seat 125.
B. Planning and preparing sermons and worship services for 125.
C. Keeping 125 in my thinking constantly.
D. Finding some pastors whose churches are at 125 and are growing and get to know them. Learn everything I can from them. Take some leaders there so they too can SEE the next step!

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.