Growth planning is a process of discernment – of listening deeply to God’s invitation to us as a church.
Prayer is not named specifically in the growth planning cycle because the whole cycle takes place in the context of prayer. We assume that God wants to speak to us and will speak; that God has a future for our church.
The choices that churches struggle with are generally not between good and bad options, but between two or more good things from which we seek to discern the particular choice that God calls us to. God desires us to be free and flourishing, not weary and overburdened.
A four-week discernment course has been written to help leaders listen to God together when making decisions.
The Discernment Course helps leaders to pay attention to what God is doing in their local context, to develop tools to support decision-making and to learn how to make good and prayerful decisions together.
The course is made up of four 90-minute sessions and is intended for anyone involved in leadership in the local church, including church stewards, circuit stewards, local preachers, lay workers, deacons, presbyters and superintendents. You can access the course below.
Discernment course
A four-week discernment course has been written to help leaders listen to God together when making decisions.
The Prayer Hub
You can find lots of ideas for prayer on the Prayer Hub, including creative ideas you could try as a church.
The Prayer Hub
You can find lots of ideas for prayer on the pPrayer hub, including creative ideas you could try as a church.