Cycle Starter Plans

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Having understood your church a little better with the help of the NCD Church Survey, its now time to start cycling together towards a healthier church. You’ve chosen to start experimenting and learning more about the topic to the left. Now, select one of the cycle starter plans below and write number 1 in its box. Put this sheet on your wall, then, go do it!

Next time you are meeting with others who are also working through a topic, ask each other the questions from the cycle, starting at “do” and finishing at “plan”. After a cycle you may decide the most important thing to do now is to keep going with the same plan, modify it, or choose another option from below. If choosing another from below, just write 2 in its box and so on.

If you’d like more cycle starter options, or to work on another topic highlighted by your NCD Church Survey results, just visit ncdchurchsurvey.org/cycle-starters

Nurturing

  • Ask a church leader you respect to suggest how your current contribution to your church could be made "more fruitful".
  • Ask three people in your church with whom you have some influence what they would like to do better or how they would like to grow in faith. After a week or two, ask them how they are progressing.
  • Ask your pastor(s) for specific ways in which you can pray for them personally.
  • Consider a payment approach for training opportunities where the participant pays half and your church pays half as a way of reinforcing the idea of partnership in ministry.
  • Consider whether the busyness of your church's program prohibits you or others from spending quality time with friends and family who do not yet know Jesus Christ.
  • If there is a new Christian in your church, ask how they are going and how you might help meet any needs they have.
  • Outside of formal ministry meetings, meet regularly with at least one person in your ministry area who seems to have a strong desire to grow. Shift the focus in those meetings away from the ministry tasks you do together and towards the person's own growth goals and challenges. Assist them with those goals and monitor their progress each time you meet.
  • Work with your church leaders to provide better training and support for your current and potential small group leaders.