Why Is This Church Not Working?

Dag Heward-Mills 

Parchment House

 Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Why is this church not working?

Copyright © 2023 Dag Heward-Mills

First published 2024 by Parchment House

Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at: 

Healing Jesus Campaign

Email:  evangelist@daghewardmills.org

Website:  www.daghewardmills.org

Facebook: Dag Heward-Mills

Twitter:  @EvangelistDag

ISBN :   979-8-89606-553-1

 All rights reserved under international copyright law.  Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book.

Chapter 1

The Church is Not Working because Your Attendance is low

Your church is not working if the attendance is too low. The very first church was assessed by its attendance, which was three thousand souls.

How many souls are there in your church?

A working church has good attendance. It is only fair that we assess your church by its attendance.

It is shameful to have an undeveloped midget church. A midget is something small for its kind! There are midget churches. A midget church has a low attendance for a church of its kind in the city. You must not have a midget church!

A pastor will always be assessed by the attendance of his church. If we do not use attendance to assess the performance of a pastor, then we do not have any parameter to assess the performance of the pastor and the church. We need something to determine if you are doing well or not. We will always use the basic attendance and the basic income of a church to assess if a church is working.

1.      The first recorded attendance of the first church was three thousand.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:41

2.      The second recorded attendance of the early church was five thousand.

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Acts 4:4

3.     The third recorded attendance of the early church was that the multitudes attended the church.

 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.

Acts 5:14

4.     The fourth recorded attendance of the early church was that a multiplied number of disciples attended the church.

 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:7

5.      The fifth recorded attendance of the early church was that the whole city attended the church.

And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Acts 13:44-45

Good church attendance always provokes jealousy!

There are two main parameters by which we monitor a church's well-being.

The number one parameter is church attendance.

The number two parameter is church income.

Thus, with the church attendance and income, we can determine if a church is flourishing or not.

Run away from having a midget church. Do whatever you need to do to deliver yourself from having a midget church which is small for its kind.

Chapter 2

The Church is Not Working because Your Income is low

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Acts 6:1-3

The scripture above shows how the early church was quickly engulfed by many overwhelming financial needs. A church that is working will always have enough finances to meet the needs!

Every church has needs which are created by its very existence. This is why a church needs to have a good enough income. When God sends you, you will not lack anything. When Jesus puts you on a mission, you will never be in need. The ministry will have more than enough income. The power of God will cause the income of the church to rise according to the needs of the ministry. Remember the words of Jesus: 

And he said unto them, WHEN I SENT YOU WITHOUT PURSE AND SCRIP, AND SHOES, LACKED YE ANY THING? And they said, Nothing.

Luke 22:35

The income of a church reveals how many real and committed members you have in the church.

There may be a large crowd in the church but few real committed members. This is revealed in the low income of the church.

If someone takes away all the real committed members of a church, he has taken away the heart of the church and the income of the church.  It is like taking out all the meat from the soup and leaving only bones. 

Having a large crowd of uncommitted people left in the church will not be able to make up a good income for the church.  A working church needs to have a good enough income to meet the needs that will arise because the church exists.

Every church has needs. Every church will need a lot of money to function properly.

Every church needs a place to meet.

Every church needs a lot of money to secure a meeting place or to build one.

Every church needs a meeting place for children.

Every church needs eating places on site.

Every church needs toilets and other such facilities.

Every church needs chairs for the people to sit on.

Every church needs musical equipment.

Every church needs other kinds of equipment like projectors and screens.

Every church needs to pay the salaries of those who work there.

Every church needs money to conduct programs, camps, conventions, retreats and so on.

Every church needs money to help the needs of the poor and needy.

This is why every church needs a good income. Therefore, if your church has a low income, it is not functioning properly. It is therefore right and proper that you assess a church by analysing its attendance and income.

There are two main parameters by which we monitor a church's well-being. The number one parameter is church attendance and the number two parameter is church income.

Sometimes the attendance is good but the income is very little. This is also not good because the income of the church reflects the commitment and training of the church in the word of God. 

Chapter 3

The Church is Not Working because You Are Disconnected from the Head 

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. THEY HAVE LOST CONNECTION WITH THE HEAD, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

Colossians 2:18-19 NIV

Your connection with the head is of utmost importance. Once you are disconnected from the head, you are doomed!

It is when your body is disconnected from the head that it becomes paralyzed. When an arm or a leg does not move it is because it is disconnected from the brain. The nerves no longer communicate with the brain, so the brain can no longer give instructions to the leg or arm telling it to move.  

All the parts of the body are connected to the brain or head.  

Your arms are connected to your brain! 

Your ability to live and act is connected to your head.

Your legs are connected to your brain! 

Your very movement is controlled by your head.

The heart is connected to the brain and the speed of the heartbeat is controlled by the brain.

Your stomach is connected to your brain and the nerves control how hungry you feel and how much you eat, etc.

The lungs are connected to the brain. Your breathing is controlled by your brain. If you disconnect the lungs from the brain, you will stop breathing.

Make sure you are not disconnected from God by your sin and your lifestyle! 

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:1-2

It is also important that you do not become disconnected from the founders and heads of churches. Disconnection with any kind of head will lead to destruction and desolation.

Disconnection of the Methodist church from its head and founder, John Wesley, will cause the Methodist church to look and function in a manner so different from what it was originally. The church could even adopt practices which were once an abomination to John Wesley and its original leadership. That is what happens when a church is disconnected from its head.

Disconnection of the Salvation Army Church from its head and blessed founder, William Booth, will cause the Salvation Army Church to look and function in a manner so different from what it was originally. The church could turn into an organization which has no similarity to the ministry of salvation that William Booth and its original leadership espoused.

I have noticed that pastors in my ministry who become disconnected from me, as the head of my little church, rarely do well. The church does not work when you are disconnected from your head!

Chapter 4

The Church is Not Working because You Are isolated and Non-Communicative

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Mark 5:2-3

People with serious mental illness withdraw into isolation in a similar way with which some pastors withdraw from the rest of us.

In the serious illness of schizophrenia, the patient has what we call negative "withdrawal" symptoms. These symptoms involve the person withdrawing from many things. These are the five negative symptoms of schizophrenia.  You will notice these negative things in anyone you know who develops this mental illness.

ALOGIA: the patient becomes quiet and does not speak much. He becomes completely non-communicative. He withdraws from speaking and communicating and becomes a very quiet person.

ANHEDONIA: the patient loses interest in things that were nice and pleasurable to him. He has no interest in the church and ministry. 

AVOLITION: the patient loses motivation and a drive to do anything. He loses interest in the ministry and loses the passion to do the work of ministry. 

ASOCIALITY: the person withdraws from society. He is no more sociable and friendly. He is no longer a flowing happy person who mixes with the rest of the group.

AFFECTIVE FLATTENING: the person withdraws from showing any emotion at all. There is no laughter, no smiles and no joy from this person suffering from affective flattening. He has become flat and inexpressive.

Remember these scriptures and fight isolation and non-communicative behaviour:

1.     You will never be made perfect without the input of others. 

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:40

To be non-communicative is a serious flaw in your ministry! 

To be isolated is a serious mistake in ministry! 

Your church will not work without the input of some other people, other ministers, and other churches. Your isolation and non-communicative posture will kill your ministry. If you do not communicate properly you will never amount to anything. I have two types of pastors in my ministry; those who communicate properly and those who are isolated and non-communicative. Those who are non-communicative rarely do well in ministry. They may say they are naturally quiet, etc., but that is just a smoke screen for a serious flaw in their lives and ministries.

2.     You can never say that you do not need the input of other people.

But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

1 Corinthians 12:20-21

You do need to connect with others just like you. You desperately need to communicate! Your isolation in this world is killing your potential! Many who are isolated and non-communicative are filled with delusions and unfounded hurts. We need each other! We need to speak to other people and know the will of God through them. Speaking and communicating will drive away demons from your life and ministry.

3.     The body increases through what every joint supplies.

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT SUPPLIETH, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, MAKETH INCREASE OF THE BODY unto the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:16

Some supplies will come to you in the realm of the Spirit when you are connected to the body. If you cut off the joints and inputs, how will you increase? I began to increase when I connected to joints like Yonggi Cho, Fred Price and Kenneth Hagin. 

God has joints for you to be connected to and He intends to supply you with what you need through these joints. Watch out for isolated people who are cut off from essential fellowship and friendships. They are doomed to not increase!

Chapter 5 

The Church is Not Working because You Are Not Anointed Yet

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

Luke 4:18 

Without the anointing, you cannot do very much. Jesus had to be anointed before He could do the work of ministry. If Jesus needed to be anointed, you will need to as well! I meet many pastors who are simply not anointed.

THE SOLUTION 

1.     Have faith in the reality of the anointing. Believe that there is something like “the anointing" and that belief will propel you to seek the anointing and eventually receive the anointing.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

1 John 2:27 

2.     Jesus told His disciples to wait until they were anointed before going into the ministry. “Wait for the promise of the Father which is the Holy Spirit,” is what Jesus said.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Acts1:4

3.     Seek to be anointed by catching an anointing through listening to messages and watching preaching messages.

And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

Ezekiel 2:2 

4.     Seek to be anointed by copying an anointed person. Copy his preaching! Copy his teaching! Copy his way of ministering to people!

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:12

Chapter 6

The Church is Not Working because You Are Not Spiritual

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

1 Corinthians 2:14

There is a great difference between a spiritual person and a person who is natural and ruled by the flesh. You cannot receive the anointing because you need to be spiritual before you receive anything heavenly or divine. Indeed, you are completely cut off from the unction, the grace and the gifts because you are not a spiritual person.

THE SOLUTION

1.     Believe in becoming a spiritual person. Accept that some people are not spiritual and perhaps you are one of the unspiritual men.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1

2.     A spiritual person prays a lot and has revelations from the word of God that guide him.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

1 John 2:27 

3.     A spiritual person prays a lot, speaks inspirationally (prophesies), and has dreams and visions that make a difference in his life.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Acts 2:17-18 

4.     Accept the fact that a spiritual person is a high rank at the level of a prophet. Aim to be spiritual because it is a high rank in the ministry.

If any man think himself to be A PROPHET, OR SPIRITUAL, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 14:37 

Chapter 7

 The Church is Not Working because You Lack Knowledge 

1.     Knowledge is a key to church growth. 

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. 

Luke 11:52

Indeed, knowledge is a key!  It is a key to moving forward, out of failure, poverty, difficulty and worthlessness. Knowledge that is acquired and used is the master key to making things work! Indeed, knowledge is a key to almost every breakthrough in this world. All medical and scientific advances have happened because of an increase in knowledge.  Knowledge is also a key to church growth. Knowledge is the key to any organization working well.

2.     Knowledge is a kind of light. Knowledge is a light to illuminate your way.

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

Psalm 119:130-131

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Proverbs 6:23

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

Light tells you what to do. Light helps you to do what you have to do. You can see your way better. When there is a lack of knowledge about church building, church growth and church development, it means there is a lack of light about everything. A lack of light means there is a poverty of souls! A lack of light means there is a poverty of members. A lack of light means there is poverty of money.

3.     Knowledge is a mystery solution. 

According to research on world poverty, it has been found that intractable poverty (unsolvable poverty, incurable poverty, failure and backwardness) among human populations is explained by a lack of knowledge.

THE SOLUTION 

1.     Go to school! Get a degree! There is a difference between those who have a university education and those who do not have a university degree.

2.     Read books about church growth.

3.     Watch videos on church growth.

4.     Listen to messages on how to go higher and deeper in ministry.

Chapter 8

The Church is Not Working because You Lack Good Skills

As for these four children, God gave them KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:17

What are skills? A skill is a special ability or training that a person has. A skill is the ability that enables you to do something well.

When it comes to church growth, you do need special abilities and training to be able to shepherd the people and make the church grow. People who lack the special training or the special abilities of a shepherd, a leader and a pastor cannot make a church grow or work well.

According to various research on poverty, it has been found that intractable poverty (unsolvable poverty, incurable poverty, failure and disastrous backwardness) among human populations is caused by a lack of good skills. 

It is also proven that your church is not working because you lack the good skills of ministry. You lack the skills to engineer church growth. 

You lack shepherding skills! 

You lack leadership skills! 

You lack the skill of waiting on God!  

All these skills are needed to make a church work.  The lack of good skills of the leader is the reason why things do not work. You need the skills of a good shepherd to make a church work. You need the skills of "following" someone in order to catch up. You need the skills of humility to do ministry. It takes a skill to walk humbly before the Lord. As you can see, Daniel and his friends needed more than knowledge to survive and do well. They needed skills! You need good skills!

Intractable poverty in ministry is always caused by a lack of knowledge and a lack of good skills. Research all over the world has shown that wherever poverty is established, people lack good skills. A lack of skills to plan and organize your life and ministry can also cause deep intractable poverty.

THE SOLUTION 

1.     Identify and name the specific skills you lack. For instance, the skills of shepherding, the skills of bussing people to church, the skills of leadership, the skills of preaching and the skills of teaching.

2.     Identify people who have the skills you desire.

3.     Get close to the people who have the skills you need.

4.     Humbly learn new skills by listening, observing, assisting and implementing the new skills that you need.

Chapter 9

The Church Is Not Working becauseYou Are Lazy

I WALKED BY THE FIELD OF A LAZY PERSON, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down. Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: A LITTLE EXTRA SLEEP, A LITTLE MORE SLUMBER, A LITTLE FOLDING OF THE HANDS TO REST- then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; SCARCITY WILL ATTACK YOU LIKE AN ARMED ROBBER.

Proverbs 24:30-34 NLT

In the scripture above, we see a field. The field is your church. This field (church) was attacked by poverty and scarcity. The poverty of finances attacks churches all the time! A scarcity of members attacks churches all the time!

The cause of this scarcity and poverty is simple; laziness! Many churches are not growing because the pastors are lazy.

The pastors simply love too much sleep, too much rest, too much vacation and too much holiday.

There is no place for lazy people in the ministry! Diligence is the opposite of laziness. Jesus rebuked the servant for not using the gift and talent that he was given. Jesus said the servant was WICKED and LAZY! 

Indeed, laziness is the reason why many do not work hard enough in the ministry to accomplish anything. Indeed, many lazy men have infiltrated the ranks of the ministry. This laziness has many manifestations. 

But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

Matthew 25:26 (NASB95)

Eight Manifestations of Laziness

According to various research on poverty, it has been found that intractable poverty (unsolvable poverty, incurable poverty, failure and disastrous backwardness) among human populations, is caused by the EIGHT MANIFESTATIONS OF LAZINESS.

1.     A low interest in a good life.

2.     Deep passivity.

3.     A lack of motivation and initiative.

4.     A low intellect.

5.     Dependency thinking.

6.     Reliance on assistance from others.

7.     A lack of life skills to plan and organize their life.

8.     Bad training and care of children by parents.

Men who lack motivation have often become ministers of the gospel. Such lazy people are found in all works of life. In the ministry, they have been known to be the reason for failure in ministry.

Why is this church not working? Because the leaders are lazy, passive and lack motivation! They are dumb dogs who love to sleep all day.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; SLEEPING, LYING DOWN, LOVING TO SLUMBER.

Isaiah 56:10

In this wonderful scripture, Isaiah speaks of God's servants and describes them as dumb and sleepy, who love to slumber! Dogs are supposed to bark spontaneously, but passive sleepy dogs will not bark. These particular dogs are always sleeping and love to slumber. This is a perfect description of pastors who do not do well.

Passivity! Passivity! Passivity! A Lack of motivation, and a lack of drive. Dumb dogs who love slumber and love to sleep!

The church does not work when it is in the hands of lazy men!

Chapter 10

The Church is Not Working because You Have a Low Interest in Having a Great Ministry 

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 

Proverbs 29:18

A person with a low interest in a good life will always remain poor. Intractable poverty happens when people have a low desire for a good life. 

Your vision will make you turn out to become a great person. Your vision is the most important invisible thing you need. Perhaps, your church is not working because you have a low interest in having a great ministry.

I always thought that all pastors had a desire for a greater ministry. My greatest shock has been that many pastors do not have a desire for a better life and a better ministry. When you have a low desire or vision for church growth, it is nearly impossible to drive you to do all the things you have to do for church growth to happen.

Chapter 11

 The Church is Not Working because You Are Not Diligent

Seest thou a man DILIGENT IN HIS BUSINESS? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Proverbs 22:29

Diligence speaks of the constant effort to accomplish. The reason why you have not risen in ministry, nor have you stood in high places in ministry is because you are passive, not diligent and not applying constant effort to ministry.

You suffer from a terrible and debilitating passivity. You are a passive, laid-back person!

Passivity means that you do not participate readily, actively, or emotionally in something when expected to! Because you do not participate readily and actively in your ministry work, you constantly need supervision.

Once you need constant supervision, you will not excel!  That is why your church is not growing.

Pastors who are diligent and make a constant effort to accomplish something are the only ones who have working churches.

Chapter 12

The Church is Not Working because You Have a Low Capacity for Studying

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 

You need to study to show yourself a pastor who is not ashamed of the size of his congregation. It is shameful to have an undeveloped midget church. A midget is something small for its kind! There are midget churches and you must not have a midget church. A midget church has a low attendance for a church of its kind where located.

Indeed, it is more difficult to be a successful pastor than to be a medical doctor! If doctors have to read large complicated books to become doctors, then a pastor will also need to study hard to become a good pastor. People who do not study books on ministry and church growth will not have growth.

It is time to start thinking and understanding complex things. Church growth is a complex thing. It takes a great understanding to achieve church growth.

When you have a low ability to understand things, especially of a complex order, it reveals that you have a low intellect. A low intellect has been known to be a cause of intractable poverty and unsolvable backwardness in the world. People with a low intellect do not read much. 

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and WHAT WISDOM IS THIS WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO HIM, THAT EVEN SUCH MIGHTY WORKS ARE WROUGHT BY HIS HANDS?

Mark 6:2

Wisdom is always revealed in the great works you can achieve. Your failing church which is not growing is a revelation of your lack of knowledge, wisdom and understanding!

Remember that mighty works are always a result of wisdom. Get the understanding you need to solve the complex problem of achieving church growth.

If you have a high intellect, show it by the great works you have achieved for God. Good works are always the proof of your ability to think and understand things.

IF YOU ARE WISE AND UNDERSTAND GOD'S WAYS, PROVE IT BY LIVING AN HONORABLE LIFE, DOING GOOD WORKS with the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13 (NLT)

Chapter 13

The Church is Not Working because You Suffer from Dependency Thinking and a Reliance on Assistance from Outsiders

AND THEY ALL WITH ONE CONSENT BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSE. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 

Luke 14:18

Anyone who relies on outsiders doing certain things will always be a failure. A person who does not blame himself and take responsibility, but rather looks outside for help is often set for failure. People who always look outside for help have one unique characteristic - excuses!

Poor leaders are loaded with excuses!

Failing ministers always blame someone else for their failures.

It is time to accept that the church is not working because you are the problem. 

Failures often say, "These people are like this ...and those people are like that. These people are bad and hopeless and good for nothing."

Indeed, it is important to stop talking about the people and start looking at yourself.

Stop relying on someone else to change!

Stop relying on others to send money!

Stop relying on people to help you!

Rise and depend on yourself for the increase and the breakthrough you require! As soon as people stop relying on outside help, they begin to rise and do well.

Chapter 14 

The Church is Not Working because You Lack Training in Ministry

A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

Luke 6:40 (NASB95) 

Your church is not working because you lack training in ministry! You need the experience of being trained specifically for ministry work. You probably need practical training to do hands-on ministry. You may have passed exams in theology and other academic ministry subjects, but you still need training in the practical art of doing ministry. 

You need training as a shepherd! 

You need training as a leader! 

You need training as a fighter! 

You need training as a minister of the gospel!

You lack the development and improvement in church work that comes through practice and instruction over a period of time. To be trained is to have been taught a particular skill or type of behaviour, through practice and instruction over a period of time.  To be trained is to have been developed and improved through instruction.

Perhaps you have a desire to serve God but you have not been trained. This lack of training (or bad training) in ministry is the reason why you are not successful in ministry.

Can you imagine a surgeon, who has not been trained well in heart surgery, who keeps on operating on people who die shortly after the surgery?  Would you like a surgeon who has never operated before to try his luck on you? Would you not want a surgeon who has been taught and trained in what he is doing?

Good training is necessary if you are to become an effective minister. Humble yourself so you can learn the skills of a good shepherd. Give yourself to be trained and taught. 

Who can train a proud person like yourself?

Humble yourself and accept to go through whatever you must go through so you can be trained to acquire some shepherding and leadership skills!

Chapter 15

The Church is Not Working because You are Slow and Sluggish 

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:12

 Slothful people do not inherit the promises!  They do not amount to anything in ministry!  People who are slothful do not have working churches. They do not inherit the promise of church growth.

The meaning of the word "slothful" is full of revelation. I always thought that slothful simply meant "laziness". However, in the Greek, this word means something quite different. Slothful means slow, sluggish, indolent, dull and languid. Wow! These are interesting words. Slow! Sluggish! Dull! Amazing meanings! 

When you call a person slothful it means he is slow and sluggish. When you say a person is slothful, it means he is lacking in spirit or interest; He is listless and indifferent to the instruction and vision.

Perhaps slothfulness is the main problem with older pastors who are tired of new ideas and visions. I often hesitate to share my exciting instructions and revelations with the slow and the sluggish. They are simply uninterested in the new ideas and new moves that God is bringing.

Obeying instructions is often a problem for the slow and sluggish. A committee made up of older men who are slow and sluggish in implementing the vision will only lead to failure. You may not like this definition but it is a reality that the slow and sluggish are a cause of failure in every church, every committee, every council and every group!

Your church is not working because you are slow and sluggish to obey instructions and flow with the vision. The ministry will never respond and yield to slowness and sluggishness. Everyone must press zealously into the kingdom of God. 

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and EVERY MAN PRESSETH INTO IT.

Luke 16:16

Chapter 16

The Church is Not Working because You Do Not Have Helpers

HAVING THEREFORE OBTAINED HELP OF GOD, I CONTINUE unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

Acts 26:22

Your ministry will continue into greatness through divine help. Without help, you cannot go on higher into real success in ministry. 

Many people do not fulfil their ministry because they do not have good helpers. Missionaries who go out into the field alone are often doomed to fail. Missionaries without helpers are like trees without leaves.

Every Apostle needs the help of God.  Pastors who do not have helpers are unable to grow their churches.  Your church is not working because you do not have helpers like good assistant pastors, good music directors, good choir directors, anointed builders, anointed singers, anointed administrative workers and honest financial helpers!

This is why satan desperately attacks assistants and helpers. This is why satan works on assistants to turn them into traitors. Traitors are painful experiences that cause the pastor to turn away from all potential helpers.  Instead of welcoming the people who could help you, you become wary of everyone and drive away every new person.

Your church is not working because you do not have helpers working in the different areas of ministry! Open your heart to receive helpers to work with you! Your church will start working as soon as the helpers are in place. Paul obtained the help of God. That is how he was able to achieve the things he achieved in the ministry.

When you obtain help, you go further, you go deeper! Remember this verse: "Having obtained the help of God, I continue unto this day, doing big things and small things and speaking the word of God according to what the prophets and Moses said."

Without the help of God, your ministry will not develop! You will not be able to say and do what you are supposed to.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

John 14:16 (NASB)

When Jesus left the earth, He promised a helper to the disciples. The Holy Spirit is the helper that was promised to the disciples. The one thing that was promised to the followers of Jesus was help. Jesus knew that every minister needed help.

One of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit helping your life is when people are sent to help you. Those human beings give you what the Holy Spirit is sent to do for you. They give you help! They assist you! And they enable you to fulfil your ministry! 

Chapter 17

The Church is Not Working Because You Are Using the Wrong Church Growth Strategy

By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4

A house is built through wisdom! A house is built by a series of steps!

The wisdom that achieves great things with a series of steps is called strategy.

A pastor must accept the reality that no great achievement involves just one step. Church growth will, by all means, involve a series of steps, a series of manoeuvres or a series of stratagems. The series of steps, manoeuvres or stratagems is what is called strategy. 

Strategy is defined as a series of manoeuvres that are undertaken to achieve a specific goal. Many pastors are not aware that there are strategies to achieve church growth. Many pastors are not aware that there are church growth strategies that involve more than one step.

There are three main strategies that I suggest that you decide upon for church growth. Use one of these strategies and apply it to the uttermost:

1.     The Strategy of PVCI

2.     The strategy of the OCTOPUS

3.     The strategy of SHABBIE SHEPHERDING MUST GO

You can learn about these strategies for church growth in the books and messages that are available for those who want to go deeper!

Chapter 18

The Church is Not Working because of The Location of Your Church 

Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest: But IN THE PLACE WHICH THE LORD SHALL CHOOSE in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

Deuteronomy 12:13-14

Many churches are not growing because they are located in the wrong place. In the scripture above, you see that you are not supposed to worship just anywhere. This means you are not supposed to set up your tent to worship the Lord in just any location. It must be the right place which God has chosen. When God chooses the place, there will be success in the ministry. 

Could it be that your church is in the wrong place? Seek the Lord about it! Maybe your church is in the north of the city but it should be in the south. We once planted a church in the north of a city and it did not work. When we moved the church to the south, it began to work and it grew into a mega church. 

Perhaps your church is located in a dangerous location and people are not prepared to come there.

Perhaps your church is too far for people to come to.

Perhaps your church is in a neighbourhood that is racially hostile to people you invite to church.

Perhaps it is time you relocated your church so that many more people can come. It is time for your church to work!

Chapter 19

The Church is Not Working because You Have Targeted the Wrong People 

You have made sure that children and infants praise you. You have done it because of your enemies. You have done it to put a stop to their talk.

Psalms 8:2 (NIrV)

I know a country in which only four per cent of the population is over sixty-five years old.

In this same country, seventy per cent of the population is below forty years old.

In this same country, you find pastors targeting the elderly and the rich. 

Obviously, the churches will be very small because they are targeting people that do not exist. Most people in that country are young and poor. Those are the people who are more interested in coming to church.

Most pastors target the older and richer people in society. After all, such people will be able to do more to help the pastor. Affluent people are expected to give more money and solve the financial problems of the ministry. However, targeting the older and richer people does not often yield much church growth. 

You must reach out to the young people in society if you want church growth. Most people get saved as teenagers and grow up in Christ from there on.

Stop wasting your time to get rich and powerful people into your church. God will bring them when He wants to. Few of such people are really called to the ministry. It is time for you to target babes and sucklings! God will provide the money in many different ways and you will be alright!

Chapter 20

The Church is Not Working Because of Sin 

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Hebrews 12:14 

You will not see the Lord's hand in your ministry as you continue to live in sin. You cannot even have the anointing in your life because of your sin. The more you love and live in righteousness, the more you qualify for the anointing. Loving righteousness and hating sin will cause God to anoint you even more. 

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Hebrews 1:9

If you remove the foundation of holiness, you cannot do much! Your church is not growing because, behind the scenes, you are living in sin and unholiness. You must understand that fornication corrupts and destroys ministry. 

Fornication Corrupts Your Ministry

For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, WHICH DID CORRUPT THE EARTH WITH HER FORNICATION, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

Revelation 19:2

Fornication corrupts the earth! 

Fornication corrupts the ministry!

Fornication corrupts and spoils things.

Fornication spoils and destroys your ministry and calling.

Fornication corrupts and spoils your ministry and church.

Fornication corrupts your ministry; this means that fornication mars, debases, depraves, perverts and lowers your ministry. 

Fornication introduces wickedness and evil into your life and ministry.

Fornication infects and taints the ministry.

Fornication corrupts and spoils your ministry; fornication makes you a dishonest and crooked person. Totally corrupted!

You may not accept this reality but fornication will corrupt you and spoil your ministry and also prevent the church from working as it should.

For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS AT HER HAND.

Revelation 19:2 

What is the blood of His servants? It is the life of His servants. Remember that the life of the person is in his blood. If the woman took the blood of God's servants, it means she took away the life of God's servants. Fornication will end up taking away the life of God's servants. This is why fornication is so devastating for ministry. Your very life is targeted by the enemy. This is why marriages of pastors are the focus of the first attack. When the marriage of a pastor is destroyed, it is easier to lead him into fornication. 

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:1-2

No matter the reasons given, God does not accept unholiness. He expects you to be holy!  Holiness speaks of being separate, consecrated and different.

Most of the world lives naturally and easily in licentiousness, lasciviousness, immorality, debauchery, fornication, adultery and perversions of all sorts.

To be different and special to God, you will have to separate yourself from these things which everyone walks in. Your church is not working because maybe you are living in sin, wickedness and deception.

You may be deceiving the entire congregation, and God is just giving you space to repent. So, repent and turn around whilst you have the chance. A time will come when it will be more difficult to repent. It is better that you fall on the stone, than that the stone falls on you. If we judge ourselves, we will not be judged. 

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Luke 20:18 

Chapter 21

The Church is Not Working because You Do Not Have Branches

'All the birds of the heavens nested in its boughs, And under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, And all great nations lived under its shade. 'SO IT WAS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS GREATNESS, IN THE LENGTH OF ITS BRANCHES; For its roots extended to many waters. 'The cedars in God's garden could not match it; The cypresses could not compare with its boughs, And the plane trees could not match its branches. No tree in God's garden could compare with it in its beauty. 'I MADE IT BEAUTIFUL WITH THE MULTITUDE OF ITS BRANCHES, And all the trees of Eden, which were in the garden of God, were jealous of it.

Ezekiel 31:6-9 (NASB95)

The first revelation God showed me about church growth was the revelation of branches. Indeed, when my single church struggled to grow, I started branches and that became the great breakthrough of the ministry. My church became beautiful through branches. Branching churches are working churches. God will make your church beautiful through the multitude of branches. 

There are times when a single church will not be able to grow much. There are times when the only growth you are going to get will be the growth that comes through branches. Forming cells or bacentas is also a form of branching churches.

Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: SHE WAS FRUITFUL AND FULL OF BRANCHES BY REASON OF MANY WATERS. And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.

Ezekiel 19:10-11 

Managing branching churches requires great leadership skills because you will have to control the many pastors and leaders who take the reins of these new branches. Loyalty and faithfulness are key to branching churches. You will need to understand the different facets of loyalty and teach and practice them constantly.

People are naturally unfaithful and disloyal. It takes great grace and leadership skill to keep people together for ten years, twenty years or even thirty years.

Chapter 22

The Church is Not Working because You Do Not Follow Instructions

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, WE HAVE TOILED ALL THE NIGHT, AND HAVE TAKEN NOTHING: NEVERTHELESS AT THY WORD I WILL LET DOWN THE NET. AND WHEN THEY HAD THIS DONE, THEY INCLOSED A GREAT MULTITUDE OF FISHES: AND THEIR NET BRAKE. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 

Luke 5:4-8

What did Peter get from his toil? Nothing!!!

What did Peter get from following a simple instruction from Jesus? Everything he needed!!! A net-breaking ship-sinking miracle of abundance!

Your struggle is in you not obeying instructions! Perhaps the instructions came to you in a book or a conversation. Whichever way, make sure you obey the instructions.

You will be lucky if you ever get a personal and direct instruction on what to do. If you do have the privilege of getting a direct and personal instruction, make sure you obey it immediately and completely.

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

Proverbs 7:1-3

Many people simply cannot follow instructions. They simply cannot obey a clear instruction when it is given. 

I have two groups of sons in the ministry. Those who obey instructions and those who do not obey instructions!  I once met with a group of pastors and gave them some simple instructions that would help their churches grow.  I told them that they would not obey what I had told them, even though they all pledged to obey. Magically, I went back three months later and they had not obeyed what I had told them.

If there is one single thing I could point to as a source of failure in people, it is this inability to immediately and completely follow instructions. 

Chapter 23

The Church is Not Working because You are not deep

And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again TAKE ROOT DOWNWARD, AND BEAR FRUIT UPWARD:

Isaiah 37:31 

To bear fruit upward, your roots need to go deeply downwards. It is important to go deeply into what you are following.

I do not mind showing people the books and videos I am watching and learning from. Most people will not go deep enough to be able to bear fruit upwards. The deeper you go, the more your fruit will be.

There are many official followers but few really go deeply into what they say they believe.

Your church is simply not working because you are not deep! 

Go deeper and then you will do more! 

Go deeper into the YouTube channels and soak in the Word until you become anointed!

Go deeper into church growth and mega-church teachings. Then you will bear fruit upwards.

It is easy to say someone is your father. But to really benefit from a father you need to go deeper into his ideas, his teachings, his laws, his secrets, his ways, his unspoken ways and methods.  

Going deeper is the key to many fruits. I went deep into every single mentor I have ever had and the fruits are there for all to see. You need to be baptized into your mentors just as the children of Israel were baptized into Moses.

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;)

1 Corinthians 10:2

Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: FOR HIS ROOT WAS BY GREAT WATERS.

Ezekiel 31:7

The greatness of a person depends on what is happening to his roots. How deep is your root? Has your root penetrated to where the water is? Did you know that water is found deep in the earth?

I once met a man who ran a drilling company. I asked him " Do you drill for oil?

"Oh no." he said, "I drill for water."

He explained that water was also found deep in the earth. All he did was drill for water deep in the earth. 

Many roots need to go deep into the soil to find water. That is why the greatest trees have the deepest roots. 

Chapter 24 

The Church is Not Working because You Do Not Have  Continuous Repeated Outreach

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and COMPEL THEM TO COME IN, THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED.

Luke 14:16-23

Jesus gave us the greatest revelation for church growth when he said "THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED."

Jesus is telling us exactly how to make the church filled with people. Endless outreach is the key to having the house being filled.

1.     Fill the house of God by having repeated outreaches.

2.     Fill the house of God by never stopping outreaches.

3.     Fill the house of God by never being discouraged by the low yield from outreaches.

4.     Do outreaches to different groups of people.

5.     Never stop being an outreacher till the church is filled.

6.     The fullness of your church building is the only signal that should end your outreach efforts.

7.     Evangelism is part of the ministry of a master shepherd.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

2 Timothy 4:5

 This little chapter is a simple instruction. As usual the slow and sluggish will struggle with the simplicity of God's word.

Chapter 25

The Church is Not Working because You Have Not Introduced New Ideas and Innovations

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is READY TO VANISH AWAY.

Hebrews 8:13 

A covenant that is ready to vanish away! A church that is ready to VANISH AWAY! Can a church vanish away? Yes, indeed I know many churches that have vanished away. They simply faded away into oblivion, closed down and vanished away. The church in which I was ordained has vanished away!

The words "decay" and "old" actually refer to the word OBSOLETE!  Your church is not working because it is obsolete in many of its practices, strategies, ways and ideas.

Indeed, many churches are not working and will soon vanish. Why is that? It is because they are decaying and waxing old. Such churches have obsolete practices and obsolete strategies as their principal methods.

Churches must introduce new ideas and new things! 

Where is the new music? 

Where are the new worship songs? 

Where are the new ways of doing outreach? 

Where are the new books? 

Where are the new ideas for church growth? 

Where are the new improvements to your church building? 

Where is the new interior design of your auditorium? 

Where are the new data monitoring technologies? 

Where are your new accounting methods? 

Where is your new software? 

Where are the new security measures? 

Where are your new ushering techniques? 

Where is the new worship leader? Where are the new, young people?

Just as secular businesses vanish and go out of circulation, many churches have the potential to disappear and vanish because they are outmoded and obsolete in many of their ways. Why are you resistant to the new things and new ways that God is moving in? Why are you resistant to becoming young again?  Why are you resistant to new music?  Why are you resistant to a new name?  Why are you resistant to new books and new revelations on the same basic truths of the gospel?

For instance, the secular world has shifted to drones as their main weapon for waging war. It is difficult to imagine that tanks and manned fighter jets are a thing of the past but that is the reality. Many things become obsolete by the invention of new things. Those who do not rise up and use the new methods are left behind in a fantastic way.

Indeed, it has been shown that prosperous nations that rise into riches ALWAYS INTRODUCE NEW IDEAS into their nations. The country that becomes rich, always has innovations, new technologies and new things that take over the old. A nation which is making televisions, mobile phones, electric cars and other new electronic gadgets is always richer than a nation which has stayed with the old and obsolete attempts, to become rich through agriculture.

Farming vegetables, pepper, cocoa, tomatoes and ginger has not been able to make any nation prosper. Historically, it is the countries that have introduced new ideas, new technologies, and innovations of all sorts that have advanced into prosperity.

The same applies to church work. It is the churches that accept new ideas, new technologies and innovations in ministry that move forward. Just look around you! You will see many churches that are ready to vanish. They are in decline! They are fading! The old and obsolete have dominated the entire ministry!  Some things will never be obsolete. The word of God, the principles, the prayer, the gift of God and the Holy Spirit will never go out of fashion.

But the way we administer the word of God and the gift of God is always open to new ideas, new technologies and innovations.

Our lives, our obedience, our style and methods of following God can be blessed with new ideas and innovations!