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Critical Success Factors

Written by Frans Hancke | 10 August 2010

THE COMMON CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS DETERMINING THE MISSION IMPACT OF THE LOCAL CHURCH - AN ANALYTICAL STUDY

M A 2001

Introduction

Can common factors be consistently identified in Churches actively and successfully involved in the task of mission? Are these factors to a lesser or no degree demonstrated in Churches uninvolved in the mission task? If they do exist, can these factors be isolated and described in order to assist us in developing a model to enlarge the mission impact of the local Church?

There is an interesting phenomenon in the universal Church as it steps into the new millennium. On the one hand, internationally acclaimed statisticians like Patrick Johnstone and David Barrett (2001:24) clearly indicate phenomenal global Church growth. In a recent publication by Johnstone, The Church is bigger than you think, he indicates that the growth of the so-called Evangelicals are higher than any other religious grouping in the world (1998:112). It is clear that the efforts of ecumenical, mission-minded movements like AD2000 had a tremendous impact on purposeful strategies to reach the unreached with the Gospel.

In spite of this inspiring facts, it is also a tragic reality that many congregations and Churches are not involved in the process of expanding the Church via missionary activities. This view is supported by Prof. Dons Kritzinger in a report, “Betrokkenheid van lidmate by sending,” [Involvement of members in mission] on the mission involvement of members of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa at the general synod of the Church in 1994 (Sinodical agenda:1994). It can be accepted that Prof. Kritzinger?s comments are not just applicable to the DRC.

Due to the success of Churches focussing on mission, it should be asked what makes the difference? Are there common factors to be determined in mobilised Churches? If it exist – are these only spiritual factors or can measurable aspects also be determined? Knowledge and understanding of such factors may benefit the Church at large in its functioning.
Personal involvement in mobilising the global Church for mission led to a regular experience of Churches? indifference towards the Great Commission and its missionary implications. Therefore the burning question in the hearts of mission leaders today – how to involve the uninvolved majority of Churches in evangelising the world?

This question gives birth to the research problem which is addressed by this study: “What are the common critical success factors enabling Churches, involved in mission, to impact creation in order to experience growth in God?s Kingdom?”

Once such factors are identified, a model can be developed by means of which missionary activities can be planned and impact optimised.

The goals of the study therefore are:

to analyse and identify common critical success factors in congregations who are effectively involved in mission;
to develop a conceptual model of such factors in these congregations; and,
to identify specific areas for further research, as a follow-up to this exploratory research.

Although mobilisation of the Church for mission is a regular topic in popular articles and publications I am not aware of any scientific, analytical study that has been done on this subject. Over many decades missionaries debated this subject, but no conclusive statements could be published based on a controlled study.

Although I test the thesis that there are critical success factors determining mission impact, the study also reflects the nature of an exploratory study. The lack of sound scientifically tested research materials necessarily lead to such an approximation.

International mission executives are convinced that a study of this nature can have an invaluable effect on the mobilisation of the global Church. This statement is supported by the interest of Dr Luis Bush, previously the Executive of the AD2000 and Beyond Movement. Dr Bush indicated a need to publish the results internationally as a means to accelerate the involvement of the local Church to reach the unreached.

The value of this study is further supported by a statement released by thirty-five functional leaders and founders of AD2000 in Colorado Springs on the 12th May 1998. These renowned leaders of the then biggest ecumenical movement in the world stated that “the primary roadblocks to world evangelisation were cited as being disinterest, self-absorption and lukewarmness within the Body of Christ” (Wood, 1998).

The results of this research can directly impact this statement. It can have a positive effect on the mobilisation of the global Church and as a result, the evangelisation of the world in the new century.