In this episode I interview Dr. Gary McIntosh about Donald McGavran’s role as the pioneer of the Church Growth Movement (CGM).
But don’t let the term “Church Growth Movement” stop you from listening. As the author of the superbly-written biography, Donald A. McGavran: A Biography of the Twentieth Century’s Premier Missiologist, Dr. McIntosh helps us to see that the origins of CGM are far different than what most of us have been taught.
Some of the misunderstandings he clears up include:
- That it came from the heart of a missionary, not a pastor
- That it was about being cross-cultural, not omni-cultural
- That it was focused as much or more on the impact of smaller congregations than the building of bigger ones
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Credits
Producer
Veronica Beaver | [email protected]
Editor
Phil Vaters | [email protected]
Music composed and performed by
Jack Wilkins | JackWilkinsMusic.com
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Solomon Joy | Joyetic.com
Correspondence
Shelley Vaters | Shelley@KarlVaters.com
De-Sizing the Church (pt 4): Unintended Consequences of the Church Growth Movement, with Bob Smietana (Ep 072)
While the Church Growth Movement created larger churches and opportunities, it also created larger dangers.
De-sizing The Church: Overcoming The Arrogance/Shame Cycle
“In the first twenty years of the movement, research focused on principles; lately the focus has been on discovering new techniques, programs, or methods.” (Elmer Towns)
De-Sizing the Church (pt 3): What Eugene Peterson Is Still Teaching Us About Pastoral Ministry, with Winn Collier (Ep 071)
A conversation with Eugene Peterson’s biographer on how simple pastoral presence is the healthy alternative to Christian celebrity.
