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Bargoed the vision for growth
This document discusses the declining attendance at churches in the Parish of Bargoed and Deri over the past 20+ years and outlines a vision for growth. It notes that attendance has been falling but efforts have slowed the decline. The vision is to focus on mission and evangelism, welcome more people, and develop disciples who are equipped for ministry. Plans include improving the church hall, launching CAP services, continuing youth programs, and increasing publicity. The goal is for the parish to be a thriving, growing community within 5 years.
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Bargoed the vision for growth
- 1. THE VISION FORGROWTHPARISH OF BARGOED AND DERI WITH
- 2. WHERE WERE WEA YEAR AGO?
- 3. General Background of Declinein the Churches and Chapels Falling attendances Ageing congregations Leads churches to become increasingly inward facing Culture changed - church didn’t. We are not immune from the trends and the problems that have claimed so many other chapels around us.
- 4. OUR ATTENDANCES HAVE BEENDECLINING TOO
- 5. 0 32.5 65 97.5 130 162.5 1990 1992 19941996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 Adult Sunday Attendance Adults Linear (Adults)
- 6. 0 12.5 25 37.5 50 1996 1997 19981999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 U18 Sunday Attendance U18s Linear (U18s)
- 7. 2001-2012 A better picture Declineslowed but not reversed 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
- 8. How? Healing on thestreets Lay workers Gigabites Church Hall Youth work Lots of hard work & ministry resources Weddings/Funerals/Ba ptisms Alpha Courses etc. Church magazine Spiritual growth
- 9.
- 10. Why this matters.... Bargoedone of the least Christian places in the UK Communities First Area - lots of deprivation People desperately looking for meaning and hope in all the wrong places - spiritualism, alcohol, drugs I love this area and want Gods absolute best for it I love you and want God's absolute best for you
- 11. Left unchanged… If thetrends of the last 22 years continue, average Sunday attendance could be 0 (Zero) in as little as 10 years time. In practice, the strain of keeping things going with ageing congregations would probably force us to close one or more of our churches even sooner. (i.e. Demography means that unaddressed the decline will accelerate.)
- 12. OTHER FACTORS DRIVING THENEED FOR CHANGE
- 13. New challenges Culture haschanged and the church hadn’t kept up. Collaborative rather than deferential. Church in Wales Review calls for much more collaboration and for us to develop lay leadership and lay ministries in the church as we cope with the fact that in the future across the diocese there will be fewer and fewer ordained clergy.
- 14. Unrealistic Expectations Less ministryresources. Just me now compared to seven or so in recent past. Keith, Val and John a great help - but only able to offer limited Sunday services only and occasional help on Wednesdays.
- 15. Therefore There is nosilver bullet. If Andy with more ministers, more experience, and more local knowledge tried all those things and we still didn’t grow then there are no easy answers and more fundamental change is necessary. My role is necessarily different from Andy’s. Not to mention I have different gifts, experiences and a different vision for the church and ministry. Pretending things could have stayed the same is not being realistic.
- 16. BIOLOGY TEACHES US THATLIVING THINGS GROW!
- 17. THIS IS JESUSPICTURE OF THE CHURCH... “I AM THE VINE AND YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU, YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT”
- 18. The plan forgrowth Focus on Mission & Evangelism Remove barriers to people finding out about Jesus Great welcomers welcoming people really well Develop a church culture where we are equipped and empowered as disciples of Jesus and released into mission and ministry Not just numbers!
- 19. Growth comes fromGod Hard work Prayerful obedience to the Holy Spirit Strategic planning Faithful, biblical preaching of the Gospel Creating healthy environment for growth Encouraging local lay leadership and ministries "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:6 BUT WE NEED TO PLANT AND WATER
- 20. This is whatwe're trying to do! In line with Church in Wales review and the Archbishop's diocesan strategy and Jesus' Great Commission!
- 21. It's early daysbut it's starting to bear fruit! Atmosphere & great feedback particularly over Easter Sunday School growing Testimonies & signs of people growing in relationship with God Growing fringe of people seeking Jesus New people regularly turning up People starting to invite others again Outreach events well supported (Good Friday & Bargoed Christmas Fayre)
- 22.
- 23. Our Aim SHARING THEGOSPEL SO THAT EVERY PERSON IN OUR PARISH HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S LOVE AND RESPOND TO JESUS INVITATION TO FOLLOW HIM Mission to every person who lives or works within our Parish Boundaries No matter how young or old, rich or poor
- 24. Our Focus ForNow - St Gwladys' Our resources are limited. Can't do everything on our own or all at once. St David's & St Peter's don't currently have the resources to start weekday groups to build up a fringe. Therefore St Gwladys' is our mission priority. Need a lively, spirit filled morning service that's accessible to newcomers but deep enough to feed and form us into missional disciples. In time the vision is to send mission teams from St G's to help kickstart outreach in Deri and Brithdir. Need to get our churches there ready and plan to grow in the meantime.
- 25. What about StPeter's & St David's? Are we running them down? Absolutely not! Regular services. Gospel preaching. Communion. Local ministry opportunities - Deri Primary School, Ashville Nursing Home CAP Opportunities to gather as part of bigger parish Parish wardens to visit to improve communications and sense of involvement Need to take whole parish view Open to mission ideas from anywhere!
- 26. Our Plans Church HallProject CAP The River Project formerly known as Gigabites Publicity And much more
- 27. Growing community ofvolunteers and users Bursting at the seams Revenue for 2014 should be nearly double 2012 Nearly Full time community worker £250K lottery bid for salaries for a project manager, volunteer coordinator and administrator - we find out in May/June
- 28. Christians Against Poverty CAPDEBT CENTRE Launching May 2014 Providing world class debt counselling for people in unsustainable debt CAP MONEY COURSE Launching May 2014 Providing financial education to help people avoid debt in the first place Come and find out more at the Launch Event on Monday 19th May at 7pm Covering Rhymney Valley by partnering with other churches
- 29. Afternoon congregation Informal worship Trainingand practicing the charismatic gifts Monthly Cafe service In Church Hall - low barriers Learning to be church for people who don't normally like church.
- 30. Music and ArtsYouth Project Formerly known as Gigabites Now based downstairs in Church Hall Part time Youth Worker Encouraging start made Revive Team from Cardiff to build on links with more explicitly Christian content
- 31. Publicity We have newlogos for the three churches We need new noticeboards in Deri and Bargoed and a new “shop front for St David’s” Idea: Large, town-facing Noticeboard for church hall
- 35. Other plans Alpha courses Backto Church Sunday? Messy Church Continued outreach and healing on the streets PCC away day - Audit with PCC of every aspect of church life to assess contribution to our mission and plan necessary changes
- 36. WHERE I'D LIKEUS TO BE IN 5 YEARS TIME
- 37. My 5 yeardream... St Gwladys’ a thriving, lively, growing church made up of all ages. Full of joy and the power of the Spirit. A really safe, welcoming and family friendly atmosphere where children are allowed to be children and each one is accepted and appreciated for who they are and challenged to grow as disciples of Jesus. Passionate worship and relevant, challenging Bible teaching. Recognisably Anglican in feel. Deep Christian relationships of prayer and accountability with each other. People living out lives of intentional mission in Bargoed. New people every week. Lives changed. Marriages/relationships transformed. Poverty being overcome. A caring and healing community. Lay gifts prominently used in every aspect of church life.
- 38. My 5 yeardream cont... Mission teams from St G’s reinforcing churches in Deri and Brithdir and equipping/releasing them into mission.
- 39.
- 40. An invitation... This iswhere a growing number of us feel God is leading us to go & so this is where we're going We hope you'll feel excited enough to want to join us on this journey and help us to get there! This is a big vision. We need everyone's gifts. Your parish needs you!