The Leader Letter

Organic Growth

Written by Nate Flynn | Aug 29, 2024 7:42:44 PM

Dear Leader,

Imagine a farmer who buys a plot of land with great aspirations of a large, healthy, profitable yield of crops. Day in and day out he watches his patch of dirt, waiting for it to produce. After months of watching and waiting, his land has become nothing more than a dusty dirt patch full of weeds.

He had high hopes, but without preparing the ground, sowing good seed, fertilizing, watering, and stewarding his farm, he gained nothing of value.

Do we treat our ministry to men in this way? I sometimes hear pastors and leaders talk about "organic growth" as a desired method over using programs, structures, or formal processes. The idea is that as people grow in their faith and connect authentically with one another, the church will grow.

While the Church is a body, a living organism, and we want to be Spirit-led, we must also recognize that growth often needs to be supported by strategic processes. These concepts are not counter to one another, but rather complementary. 

If we desire as a church to see a rich harvest of godly men, we must be willing to prepare the soil and provide a structure that guides men from initial interest to deep spiritual commitment.

In Christ,   

Nate Flynn

Area Director

 

 

A BIBLICAL MODEL  

No Man Left Behind is a model of discipleship that is established on what Jesus taught and modeled for us. It is a strategic plan that leads to organic growth.

  • Culture of Discipleship: Everything we do is about making disciples.
    • Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 12:2; Mark 12:30-31
  • Three Strands of Leadership: Enthusiastic involvement of pastor, a passionate leader, and a committed team.
    • Ecclesiates 4:12; 1 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 4:13
  • The Man Code: The environment your church creates for men.
    • 1 Corinthians 16:13; Proverbs 27:17; 1 Timothy 6:11-12
  • Wide-to-Deep Continuum: A process that moves men from broad, general engagement to deep discipleship.
    • Matthew 13:23; 2 Peter 3:18

Helping men grasp the gospel, develop a hunger to grow in God, and lead others to do the same.
  • All-Inclusive Ministry: Engaging every man in the church through intentional interactions.
    • Ephesians 4:16; 1 Peter 4:10
  • Vision: A clear and compelling message that shows men what God wants to do through them for His kingdom.
    • Proverbs 29:18; Habakkuk 2:2
  • Create Value: Offering men what they need in the context of what they want.
    • 1 Corinthians 9:22; Matthew 14:16
  • Capture Momentum: Providing men with immediate, believable next steps that align with where they are on their spiritual journey.
    • Hebrews 10:24; Acts 2:42
  • Sustain Change: Ensuring lasting transformation through ongoing relational discipleship.
    • Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 12:1

 

 YOUR ACTION STEP:

Consider Your Growth Mindset

 

Certainly, you're not like the farmer above who did nothing and expected results. I know that you desire to see growth and transformation in your men. It is important to consider though what our mindsets and methods are concerning the outcomes we hope for.

Many church leaders prefer the idea of organic growth because it feels more natural, unforced, and Spirit-led, as opposed to structured programs and processes. However, this approach can have its pitfalls if not balanced with intentional strategies and systems.

Churches can often invest a lot of time and resources in building programs and engaging in administrative tasks to the neglect of the actual people. For this reason, I think some have rejected structure altogether. Indeed, we want to see Gospel growth - people whose hearts are being transformed by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

While discipleship is always our goal in everything we do, we must be intentional in our methods for long-term engagement and sustainable growth. In short, we have to know where we want to take people and how we're going to get them there.

We cannot simply stand by and hope that men will find their way onto a relational discipleship path. If we scatter seed but do nothing to cultivate those seeds - such as offering clear pathways for spiritual growth, accountability structures, and consistent followup - the potential for growth diminishes significantly.

In the same way a farmer prepares the soil, plants seeds, waters regularly, and tends to his crops, churches must employ systems that support growth.

The key is not to abandon the desire for organic, Spirit-led growth, but to recognize that such growth often needs to be supported by strategic processes. 

Organic growth can feel more natural and Spirit-led, but it is not mutually exclusive with structure. In fact, the most effective growth - especially in ministry to men - often occurs when organic relationships and spiritual movements are supported by well-thought-out strategies and systems.

By preparing the soil and tending to the crops, with intentionality, churches can cultivate a thriving, sustainable, Spirit-led ministry that bears much fruit. 

 
 
 

GO DEEPER WITH THIS POST FROM THE MAN IN THE MIRROR BLOG

When Men's Ministry Leaves the Church Basement

When they consider all the twists and turns of the last 10 years, it’s obvious that God has been driving their ministry the whole time, taking them in directions they’d never imagined along the way, all to see no man left behind.

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