Currently 99 UK corps (churches) within The Salvation Army are actively engaging with NCD. 54 of these are part of the ‘Transforming Churches Process’ and many of them are slowly discovering that God is working through this new approach to ministry. What follows is a selection of comments from 8 of these corps, and all are being both challenged and inspired by NCD.
“The corps is now a different place after our 3 years of focusing on NCD. It’s working for us.” This corps has had to work hard on improving the quality of their relationships and their small groups. The groups are now “so much nicer, they are more loving, they all have a sense of belonging”.
Another corps spoke of how the results of their survey were “confirmation of what is happening, including our growth rate. NCD is good for us and it is proving to be very good for non-Salvationists. NCD is non-threatening and has given permission for our people to ask questions and to participate.” The leader of this corps went on to say that NCD is, for him, one of the best processes he has come across over the past 25 years in ministry. They are now beginning to look at the 3 colours dimension to spirituality. They have an “ongoing commitment to NCD”.
The leader from another corps told a story about their fellowship “moving forward with a greater focus” as a result of NCD. Their initial experience of NCD “is very positive with no negativity towards it”. As a result of their ‘minimum factor’ response, “people are feeling more valued, they are taking ownership and they want to be involved”.
“A very good process. Momentum is building. Benefits are being seen.” These were the opening comments made by another leader who went on to say that people were coming up with new ideas because NCD was allowing time to focus on the real issues. NCD has also given “the whole corps a focus” which is being developed into “a lot more strategic thinking”. For them a constant challenge is one of keeping the wider fellowship informed; “communication is vital with the whole corps”. This person at times felt that they were “on our own” which highlights the need for effective coaching structures to be put in place.
In speaking to someone else from a different centre I was told “things are going well”. “NCD hasn’t drastically changed things” but the corps is “thinking about things in a different way”. To date, NCD “is a positive experience” and they are “impressed with the resources” available. This corps has also begun to make use of the 3 Colors of Spirituality material and, as a result, local leaders have begun to appreciate the differences that exist between them.
A corps leader who serves in the Midlands, spoke about NCD “going well, it has brought the whole corps together.” They now have a sense of purpose, they “are seeing results and people are being encouraged more and more”. NCD principles are becoming more and more evident within the life of the corps, their small groups “have become more holistic”. The leadership team have been invited to visit a local Anglican church to tell their NCD story.
Thanks to NCD another of our corps “has a focus, a purpose and a framework to keep working”. In responding to their minimum factor “people are coming out of the woodwork” to get involved, they are “really excited”. One of their ladies discovered that her gifting lay in administration and she now offers her help to people in their community who struggle with the many forms concerning social security. This corps is planning to hold “a workshop Sunday” which will give people time and space to ask and answer “where is God leading me?”.
Finally, “NCD is working well, it’s enabling change to happen” was the opening comment from someone else. Their fellowship remains “quite excited” about NCD which is an ongoing “positive” experience. They are working on making their structures more effective and the response to date is encouraging with people “learning to let others do things”. Each of the different groups who make up the fellowship are being given the opportunity in Sunday worship to say who they are and what they do. This wouldn’t have happened without the insights gained from the Profile Plus report.
This is but a small portion of all that could be reported but it is sufficient to sense how God is working and sufficient for all of us to be encouraged to stay focused on all things NCD.
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Major Noel Wright is Assistant Territorial Evangelism Secretary, based at Territorial Headquarters.