Vision 2020 台福禧年 2020 Jay Kuo Moderator EFC

Vision 2020 台福禧年 2020 Jay Kuo Moderator, EFC February 8, 2010 3/15/2018 1

What is Vision 2020? Vision 2020 ◦ EFC will have 200 local churches and 20000 members by the end of year 2020 Background ◦ Motivated by Taiwan mission 2015 -10010000 ◦ Rev. Felix Liu encouraged EFC to continue with church planting in North America ◦ GA has committed to plant two new churches every year in the next 5 years ◦ GA sent a survey to all local churches for growth prediction and church planting plan between 2000 -2015 3/15/2018 2

Feedback During Survey Positive ◦ It is good to set a goal Concerns and questions ◦ Do we need a growth goal? Let us just work hard for the Lord ◦ We have done this too many times in the past Another number game? ◦ Simply ignore None of my business, just leave me alone 3/15/2018 3

Delimma Very few people would like to be pushed, stretched and governed (including me) On the other hand, the Bible teaches us: ◦ “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverb 29: 18) 沒有異象、民就放肆． ◦ “In those days Israel had no king; every did as he saw fit” (Judges 21: 25) 那時以色列中沒有王、各人任意而行。 How can we break the deadlock and move forward with unity? 3/15/2018 4

Leadership Crisis People cry out for leadership However, true leaders are difficult to find 3/15/2018 ◦ No leadership, no successful organization ◦ Many talkers, few doers ◦ Who has the guts to make decision? No decision is also a decision ◦ Who is willing to take the responsibilities and blames? ◦ Who can encourage and motivate people towards the same vision? ◦ Who can listen to different voices? Who are leaders of EFC in 2010 -2020? Are they good leaders? 5

Rationale behind 2020 -20020000 (1) Historical Movement ◦ ◦ 9025 -> 25 EFC churches in 1990 2050 -> 50 EFC churches in 2000 2010? ? -> about 100 churches in 2010 2020 -> 200 churches in 2020 Relationship with Taiwan Mission ◦ Goal of Taiwan mission: 2015 -100/10000 ◦ The 2020 goal should include the Taiwan mission as a subset GA survey results ◦ Many churches set the annual growth rate to 10% ◦ Overseas EFC churches will reach 10000 in 2015 3/15/2018 6

Rationale behind 2020 -20020000 (2) 5 -year prediction could be long for local churches but short for a denomination ◦ 10 -year prediction is more appropriate for the whole EFC Bottom up survey data are used as reference ◦ Lower the expectation by extending the goal of 10000 members in Taiwan and overseas EFC churches each from 2015 to 2020 3/15/2018 7

GA Survey Results for Overseas EFC Regional Assemblies Predicted Members in 2015 Regional Assemblies New Zealand 1286 N. A. East 665 S. C. Central Australia N. A. Central/West 753 1190 N. A. South Predicted Members in 2015 S. C. Southwest S. C. East Total: 10, 853 3/15/2018 8 428 3160 2492 879

200/20000 or 200 -20000 200/20000 means 200 churches or 20000 church members 2000 -20000 means 200 churches and 20000 church members A problem with “or” ◦ ◦ 3/15/2018 Taiwan mission is 2015 -100/10000 It was an aggressive goal 100 gospel stations are within reach in 2015 But could be too much focused on the church no. Could be too many small churches Need to be more balanced 9

How to Achieve 2020 -20000? Further breakdown (by 2020) ◦ Taiwan: 125 churches, 10000 church members ◦ Overseas: 75 churches, 10000 church members Current status ◦ Taiwan: 50 churches, 2000 church members ◦ Overseas: 50 churches, 5600 church members Church planting rate ◦ Taiwan: 7. 5 churches per year in the next decade ◦ Overseas: 2. 5 churches per year in the next decade 3/15/2018 10

Is the Number too Aggressive? Depending on your viewpoint ◦ Report of 12 explorers (Numbers 13) Feasibility evaluation ◦ Taiwan: from 2000 to 10000 Increasing rate 400% (very challenging) Yet, it is only 0. 05% of Taiwan population (is it too small? ) ◦ Overseas: from 5600 to 10000 Increasing rate 100% over 10 years (7 -8% per year) EFCLA: from 1000 to 2000 (Explosive growth in Saturday night worship services) How about others? 3/15/2018 11

Dialogue with the Lord Will this be the proper number? Will it be too aggressive? ◦ I am who I am, but who are you? Questions from the Lord ◦ How serious (or hunger) are you? ◦ Are you ready (or qualified) to lead? What is your height and breadth? Can you win leaders’ heart (trust and respect) Can you motivate brothers/sisters to follow? The focal point is not the number but the leaders ◦ It is actually the test on the leader(s) 3/15/2018 12

“Lord, Can We Have More? ” 2 -> double portion Grace upon grace (恩上加恩) … … Can we use 2020 -20000 as the basis and go beyond that? ◦ Let us pray for the blessing of double portion After all, we are not fighting for numbers, but for the Lord and lost souls. 3/15/2018 13

Leaders as Role Models Unique feature of EFC ◦ Team work between full-time ministers and lay leaders We have witnessed role models from the first generation leaders ◦ Pastors of different gifts/styles ◦ Lay leaders of different gifts/styles How about leaders of the 2 nd generation? Prepare leaders of the 3 rd generation 3/15/2018 ◦ Who is willing to step out? ◦ Who is willing to work in a team? 14

Next Step: Strategic Planning Once vision is endorsed by the majority of core leaders, what is the next step? ◦ Promotion: blow the horn ◦ Strategic planning Location Metropolitan areas versus rural areas Overseas Chinese immigrants English speaking Asians Other possibilities Human resource Financial resource 3/15/2018 15

Some Ideas on Overseas EFC ? ? Church planting in existing 8 regional assemblies 8 regions x 7 churches/region =56 churches Exploring new regions and build new regional assemblies, e. g. ◦ ◦ 3/15/2018 Northern California Vancouver and Seattle Hong Kong Singapore 4 regions x 5 churches/region=20 churches 16

Keys to Long-Term EFC Growth 組織 Connection & Organization 動力 Momentum & Sustainability 3/15/2018 資源 Resource & Usage 17

Be Strong and Courageous “Have not I commanded thee. Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you whereever you go” (Joshua 1: 9) 我豈沒有吩咐你麼．你當剛強壯膽．不要懼怕、也不要驚惶、因為你無論往那裡去、耶和華你的　神必與你同在。 3/15/2018 18