Growth Map            [view feedback blog]

The entire process of seeing someone come to experience abundant life in Christ can be mapped out into a chart, which incorporates the Growth Design plus all the elements from Infant Ministry to Community Development.  (Click here for background information)

(This chart is best viewed with your Internet browser set for Medium text size)

Community

Evangelism & Discipleship

Prayer
Presence

Curriculum
element

abundant
Life

dynamic
Mission

0.  Evangelism
1.  Gospel
     Foundations

Enlighten

0 + 8
1 + 7
2 + 6

attend

2.  Christian
      Way of Life

Establish
(phase 1)

3 + 5
4

serve
(background)

4
5

3.  Discovery &
     Use of Gifts

Equip

serve
(seen)

4.  Faithful in
      opposition;
     Future Glory

Establish
(phase 2)

4
5
6

serve
(foreground)

5.  Servant
     Leadership
     (Big Picture)

Empower

4
5
6
7
8

lead

Ideal development path

Suggested meeting times:

Committed to ...


Committed to ...

Membership
in Jesus' church

Jesus HIMSELF

Maturity
to be like Jesus

His VALUES

Ministry
to others

His PURPOSE

Mission
in the world

His VISION

Notes:  the Children's Ministry, Leader In Training, and Eagle's Wings programs can cover the whole spectrum of spiritual growth, but should try to focus as much as possible on the level indicated by the Ideal development path.  Of course, if new people join the group and they are not at the level indicated, the program will have to be adjusted for them, or a 'new group' started which caters more for their needs.

The above Map is only a guide.  It serves to show in general what types of programs are required by what types of people at different stages of their development.

The age barriers (eg 12-14) are only a guide. Children at 11 years of age may be appropriate to join the Junior Youth group, for example.

Evangelism is also not restricted to "professional" Community Chaplains, Life Coaches, and the Celebrations and Open Air Meetings; the more any believer becomes mature in the faith, the more they can share the Good News of Jesus to anyone in whatever way God inspires them to!

Notes:  When we consider God's original growth plan for us - with God within the human family - we can see how the above Christian Groups in the "spiritual plane" neatly match for the corresponding "physical/family/social plane". Community Development corresponds to our vocations, jobs, workplace, marriages and children; Men of Honour, Women of Integrity, corresponds to our close friends, our mates; Worship corresponds to our extended families (including especially our parents and siblings); and Celebrations correspond to our big community festivals! We can see how intended there to be harmony and co-operation between all spheres of life!

Ideally, every adult should be involved in all aspects of group life and have graduated from 'Leadership School'.  However we are not all ideal.  If a person is not yet a Christian, it is wise to not get them involved in Christian Service until they have at least been through the Recovery phase.  Do not rush a person's development.  Human development normally takes 21 years before we consider someone an adult.  We believe that for a person to become a mature Christian, it may also require that long!

Note also that "Evangelism" occurs across all the groups, not just Celebrations and Open Air Meetings, for every aspect is in itself "Good News" in our holistic recovery and growth into all that God wants us and our world to be! In particular, creative innovative ways of evangelism most definitely should be expected to arise in the Community Development phase!