Simply ChurchIn the last series of posts we looked at how a legacy church might transition to a network of simple/organic churches. A less disruptive way might be for a legacy church to run a second track where only those who have vision for the change get involved in the new expression of church. Whichever way… Read More
Why is transitioning a church so difficult? Because when existing Christians get involved in simple/organic church life they have to go through a process that our friend Wolfgang Simson calls “Death Valley.” And it’s usually a slow and painful journey. Jesus told us in the parable of the wineskins that those who have tasted the… Read More
Even though David Havice has faced challenges in transitioning his legacy church to a network of simple/organic churches, he is still committed to simple/organic church. Here’s the conclusion of my interview with him. You can view the first two parts of the interview here and here. Felicity: I know with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight,… Read More
What challenges do you face when try to transition a legacy church into a network of simple/organic churches? This post continues the interview with David Havice. Felicity: You obviously hit some challenges when you transitioned your church. Can you describe them? David: The normal challenges were there and revolved around three areas: Spiritual concepts, emotional… Read More
The following is part of an interview with David Havice, a good friend, and pastor of a traditional church who transitioned to a network of simple/organic churches. Felicity: What made you decide to transition your legacy church into a network of simple/organic churches? David: We were a small congregation in a town of multiple megachurches… Read More
Imagine the scenario. I’m the pastor of a traditional church that’s going fairly well. We’ve been running along at 150 members for several years now. I love the church and the people, but recently I’ve been challenged to think about simple/organic church and the impact it can have on missions. As I pray about it,… Read More
It’s a sad fact, but one that you need to face up front. You will lose people. When you transition from a legacy church to a network of simple churches, not everyone will come with you. For many, the legacy church has been their whole life, and when you suggest a paradigm shift as major… Read More
The answer is: slowly! Photo credit: Balaji.B (Creative Commons) I know several legacy churches that have successfully made the transition to a network of simple/organic churches. When I’ve asked their leaders about the process, they have always told me that its been a lengthy one–a couple of years to complete. Usually they have taken about… Read More
If the Lord shows you that you are to make the transition from legacy to a network of simple/organic churches, there are a number of obstacles to overcome. (This post assumes you are in a position of church leadership.) Many people in your church do not share your vision for the transition. It’s not what… Read More