Thoughts on Incrementalism and Growth Engines

During McLean Bible Church’s period of fast growth in the 90's, we saw both incrementalism and growth engines as essential to growth.

Jim Collins said that the difference between the top companies and the second rated companies is that the top companies did it a little better. John Maxwell encouraged incremental improvements and we continually looked for ways to do it better.

But to achieve the great growth we went past "incrementalism" and "doublementalism" (thinking bigger) to growth engines. We saw over time 7 growth engines - new ministries initiatives that opened new doors of ministry impact and propelled us to the next level. In reality we didn't understand them as growth engines till we were at number 5. As John Maxwell said, "It's amazing what you can accomplish when you have momentum on your side."

Actually we never set growth goals. We never discussed numbers in staff meetings. We just kept the vision before the people, focused ministry around reaching and assimilating new people, hired entrepreneurs, empowered people to accomplish their dream, and created an atmosphere that allowed it to flourish. And as the saying goes, "Leaving the results up to God."