1950’s Church Models vs. Today’s Culture

Old Church Model

Core Values
1950-1960 Era

New Church Model

Core Values
2010-2020 Era

1. Faith  
2. Fellowship  
3. Family

1. Biblical Instruction (Faith)
2. Prayer (Faith)
3. Relational (Fellowship/Family)
4. Caring Ministry (Family)
5. Transformation (evangelism, spiritual formation)

External Culture

1. External culture (society) supported Christian principles.
2. “Build it and they will come.”
3. Church affiliation was socially acceptable.
4. Denominationally driven; hierarchical.
5. Centralized forms of governance. 

External Culture

1. External culture (society) is anti-Christian and  apostate; apathetic, desires censure of Christians and persecution.
2. “Why should I go?”  It’s not necessary to go.
3. It is socially acceptable NOT to be affiliated with a church.  Generally, people are frustrated by religion or “religious” semantics.
4. No longer relevant to individual / communal needs.
5. Post-denominational era. A call for decentralized forms of governance.

Economic Indicators

1. Rising household income.
2. Mass production & labor intensive.
3. Collective sense of peace, security and prosperity.

Economic Indicators

1. Rising unemployment, layoffs and debts.
2. Consumer driven economy; increased imports.
3. Government takeover and seizures.
4. Collective sense of being physically & emotionally unhealthy, in insecurity and poverty.

Modern Worldview (Christendom)

1. Science & Reason
2. Logic & Rational
3. Absolute truth exists; must be obeyed.
4. Follow a prescribed manner or pattern; there is only one “absolute” manner/way it can be achieve; A high value placed on rules and these prescribed manners; defiance from the norm is socially prohibited.

Postmodern Worldview (Post-Christendom)

1. Relativism; truth is based on the individual.
2. High value placed on community / relationships.
3. Materialistic & Individual freedom with no boundaries or personal responsibility.
4. Reality is based on experience; experimental demonstration.

Technology

1. Transistor radios & commercial televisions were introduced in 1939.
2. Telegraphs & Rotary telephones.
3. Jukeboxes, record players & 8-track tapes.
4. Cassette tapes. 

Technology

1. Computers, scanners & USB-port.
2. High-Def, Plasma screens, Blue-Ray, Cable & Satellite-televisions, 3-D movies, Pay-per-view, PVR, TiVo, DVD & Web-Cams.
3. Smart-Phones, text-message, Instant Message, E-Mail, MP3 Players, IPods & Droids.
4. Internet, chat-rooms, Web-communities: (i.e. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter & Plaxo) 

Ministry Goals

1. Increase membership
2. Increase Sunday school classes.

Ministry Goals

1. Must be relational to approach and entry point.
2. Primary focus must be placed on discipleship. Must be decentralized & address a increasing level of biblical and spiritual immaturity; a generation unfamiliar and/or inexperienced with worship or biblical standards. 
3. Must serve in an environment of persecution and government intervention/oppression to Christian faith.

Approach/Model

1. Sunday-School is model for education.
2. Congregations establish programs.

Approach/Model

1. Missional
2. Cell groups (a home-church mindset) Each cell group will focus on all 5-core values.

Entry Point to the Gospel

1. The unchurched or non-believers were invited to church and children invited to Sunday school class (catechism).
2. The unchurched or non-believers were invited to various programs to entice participation. 

Entry Point to the Gospel

1. The cell group.
2. Visitors to worship will no longer encouraged  to become members immediately; instead, they are encouraged to become an active participant in a cell group.