'There's a generation of people that we're not reaching by and large. 'We've taken a particular style that we think reaches the people that we're trying to reach,' Bartlett said. Within two years, the congregation at Celebration Church grew from 30 congregants to 300. He started with contemporary worship and, like in hundreds of other purpose-driven churches nationwide, out went the hymns and in came the drums and guitars. But then Bartlett began to apply Warren's five strategies for church growth. 'There were 40 people my first Sunday, and I think the church had gotten down to about … 25 to 30 in attendance.' When he arrived in 2004, the church was more traditional and was in a poor state.īartlett said that when he first came to Celebration Church, the congregation was small and shrinking. Tom Bartlett is the pastor of Celebration Church - now a purpose-driven church. This past fall, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled ''Purpose driven' methods divide: Some evangelicals object to 'Madison Avenue' marketing of churches that follow author's advice.' In North Wilkesboro, N.C., one church exemplifies this schism. Simple means it's clear.'īut Warren's 'outside in' approach to church growth is now causing rumblings.

'I like to teach theology to people without telling them it's theology and without using theological terms,' he said. But it's Warren's untraditional use of the Christian language that may be the reason for his enormous following.

He says he has trained 400,000 pastors worldwide to start purpose-driven churches. But while these five purposes are biblically based, there is no denying that Warren has popularized these purposes around the world.

The purpose driven life author