24 To Double Program: Helping Our Churches Reach Their Communities For Christ!
Just over two years ago, Cornerstone Conference Evangelism Ministries partnered with Dr. Owen Weston to offer a proven revitalization strategy developed by Dr. Weston to assist Pastors and congregations. Twenty-six congregations enrolled in the 24 to Double program which provided two-training models every other month from March 2013 to April 2015. The program is already yielding results in many of our churches even though it takes three years to fully implement the program for the first time. Our Evangelism Council is tracking our average Sunday Morning Worship attendance across the Cornerstone Conference and is seeing a steady increase. We believe the 24toDouble is instrumental in making this happen! We already have reports of churches “turning around”, showing increased attendance and congregational involvement and even doubling! We expect this to continue as pastors continue to implement the principles of this team focused strategy.
In June of 2012, our Evangelism Council began looking for a way to encourage our Pastors and strengthen our congregations through a proven revitalization strategy that would involve the entire congregations in reaching their city for Christ. 24 to Double had all the key aspects we were looking for: (1) It had a biblical foundation (2) It was a proven model that was reproducible and repeatable in any size of church. (3) It provided “in person” training by an expert that was affordable.
We were blessed to have Dr. Owen Weston to conduct the training. We had worked with Dr. Weston in the past and were greatly benefited by his passion and burden for the local church. He is a recognized leading expert in church planting and church revitalization to personally lead the training at two locations every other month across the conference. He has started and pastored several churches, many of which grew to mega-church stature. Additionally, he has spent years mentoring leading churches and pastors in turning dead and dying churches into life giving, growing churches. He has been a professor at leading universities and a consultant to several denominations. After decades of experience, he has proven that “every church can double in 24 months” using the biblical concepts patterned after Jesus’ own model of ministry.
The 24 to Double program is effective because it focuses on helping the pastor to reenergize the church vision with a team approach (he/she doesn’t do ministry alone), organize big outreach events that get un-churched people onto the church campus and build seven key teams that place people where they are gifted and passionate using the “5 Fold Ministry” model. Each of the teams are important:
Team 1: Outreach Team – Engages your community and finds new ways to get people to visit your church.
Team 2: First Impression – From the parking lot to the pew this team makes the church feel like heaven on earth.
Team 3: Shock & Awe Team – This team prepares the environment for worship from facility care to lighting, technology and drama.
Team 4: Worship Team – This team makes sure that the worship is relevant to the message and prepares your members and visitors for the Word of God.
Team 5: Follow Up Team – This team is responsible for getting people to return after a visit.
Team 6: Children’s Ministry Team – This team focuses on preparing the next generation of believers through a vibrant children’s ministry.
Team 7: Small Groups Team – This team’s focus is to assimilate everyone into an active small group or Sunday school class.
During the first 12 months of the training, Dr. Weston focused on helping the church leadership team to fully understand the importance of leadership, vision, outreach, big events, and the purpose and function of the seven teams. This training required the participation of the pastor and included staff, council and lay leaders. In months 13 to 24 the focus was to let Dr. Weston train members of each of the seven teams. It is important that each team member understand, commit and implement the Biblically based strategy of 24toDouble.
As we continue to implement the principles of the training in Cornerstone, we look forward to what God will continue to do in and through our congregations to reach their communities for Christ!
-Michael S. Ainsworth, Assistant Superintendent
Director of Evangelism Ministries
Cornerstone Conference