Stepping with the Lord
God’s Calling for St. John’s
I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? JEREMIAH 32:27
The Heart of the Matter
Natural Church Development (NCD) is about releasing the potential that God
has already planted in our lives. NCD focuses on increasing the quality of our
church rather than a numerical goal.
The emphasis on church health has proven to be the key to ongoing growth.
This process encourages creativity, authenticity and diversity.
NCD will answer the question:
How can our God given potential be released?
Discovering the Way
NCD determines a congregation’s health based on eight characteristics:
► Empowering Leadership – Are the leaders focused on equipping other
Christians to serve?
► Gift‐oriented Ministry –Do we know their spiritual gifts and are we using
them effectively?
► Passionate Spirituality Is our spiritual life characterized by prayer, enthusiasm,
and boldness?
► Functional Structures – Are we committed to continually adapting our
structures to support ongoing, healthy growth?
► Inspiring Worship – Are we encountering God in a life‐changing way
during worship services?
► Holistic Small Groups – Are our small groups consistently growing in their
worship of God, their nurture of members and their mission focus?
► Need‐Oriented Evangelism – Is the evangelism of the church driven by a
genuine desire to meet people at their point of need?
► Loving Relationships – Are our relationships in the church characterized
by genuine love and encouragement in both work and deed?
Starting the Journey
Involvement of as many members of the congregation will make this process a success.
The Listening Posts started with the Ministry Plan process will continue.
Please consider hosting one and inviting others to attend.
Look for results in the near future.
Daily prayer will help determine God’s will for our congregation.
Use the monthly Leadership Board bulletin verse as a guide.
Adapted from NCD website www.ncd‐international.org and Leadership Board discussion with Mr. Gary Janetzke DCE
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned from us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, ‘Here I am. I have come – it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’ I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O Lord. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvations. In Your Son’s Name, Amen.