eNCDine - The NCD Online Magazine

Minimum Factors in True Perspective

About discovering the doors to more spiritual balance, health, and growth – both in personal and church life.

Listen to Christian A. Schwarz (Streaming Video)

Suggested Reading:
Color Your World with Natural Church Development, pp. 125-145.

Striving for Spiritual Balance

Why the trinitarian approach is so central to Natural Church Development.

Ever Heard of NCD’s “Natural Side Effect”?

What the usual and ordinary church can expect from getting involved in Natural Church Development. Encouraging!

Listen to Christian A. Schwarz (Streaming Video)

Suggested Reading:
Color Your World with Natural Church Development, pp. 9-43.

The Gift of Opposition

Not everyone enjoys opposition. But everyone can benefit from it. The following article by John Ortberg shows how and nicely illustrates the immense practical value of one of NCD's growth forces - energy transformation. 

The Gift of Opposition 

(posted on LeadershipJournal.net)

Knocking Over the Leadership Ladder

Paul Ford

We have a climbing disease! We have a ladder that everyone is supposed to climb and the impact is everywhere. Business and management cultures have influenced how we build and lead our Christian organizations and churches. The resulting impact has changed the way we see the tasks, processes and results of our Kingdom work.

Multiplying Mentors Needed!

Neil Cole

A powerful growth force in the NCD paradigm is multiplication. Many illustrations of how God uses this principle can be found. Not just in Jesus' ministry, but in Paul's as well. The following article by Neil Cole compares Paul's missionary journeys. And the observation he makes is a striking one: Paul shifted his ministry emphasis from that of making disciples to raising up of leaders out of disciples – from addition growth to multiplication growth. What he finds in Paul's missionary strategies is a mentoring for multiplication model.

Coming Soon: From Followers to Leaders

Robert E. Logan and Tara Miller

A recent survey of churches asked the question, "What is your greatest need as a church?" Guess what the number one answer was? "Leadership development."    

Helpful Resources for NCD Implementation

You have received the NCD Survey results for your church. Together as a team you scrutinize the detailed analysis report and begin to discover underlying issues. Issues affecting the quality of your church life and need your attention. You look for a better understanding. You look for guidance as you try to come up with an action plan. Take a look at this list of selected resources ...

Brand New: The Silent Transformation

How churches have experienced the power of the NCD Growth Forces. 80 real-life stories from all over the word showing Natural Church Development (NCD) in action. Get a sense of the underlying growth dynamic at work in God’s kingdom.

New Release: "Natural Church Development" (NCD)

Ten years after the first publication of "Natural Church Development" by Christian A. Schwarz a new edition has been released. Being the 7^th edition in the US by now, it is not just a reprint but an updated and revised edition. What started out as a research project and led to a set of abstract global principles for church development turned over the last years into the vibrant life of a global movement. Time for an updated version of the original.