Calvary Baptist Church: Consultation Report

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Assessment Process

• Initial Conversation: FEB Central / Church Leadership
• Agreement to Proceed: Church Leadership
• Consultation Data Gathering:

Church Wide Survey

Self Study Documents (statistics, records, other info)

Personal Surveys – Staff, Board, Leaders

• Analysis
• Present and Review with Church Leaders
• Present to Church

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Notes regarding the Assessment Process

• 1. The process is not an exact science, but with data and feedback from committed leaders, we can identify recurring themes and make observations regarding strengths & weaknesses

”And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” - 1 Chronicles12:32

• 2. Churches go through phases and stages of health throughout their history

“At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn

their plenty will supply what you need – that there may be equality.” – 2 Cor.8:14

3. Hearing the recommendations in this report may take an hour; implementing the recommendations can take months, and for some, years. Some steps can happen quickly, and others will take longer.

​

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

• Average Age: Calvary 53.4, Fellowship 50.9. (Ages 15+ only)
• Men/Women: Calvary 37%/62%, Fellowship 40%/59%
• Education: Calvary 77% University or Graduate degree

Fellowship 55% University or Graduate degree

Pembroke** 13% University or Graduate degree

• Ethnicity: Calvary 4% Visible Minority

Pembroke** 3.5% Visible Minority (2021)

• Household Income: Calvary $72K, Fellowship $58K, Pembroke $89K
• Church Giving: Calvary 7.0%, Fellowship 6.4%
• Total Ministry Giving: Calvary 8.5%, Fellowship 7.6%

​

* Number of Church Survey Participants: 78

** Source 2021 Statistics Canada

Demographic Notes*

Encouragements

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

1. Strong Commitment to God’s Word and Biblical Values

​

• Church-wide appreciation for expository Biblical sermons

“Sermons are relevant…include direct application” – 87% agree

“God’s Word communicated effectively” – 85% agree

​

• Strong desire expressed consistently in leader’s written responses that Biblical Expository preaching is essential at Calvary

​

• Biblical truth foundational to all the church’s ministries: Children’s ministries, Youth Ministries, Outreach, Sunday services, etc…

Encouragements

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

2. Significant History of Ministry in the Pembroke area

​

• Strong history of gospel ministry in Pembroke area for 77 years

- Calvary is a leading church in the Pembroke area

- Significant seasons of growth in the past decade

- Calvary planted Trailhead Baptist Church in Petawawa

- Long term pastorates averaging 10 years+ for last 55 years

Encouragements

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

3. Strong Children’s Ministries & Seniors Ministries

​

• “Children’s Ministry is Satisfactory” - 86%

- Sunday morning children’s ministry

- AWANA

​

• “Wisdom Seekers” Group is a blessing to many Seniors

Encouragements

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

4. Good Missions Program and Local Outreach Ministries

​

• 89% - global missions are an important part of our ministry
• 83% - our missions priorities are clearly defined and met
• 67% - our church effectively ministers to the people of our community
• Strong support for Local Outreach ministries including:
• Summer Epic/Onside Sports Camps March Break VBS
• Hockey Team Chaplaincy Teen Challenge
• Serving with The Grind Pembroke GriefShare
• Pregnancy Support Centre

​

• 26 Baptisms in 2024!

​

​

Encouragements

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

5. Primed for Revitalization: Leadership, Desire and Right Timing for Growth and Vitality

​

• Calvary is primed for a new season of growth and vitality (lifecycle chart)

​

• New Lead Pastor with gifts in leadership, preaching, and organizational skills who is ready to lead Calvary forward in vision and growth

​

• Leaders and congregation with desire to see growth and greater ministry impact in Pembroke and surrounding areas

Numerical Growth of the Church is Important – 77% agree

​

• Church steadily growing after COVID

​

​

​

Encouragements

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Mark Cuthbert, Bob Flemming

Trailhead Baptist Church Planted

COVID – Attendance Estimated for 2021

1. Commitment to God’s Word and Biblical Values

​

2. Significant History of Ministry in Pembroke

​

3. Strong Children’s and Seniors Ministries

​

4. Good Missions and Local Outreach

​

5. Primed for Revitalization and Growth

​

​

Summary of Encouragements

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Concerns

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

1. There is a Lack of Clarity regarding Vision and Strategy

​

• The vision and strategy of the church is lacking in clarity. Many leaders expressed the need to develop a unifying vision for Calvary

​

…have Clear Goals and accomplish them - 64%

​

• The statement “Becoming Passionate Followers of Jesus” is a good summary but lacks a call to action or a clear strategy.

​

• Note: COVID and Pastoral Transitions impacted the church’s ability to develop new vision

​

Concerns

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

2. Organizational Growth Challenges: Staffing, Governance, Communications, and Procedures

​

• Insufficient staff (ministry and administrative) for Calvary’s size and growth

Note: Pastor Chad and Deacons are working on new hire(s)

​

• Leaders expressed that Calvary often operates like a “small church” even though it is growing to be a large church

​

”Church has a clear organizational structure” - 64%

​

• Ministries find it difficult to communicate with volunteers and struggle to get people using Planning Center and other tools

​

• Many leaders expressed confusion regarding procedures

Encouragement: Pastor Chad is working on policies/procedures

​

Concerns

3. Membership has Plateaued while Attendance has Grown

​

• Long term gap between numbers in attendance and membership

(see chart on next slide)

​

• Lack of Membership Growth creates challenges in finding volunteers and leaders

​

​

Concerns

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Trailhead Baptist Church Planted

COVID – Attendance Estimated for 2021

4. The Church Facility is Stretched for Space

​

“Church Facilities are Adequate to our needs” - 50%***

*** Leaders score: 20%

​

• Growth can be limited by your facility in five areas:

​

- Main Worship Space

- Children’s Space

- Education/Meeting Space

- Parking Space

- Land

​

• Sunday services capacity is close to full
• Need for Multi-purpose meeting/activity space

​

​

Concerns

5. Local Evangelism needs Strengthening

​

“Church trains people in evangelism” – 41% agreed

“People regularly come to know Jesus.” – 58% agreed

​

• Geography: Calvary is not reaching enough people who live in Pembroke

​

• Demographics: Calvary is serving mostly university-educated people (77% of church) who represent only 13% of the population of Pembroke

​

Concerns

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

6. Small Groups Ministry needs Attention

​

• Leaders expressed desire for more small groups and strengthening of small groups ministry to help with discipleship of attenders

​

“Small Group Ministry is Effective” – 58% agreed

​

• Discipleship, prayer focus, spiritual growth, leadership development are all impacted when small groups are not flourishing

​

• Note: COVID impacted small groups

​

Concerns

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

1. Lack of Clarity re Vision/Strategy

​

2. Organizational Growth Challenges

​

3. Membership Plateaued, Attendance Growing

​

4. Church Facility Stretched for Space

​

5. Local Evangelism needs Strengthening

​

6. Small Groups Ministry needs Attention

​

​

Summary of Concerns

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Recommendations

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Think of Calvary as a Thriving, Larger Regional Church

​

• A Thriving Church prioritizes Evangelism and Discipleship.

​

• A Thriving Church is excited about the future and the congregation expects and prepares for change.

​

• A Thriving Church designs ministries and systems for the size of church you believe God wants her to become.

​

Note: There is a clear desire at Calvary to be a thriving church impacting the community. You have already taken many good steps forward.

​

Recommendation: A New Way of Thinking

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

1. Develop a Vision and a Strategic Plan

​

• Led by Pastor Chad and the Board, prayerfully develop a united vision and strategic plan for Calvary.

Vision gives a picture of where God is leading you

A Strategic Plan describes practical steps in areas such as:

Staffing and Governance

Evangelism and Integration of Newcomers

Children’s, Youth and Family Ministries

Facility Plan to accommodate growth

Discipleship and Small Groups

Church Planting

​

• Invite Tim Strickland to assist in the vision development process

​

​

Recommendations

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

2. Add Staff and Update Governance to Align with Calvary’s Growth

​

• Add Staff to support the growth at Calvary:

Discipleship / Integration Communications/Volunteer Coordinator(s) Youth Outreach, Worship, Other?

• Establish Elders as the governing board and Deacons who oversee practical areas of church life (such as tech, facilities, etc…)

- Consider incorporation as you move to an Elders Board

- Develop policies/procedures where needed

​

• Invite Rob Hayes to work with staff and board on Team Development

​

​

​

​

Recommendations

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

3. Strengthen Evangelism & Integration

​

• Develop a unified strategy and plans for Evangelism, aiming to reach the average local resident of Pembroke and area.

​

• Pray to the Lord for more baptisms.

​

• Develop an Integration Ministry to welcome and integrate newcomers

-Include a church membership class that runs 2-3 times annually

​

• Future Church Plant?

​

​

​

Recommendations

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

4. Rebuild the Small Groups Ministry to facilitate discipleship and congregational care for one another

​

• Identify and develop small group leaders

​

• Launch/relaunch several small groups

​

​

Recommendations

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

5. Develop a Facility Plan to accommodate growth

​

• Shorter Term:

Assess areas of immediate need.

Look at ways you can maximize key areas in your building:

Worship space Mid-week ministry space

Children’s space Other?

​

• Longer Term

Prayerfully explore the question:

”What would we do to accommodate everyone if we doubled in size?”

- New Building? - Expand Current Building? - Relocate?

​

Recommendations

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Think of Calvary as a Thriving, Larger Church

​

1. Create a new Vision/Strategy

​

2. Add Staff, move to Elders Board, update Governance

​

3. Develop Evangelism and Integration Strategy

​

4. Rebuild Small Groups Ministry

​

5. Facility Plan to Accommodate Growth

​

Summary of Recommendations

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra

Questions and Answers

Consultation Team:

Tim Strickland, Rob Hayes, Bob Flemming, Jack Flietstra