At our staff advance a few weeks ago, I asked everyone to come prepared with their list of the 5 best practices that they perceive have been instrumental in the growth of Elevation. It was a lot of fun hearing what everyone came up with.
I took the master list of about 50 different ideas, extracted the common themes, and formulated the final 5.
Some of these will make sense on the surface, others will not. But they have meaning to us. I have written blog entries on most of these, and in those cases, I’ve linked the corresponding entry for you. I’m sure I’ll write about the other one soon enough.

DISCLAIMER: In no way is this a definitive list of church growth principles. And these are not core values or absolute truths. They are simply church leadership principles and practices that God has blessed in our first 18 months. Some were strategic and intentional, others we stumbled upon. I’m just inviting you to eavesdrop as we process our theories out loud. They may all change tomorrow. If so, I’ll let you know.

I highly recommend facilitating an exercise like this with those you lead (everybody leads somebody). The point isn’t really the end product, the point is the process. In discovering what is unique, distinctive, and important to you, you can really zone in and eliminate wasted energy. And you discover recurring motifs that open your eyes to what is original and special about you. Plus, it gives our leaders a common vocabulary to utilize in passing down principles to those they influence.

Elevation Staff’s Best Practices for Church Growth
(As of August 7, 2007/Subject to change without notice)

1. Be Ruth’s Chris, Not Golden Corral
2. Dress for the wedding, not the gas station
3. Stress participation, not membership
4. Create a culture of intensity (Part 1) (Part 2)
5. It’s all about the numbers