Most church growth thinking concentrates on the fruit. Natural Church Development (NCD) concentrates on the root that produces the fruit. After all healthy things grow — and healthy churches grow, naturally.

Natural Church Development is a medium to long-term growth policy for reforming and upgrading the quality and fruitfulness of the local church. Based on biblical and empirical principles it seeks to promote an interactive growth partnership between workers and God, based on eight key areas of church life.

The process consists of a self-assessment procedure applicable to all churches and a programme of sector-by-sector quality control through which any church, whatever its condition can grow. NCD represents a realistic, exciting and practical vision for local churches under the direction of the Holy Spirit to work towards new life and quality growth. If you would like to know, our leaflet “What is NCD?” can be downloaded here, but you will need Acrobat Reader.

Healthy Church UK was formed to be is the NCD ational partner for the UK and Ireland, but as Philip Walker will retire in 2011 he is in the process of handing the work over to Natural Church Development - UK Ltd. He is continuing to use his wealth of experience with NCD through this new vehicle and also enabling the work in the UK to continue into the future. More details can be found at the NCD-UK website.

What have we found?

NCD actually works in the UK and Ireland

• Healthy churches really are growing churches
• Each church needs quality in eight areas:

Empowering leadership
Gift-based ministry
Passionate spirituality
Effective structures
Inspiring worship services
Holistic small groups
Need-orientated evangelism
Loving relationships

Natural Church Development Resources

There are a growing number of materials available from Healthy Church UK for Natural Church Development.

If you want to see all the resources available in the UK follow this link to our NCD Book Catalogue.

Christoph Schalk has also recorded a series of CDs and DVDs to help with understanding NCD and training Church Leaders and Coaches. More details are available by following this link...

Natural Church Development Surveys

If you would like to find out more about the NCD Survey see the information on “What is NCD?”, by clicking on the link here.

It is important to note that Healthy Church UK is able to analyse NCD Surveys for the UK and Ireland and we cannot help any other country. For information regarding NCD Church Growth Surveys in your country please contact the NCD headquarters in Germany. (email: institute@ncdnet.org website: NCD International). However, we can still provide materials in English to other countries, please contact us for more information.

For those churches which are about to or have already completed an NCD Survey, we have an additional support page which you can see by clicking here, and downloading our leaflet called “Undertaking a Survey”.

eNCDine

NCD International now publish a regular bi-monthly magazine on the internet giving information, valuable articles on the implementation of the NCD process and resources. You can subscribe online at http://encdine.ncdnet.org/. It is well worth signing up for and you can do it on the you will link to.

NCD Downloads

Did you know that you can download the official NCD PowerPoint® templates and the NCD logo from NCD International's website? And many other helpful resources such as articles, brochures, software, drivers, and the latest version of the CORE software?

Visit the new NCD download area (www.ncdnet.org - Downloads) to explore what is available in the following categories "NCD Survey", "Research", and "Resources".