Churches get excited about building a new facility.  But, this is one of the most common areas where missteps occur and usually result in stunting the growth of a church.  Dr. Whitesel researched dozens of churches (using 22 as examples in this book) and uncovered the 11 most common planning mistakes of growing churches. 

Discover why most churches plateau too soon!

While interviewing pastors of growing churches, researcher and consultant Bob Whitesel found that the pastoral vision for the eventual size of a church usually never materialized.  In fact, growing churches seemed on average to attain only about half the size of their intentions.  With this in mind, Bob Whitesel crafted a list of actions that distinguish the growing periods of churches from the customary growth plateau that follows.

The book, Growth by Accident, Death By Planning: How NOT To Kill A Growing Congregation is based on 10 years of research into unplanned or “accidental” strategic decisions are often made early on by growing churches, and that lead to growth.  Their leaders employ many of these strategies not because of familiarity with their potential, but because of necessity brought on my the church’s circumstances.  

As the church grows the leaders often become perplexed over the causes of this extraordinary growth, and seek to uncover causal factors.  Because the factors are so elusive church leaders become bewildered.  Soon this bewilderment surfaces in sermons and casual conversations; belying an inner puzzlement over the forces involved.

A User-friendly Structure To Each Chapter

1.Each chapter begins with an story of a growing church that plateaued.

2.Next Factors That Caused Initial Growth are investigated.

3.Erroneous Decisions That Lead to Plateauing are then described.

4.Corrective Steps To Regain Growth are illustrated.

5.And each chapter concludes with another example, this time of an actual church that did not plateau but continued growing.

6.To help train your leaders, each chapter concludes with “Questions for Group Study”.

What others are saying...

Bob’s insights in this work have captured the premise that has moved our church off of plateau.  Get back to the basic principles that made your church successful in the first place. This book is a refreshing resource for pastors who are struggling with plateau after experiencing incredible growth.”  Mike Slaughter, Senior Pastor, Ginghamsburg Church

As I read this book my mind raced with referral thoughts for my client congregation.  They all need to read this book!  You will wince and rejoice, but you will see your church on every page.  Bob Whitesel is ‘right on’ in his diagnosis of the church.  You will benefit from hundreds of practical ideas that will help your church.”  Kent R. Hunter, The Church Doctor.

You will learn how to avoid ...

Chapter 1

Missteps with Staff Influence

Chapter 2

Missteps With Worship Celebrations

Chapter 3

Missteps With Prayer

Chapter 4

Missteps With Budgets

Chapter 5

Missteps With New Facilities

Chapter 6

Missteps with Innovation

Chapter 7

Missteps With Evaluation

Chapter 8

Missteps With Dysfunctional People

Chapter 9

Missteps With Education

Chapter 10

Missteps With Small Groups

Chapter 11

Missteps with the Centrality of Christ