Tom Fillinger:
Church Health & Effectiveness
Based on Church Leadership Training

The heart of the church health and effectiveness problem lies in pastoral leadership. Thus, church leadership training is the mission of IgniteUS, Pastor Fillinger’s church consulting ministry. The vision of IUS is to raise the Leadership Competence score of leaders in the American church from 1 in 10 to 5 in 10.

In short, the goal of IUS is the transformation and health of the church in the United States of America. That’s a tall order. Church health and effectiveness based on church leadership training, not simply program refinement.

Pastor Fillinger is a Certified Church Consultant with the Society for Church Consulting in Louisville, KY (www.churchconsultation.org). As such he is obviously a very busy man, with a church of his own to care for. In spite of that, he was gracious enough to sit down and respond to our questions about church leadership training.

In April 2005 George Barna presented what he termed a ‘transition letter’. This was his declaration that he was embarking on a new direction in ministry. He had invested 25 years in research designed to bring effectiveness and health to the local churches of America. He was now abandoning this effort as previously transacted – Why? Let his words speak to this issue:

"My concern has always been whether or not our assistance really made any difference in people’s lives. The most discouraging study we ever conducted was one in which we attempted to identify churches in the U.S. that consistently and intelligently evaluate life transformation among the people to whom they minister. We found that very few churches – emphasis on very – measure anything beyond attendance, donations, square footage, number of programs and size of staff. None of that necessarily reflects life transformation.

Further, our on-going research continued to show that churches do not act strategically because of a paucity of leadership. My objective had always been to get good information into the hands of leaders so they would convert those insights into great strategic decisions about how to minister more obediently and effectively. Not having the leaders in place to utilize such information was an obstacle I had not foreseen."

IUS was launched to bring correction to the void in leadership effectiveness in the church in America. I am a pastor. All of our Staff are pastors. We are not mere theorists. We practice in ministry what we teach. We have done and are doing what we guide others to embrace. The process of church leadership training we provide is used by God to bring Reformation and Transformation to His people individually and to the church corporately.

I served as Exec. VP for a para-church ministry for three years. In that tenure, I observed that a major component necessary for effective Transformation is equipping competent leaders. We devote the entire first year of our process acquainting and preparing the leadership team for what is ahead in seeing God bring Transformation to a local church.

2. And what exactly is IgniteUS, its mission and its method of church leadership training?

Sound ministry methods flow out of sound theological postures. Our mantra is “Measure ministry by Transformation not mere activity.” We provide a ‘guided metric’ that measures personal and corporate transformation objectively.

3. How does reformation of the church and church leadership training relate to reformation of the culture?

We believe that Transformed believers (Rom. 12:2; Col. 1:28) are used by God as Salt & Light in the culture. God transforms people and uses these people in the marketplace to transform culture. They model Truth consistently with humility and compassion in daily living. They serve as genuine Ambassadors and people ask (1 Peter 3:15) of the reason for the hope within them.

4. Can you share some statistics that indicate the need for your church leadership training ministry in the American church?

• 1% - are growing by conversion growth (people saved by the grace of God)
• 14% - grow by transfer – moving people from one assembly to another
• 85% - are declining - - we are closing 4,000 churches/year in USA - rate is accelerating
• 9% - of Americans embrace a Theistic Worldview
• 91% - loosing ground – 3205/year new churches needed to keep pace; started - 303
• 25% - pastors would resign immediately contingent upon family financial assistance

IUS provides a battery of Assessment Instruments. The principle is no prescription without first having an accurate diagnosis of the current reality. This brings precision and excellence to the change process. The RQ, RI and SSLI are online instruments and are auto-scored.

• Readiness Quiz – on our web site (www.igniteus.net)
• Readiness Inventory – measures the body & leadership’s willingness to be transformed
• Church Health Survey – 30 to 60 people participate evaluating 6 key areas of ministry
• SSLI – a 360 process (14 contributors) measuring Leadership Competence of the pastor

Denominational-“ism” is deadly. The resistance is almost universal. To enlist the ministry of an outside source is tacit admission that the internal processes of the denomination have failed, which they have. Also, most churches are seeking 5 Star Service at virtually no cost. What you get ‘for free ‘is almost always worth what you paid for it. We are trans-denominational.

The criteria we apply for working with churches and denominations is that they embrace a high view of Scripture and a high view of Christ. This issue of denominational resistance is a major factor that needs to be overcome for ministry in this area to become a movement incorporating significant numbers of churches to reach the “tipping point” = 17% of the USA churches.

7. Can you summarize the process that you use to help a church transform itself via church leadership training?

Our process is principle based. We provide a “Learning Covenant” that equips the pastor to develop personally and the church corporately. When they complete the reading assignments, they have a Strategic Plan to apply in their life and ministry.

There is significant flexibility and each assembly is unique. We recognize that in applying the principles of transformation to each assembly. We incorporate a continuous review process and the final expectation is planting other churches that are launched with a healthy DNA.

Our web site provides 90 minutes of Video detailing our ministry. Our process consists of five phases in a 36 month endeavor as follows:

• Assessment (3 months) – determines the current reality of a church based on objective criteria
• Character (3 months) establishes character/trust as essential for leaders to model transformation
• Teams (6 months) leadership in the NT church is shared and collaborative, not “lone ranger”
• Structure (12 months) objective assessment, develop ministry structures that = transformation
• Engagement (12 months) beta testing and improving new ministry principles developed

The central feature of our Transformation Process is the 14 Effectiveness Criteria. These are essential ministry components (i.e. Biblical Theology, Purpose, Leadership Selection & Development, Evangelism, etc.).

Transformation is measured objectively using a guided metric Likert Scale that defines the levels of effectiveness achieved. We also provide a process (Measuring What Matters Most) that enables individual believers to measure their personal transformation objectively with accountability such as participation in a Small Group etc.

9. With 375,000 protestant churches in America, most of which are dysfunctional, the task seems overwhelming. Do you have a strategy for accomplishing this church leadership training assignment?

We conduct State, Regional and National Forums to inform and enlist churches in the process. We endeavor to identify those leaders that God is directing into the Transformation process. We never deliver a ‘sales pitch’ to convince people to participate. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.

10. Is there any way an individual Christian, pastor, or church could get involved in helping you with church growth?

We are seeking leaders who desire genuine effectiveness in ministry as measured by Transformation. We encourage men to contact us info@igniteus.net or by calling 803 776 5282. We also welcome local churches who may provide funding for travel and other resources to engage the Body of Christ across America.

This is truly an endeavor for the entire family of God.God uses leaders with courage, humility and perseverance. Join us on this Team of godly champions of Transformation. We look forward to knowing and serving with you across America.