Other Wineskins
Each local church has significant differences in both the fields they are reaching
and the resources they possess. For this reason, it should not be surprising that there
are many different "wineskins" which are effective in church growth. It is
important to realize this, since the natural tendency is think that our present
"wineskin," if it is effective, is the best way of doing things.
Below are examples of churches which have all enjoyed significant growth, but
which have employed a wide variety of "wineskins."
- NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH: Started by Dale Galloway in Portland; focuses on people
with "felt needs" as opportunity for outreach; utilizes hundreds of small groups
for evangelism; utilizes large meetings for worship
- WILLOW CREEK: Started by Bill Hybels in suburban Chicago; focuses on corporate male
25-45; utilizes large seeker-sensitive meetings in an impressive, non-churchy building;
strong emphasis on friendship evangelism; developed NETWORK to facilitate mobilization of
people into suitable ministry; is presently developing home groups for both koinonia and
outreach
- FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCHES: Started by Gene Getz in Dallas; somewhat contemporary
worship services centered around solid Bible teaching; strong emphasis on fellowship
facilitated by home groups; has successfully utilized Dallas Seminary graduates (where
Getz taught) to start several new churches; growth may be largely assimilating Christians,
since evangelism is not strongly emphasized
- ELMBROOK: Led by Stuart Briscoe in suburban Milwaukee; traditional worship services
with excellent expository preaching; strong line of courses offered, including a branch of
TEDS; Briscoe and wife have regular TV show; have successfully daughtered four churches in
the Milwaukee area; strong emphasis on foreign missions
- BEAR VALLEY: Formerly led by Frank Tillapaugh and Paul Borden in Denver; emphasized
facilitating laymen starting new ministries; against building larger facility, instead
using same facility to house different ethnic congregations
- CALVARY CHAPEL: Started in Costa Mesa by Chuck Smith who was a key figure in
providing acceptance of hippies and direction for the Jesus Movement; moderate charismatic
with solid Bible teaching; strong emphasis on domestic church planting. Over 800 churches
planted in the U.S.
- VINEYARD: Broke off from Calvary Chapel; John Wimber has emphasized "power
evangelism"--relying on Spirit-led encounters rather than persuasion; moderate
charismatic large-group worship services and home "kinship" groups for koinonia;
Vineyard is a new denomination, starting new churches or assimilating existing groups
nationwide
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