...THE PURPOSE DRIVEN PLAYBOOK FOR CHURCH TAKE OVERS...
In the past ten years a lot of churches in America and in other countries have changed from a traditional New Testament church model to a contemporary Purpose Driven model, most with sorrowful pitiful results. Thousands of churches have split, closed, or had significant reductions in attendance. Most churches, after having a brief upsurge in growth, either reverted back to their original size or suffered church trauma by introducing the PDC model in their congregation. It is important that EVERY church member know if their church is targeted for a PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH (PDC) takeover. Initially a small clique of church staff including the pastor plans the change without telling the rest of the church membership. Church Transitions (a PDC training arm) trains the clique initiating the change in eight steps. The church is not to be informed of the transitions until the fourth step. After the sixth step if there are some members in the church who voice concerns the following is suggested:
#1Identify those who are resisting the changes.
#2Assess the effectiveness of their opposition.
#3Befriend those who are undecided about changes.
#4Marginalize more persistent resisters or questioners.
#5Vilify those who stay and fight.
#6Establish new rules that will silence all resistance. Then the members either accept the changes or leave the church. Rick Warren, author and director of the PDC movement, says,’ When you reveal the vision to the church the old pillars are going to leave. But let them leave ... they only hold things up.'
So what are the signs that your church is targeted for a PDC change?
#1Change in music to a contemporary rock style.
#2Removal of hymn books...often words on a screen.
#3Elimination of the choir or introducing a choral 'entertainment type' singing group. (Repetitive praise lyrics are used).
#4Replacing the organ/piano with rock music type instruments.
#5Dressing down to casual informal attire.
#6A repetitive 40 day PDC study program stressing psychological relationships with each other, the community and the world.
#7Sunday morning, evening, and/or Wednesday prayer meetings are changed to other times, named differently or eliminated.
#8New versions of the Bible are used.
#9The decor may be changed to eliminate any resemblance to the 'former church.'
#10The name 'church' is often removed and may be called a 'campus.' Denominational names are often removed.
#11An emphasis on more fun and party times for the youth.
#12Elimination of altar calls or salvation invitations.
#13The elimination of such words as 'unsaved, 'lost, 'hell, and 'sodomy.'
#14Reclassification of the saved and lost to the 'churched' and 'unchurched'
#15The marginalizing or ostracizing of all who are not avid promoters of the new PDC program.
(Written by the pastor of a Wilkesboro, NC church who went through this training)
