Many local churches have experienced extraordinary growth during the past 15 years. Often times, these congregations seemed to become megachurches overnight. Several of the country’s largest churches did not even exist 20 years ago. Today, the contemporary church movement is becoming the local church paradigm — evolving into tradition. Conversely, what has been seen as traditional in recent years, is the new contemporary. Despite attempts to change the local church model, there are no foolproof, systematic guidelines that guarantee church growth. The Kingdom has benefited from these shifts as the Church has developed a much greater and seemingly broader focus.

The "growing church" models human growth from its inception to adulthood. The process moves through infancy and adolescence, arriving at maturity. Much is written and researched concerning both the infant and mature church. Undeniable facts, however, point to the need to recognize and acknowledge the "adolescent church."

Human adolescence is defined as "the period of physical and psychological development from youth to the onset of adulthood." The adolescent church is any church that is experiencing burst growth beyond a reasonable forecast, characterized by an increase in attendance and fervor. In addition, it often experiences a severe strain on the organizational structure and decision-making processes, as well as rapid change in direction.

Ignoring the needs of the adolescent church can lead to dysfunctional leadership, plagued by the constant need to "catch up," all the while affirming hasty decisions that become costly in the long run. Any leadership style that measures success through arbitrary values set by the leadership, instead of clearly defined markers, creates congregational stress and hampers smooth transitions into adulthood.

Evidences Of Adolescence

Living things grow and change; human growth can be measured by an increase in size. Growth is accomplished in an organism by an enlargement of cell size or through an increase in the number of cells. Some organisms stop growing at maturity, while others continue to grow throughout their lives. This is illustrated in plant growth, as well as in many organizations. The life cycle of an organism is represented by the stages it goes through between life and death.

The human life cycle begins as a single cell, and through countless cell divisions, develops into an embryo, ultimately resulting in a birth. This stage is known as infancy. From infancy, babies produce more cells and grow into childhood. During the childhood stage, a child begins to walk and talk. A stage of rapid growth and change occurs during the teen years – adolescence. In our culture, a person enters adulthood near the age of 20. At this stage, full growth is reached and is representative of the longest stage in the human life cycle.

The life cycle of a healthy church resembles the process of a child maturing into adulthood. Churches are usually started with a vision and some type of initial cell formation. As people are attracted to the cell, it grows and divides and, if healthy, continues to grow. In the infancy stage, churches often struggle with provision for their own basic needs, and are usually dependent upon a host church. As the infant church grows, it becomes more communicative – and, due to increased resources and focus, more responsive in its awareness of others.

A healthy church should expect growing pains. Even though there are some natural growth cycles in the life of a church, it is not created to decline like human lives.

Being a church in adolescence has less to do with the age of the church and more with the nature of the growth of the church. The key growth areas are the physical body, cognitive processes and the psychosocial development. If a church is building because it has to, it is in a state of adolescence. The body has physically outgrown its capacity to organizationally function within its environment.

Physical Development

During the teen years, adolescents experience changes in their physical development at a rate of speed unparalleled since infancy. Churches are no different. Physical development includes rapid gains in height and weight – and for churches, congregational size and spiritual depth.

The adolescent church may experience unequal growth among individual parts of its body. While this is not uncommon, it does, however, lead to a sort of awkwardness or clumsiness as the church tries to cope with the growth in some areas and continue with "business as usual" in others. The normal pace of the church is affected, and a natural imbalance occurs. This imbalance is often referred to as "growing pains" within the organization, and is usually evident to the congregation, as well as onlookers in the community.

Inconsistencies are evidenced in areas as simple as baby dedications or the presentation of announcements. An increase in the number of children to be dedicated in a weekend puts pressure on the church to develop an alternative plan. Another notable incongruence can be detected as the senior pastor interacts with the congregation. The pastor of a church plant or a small church has the privilege of spending greater amounts of time with each family in the congregation. He performs each wedding and every funeral. Naturally, his congregants come to expect him to visit each and every person in need. As the church grows, it becomes more difficult for the pastor to perform each wedding and funeral. Eventually, it becomes impossible for a lead pastor to "be all" and "do all."

The challenge every adolescent-church pastor has is leading the people to feel as good about merely seeing him as they did about being within reach of him when the church was preadolescent.

Cognitive and Spiritual Development

Children believe what they hear, and adults – for the most part – believe what they see. If what an adolescent sees does not match up with what they have heard, they are more likely to discount or discard what they have been told concerning their belief system. Church bodies function in a similar manner.

Churches, like individuals, will often challenge decisions which have been made for them, as well as decisions they have made for themselves. This is a very important time in the life of the congregation because it is during this time that the church identity transforms from a mission statement on the wall to the people in the hall, to paraphrase Andy Stanley. Core values are not only determined, but defined, throughout this process.

Consider This

Adolescence ushers in its share of upheavals. There is a need for the adolescent church to see itself as separate. Levels of great change can cause levels of great stress, especially since the adolescent church experiences elements of being both a child and an adult.

There is an art to leading a church through adolescence. It requires tremendous focus and a great deal of wisdom and influence on the part of the staff and key leadership. All too often, a change in leadership is associated with this transition.

Despite difficult days, adolescence is a good thing. Without it, the maturation process would stop and there would be no birth of other church plants. Without adolescence, the church is doomed to compare itself to the next church – rather than moving to maturity, which is God’s ultimate plan. Don’t fall into the trap of confusing results with behaviors.

Don Allensworth is the founder and CEO of The NewGround Group. Known as a creative innovator and staff coach, he has 17 years experience as a staff member in growing churches. He brings a unique freshness and integrative approach to positioning churches for effectiveness, from project management to full ministry assessments to his innovative MinisterCoach service. For a quick assessment tool, e-mail don@thenewgroundgroup.com. Or visit www.thenewgroundgroup.com or call 888.469.3021 to discuss your project.