The Principles of NCD

Many church development processes are model-based; NCD is based on principles which seem to be universal for the church. There are NCD tools including the survey and books, but if we can get the principles really working in churches we will see a difference. So here goes to itemise some of them:

• Healthy things grow
• God has provided all we need in the church for health and growth
• He calls us into partnership with him in the growth process
• Real change and growth comes by working as though it is all us and praying as though it is all God

There are eight significant characteristics of a healthy, growing and effective church:

1. Empowering leadership
2. Gift-based ministry
3. Passionate spirituality
4. Effective structures
5. Inspiring worship services
6. Holistic small groups
7. Need-orientated evangelism
8. Loving relationships

There are six growth forces

1. Interdependence –the church is a complex organism with many parts that are interrelated according to God’s plan.
2. Multiplication – we cannot simply keep on getting bigger, we need to start reproducing
3. Energy  transformation – instead of wasting energy by fighting the crisis or catastrophe, we can use it for the advance of God’s kingdom, like the surfer.
4. Sustainability – we can put to multiple uses the work we do and thereby sustain the ongoing work.
5. Symbiosis – it is precisely in our differences that we work together best, we need ever more cooperation.
6. Fruitfulness – Jesus frequently uses this description in his parables and teaching. We have been appointed to bear fruit, fruit that will last