From Being In Your Community, To Being In Your Core
This morning I was afforded an extra two hours (because inclement weather) to sit in my classroom and reflect and pray. I decided to look over some seminar notes I took exactly one year ago today. It was a Worship Planning Seminar directed by Nelson Searcy. The first part of the seminar identifies the 5C’s from Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Church.” I’ve attached a picture you so can envision what I am writing.
The 5C’s work like a target. (Refer to the picture now.) 
On the far outer edges of the target is our surrounding COMMUNITY. This group makes up the number of people who live within 3-5 miles, and up to 10 miles from our church, or who live within driving distance. According to census data from 2010 there are approximately 235,000 people living in the area between High Point and Greensboro in North Carolina where my church, Renaissance Road, lies.
The next target inward is our CROWD. This includes the number of people who attend our church each Sunday PLUS those who attend on average between 2 and 5 times a year.
(Believe it or not, to the media outlets you are considered a “regular attender” if you visit a church, or place of worship, at least 2 to 5 times a year.)
For our church this number varies between 120 to over 300 individuals. The small number representing the average number of people in attendance each week. The larger number representing the average number of people in attendance each week PLUS those who attend on average between 2 and 5 times a year.
This time last year when I took notes on this seminar I noted that our “crowd” average 80 - 175. If I knew how to do math I would tell you the rate of increase, but alas, I teach social studies. :-)
To those who attend Renaissance Road Church, be encouraged! Our church is growing!
The next target inward is our CONGREGATION. This is the average number of people attending our worship experiences each week.
One year ago we averaged 115 people, including Relevate (our student ministry). Today that number is closer to 175. WOW! That rate of increase is AWESOME!!!
The next target inward is our COMMITTED. This accounts for those who are committed to participate (and I use the term “participate” lightly) each and every week at Renaissance Road Church.
Last year I noted that there appeared to be approximately 50 people who would fit in this category. Today, I believe this number is closer to 75.
The inner most target, the Bull’s Eye, is our CORE group of followers. Those who give regularly, serve regularly, and lead regularly.
Last year I wrote that there were approximately 25 people in our core. Today, I would say that this number seems to be floating around the same number, maybe rising slightly to 30 or 35.
All in all, as I reflect on our past I am encouraged at the rate of growth we have seen from “year 0” to “year 1”, and from “year 1” to “year 2”, and onward into “year 3.”
And if you attend Renaissance Road Church you should be encouraged as well! However, do not be satisfied. Realizing there are close to one-quarter of a million people in our “backyard”, our mission is far from over.
But here’s my question(s) to you.
How do we continue to move people “inward” on the target?
How do we get our community to become our crowd?
How do we get our crowd to become our congregation?
How do we get our congregation to become our committed?
And finally, how do we get our committed to become our core?
It seems as though more people transitioned more inward in the target, with a minor exception to the “committed” and the “core” groups. What can we do as a church to get people to cross over from “congregation” to “committed”? And from “committed” to “core”?
