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The following are a compilation of key elements that, if applied, could help a church become healthier. May the Lord lead the way!
Health Signs: Leith Anderson
1. Glorify God
2. Producing disciples
3. Exercise of spiritual gifts
4. Relating positively to one's environment
5. Reproduction
6. Incorporation of newcomers
7. Openness to change
8. Trusting God & prayer
The Nine Habits of Highly Effective Churches:
George Barna
1. They rely upon strategic leadership.
2. They are organized to facilitate highly effective ministry.
3. They emphasize developing significant relationships within the congregation.
4. They invest themselves in genuine worship
5. They engage in strategic evangelism.
6. They get their people involved in systematic theological growth.
7. They utilize holistic stewardship practices.
8. They serve the needy people in their community.
9. They equip families to minister to themselves.
Ten Characteristics of a Healthy Church: Vision New England
1. God's empowering presence
2. God-exalting worship
3. Personal disciplines
4. Learning & growing in community
5. Commitment to loving/caring relationships
6. Servant-leadership development
7. An outward focus
8. Wise administration & accountability
9. Networking with the regional church
10. Stewardship & generosity
Characteristics of a Healthy Church: Sonlife Ministries
1. Strong Christology
2. Clearly defined mission/purpose
3. Biblical strategy of a balanced win, build, & equip
4. Regularly winning the lost
5. Strategically building the believers
6. Ongoing equipping of the worker
7. Corporate & segment multiplication of shepherds
8. A broadly owned vision
9. A teachable spirit
Characteristics of a Healthy Church: Willow Creek
1. Active spiritual formation
2. Authentic community (not public)
3. Contagious evangelism
4. Mobilized spiritual gifts
5. Good stewardship
6. Strong leadership
7. Cultural relevance
8. Effective generation focused ministry
9. Collaboration and partnership
Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches: Natural Church Development
1. Empowering leadership
2. Gift-oriented ministry Development
3. Passionate spirituality
4. Functional structures
5. Inspiring worship service
6. Holistic small groups
7. Need-oriented evangelism
8. Loving relationships
Twelve Keys to an Effective Church: Kennon Callahan
1. Specific, concrete missional objectives
2. Pastoral & lay visitation
3. Corporate, dynamic worship
4. Significant relational groups
5. Strong leadership resources
6. Streamlined structure & solid, participatory decision making
7. Several competent programs & activities
8. Open accessibility
9. High visibility
10. Adequate parking, land, & landscaping
11. Adequate space & facilities
12. Solid financial resources
Marks of Church Health: Bill Easum
1. Clear sense of mission
2. Authentic community
3. Indigenous worship
4. Lay mobilization
5. Organic structure
6. Kingdom oriented
7. Experientially focused on Jesus Christ
Vital Signs of Healthy Churches: C. Peter Wagner
1. A positive pastor
2. A well-mobilized laity
3. Meeting members' needs
4. Proper balance of the dynamic relationship between celebration, congregation and cell
5. A common homogeneous denominator
6. Effective evangelistic methods
7. Biblical priorities
Windows into the 21st Century Church: Leadership Network
1. Effective leadership
2. Lay mobilization
3. Cultural connectedness
4. Authentic community
5. Kingdom collaboration
*Compiled from various sources by Rowland Croucher
webedelic.com
| Lessons from Church Growth Inc. Growing Healthy Corps Lessons Current Focus
1. Ministry Planning/ Programming
a. Develop and Implement a
Measurable Ministry Plan.
2. Develop Local Leaders/ Spiritual Gifts Inventory
a. Enlarge volunteer base for ministry
support by raising up new leaders
b. Spiritual Gifts assessment training
and involvement retain Twenty-
somethings (young adults)
Ongoing Focus
1. Outward Focused
2. Stewardship Issues
3. Evangelistic Effectiveness
4. Improve Effectiveness of Corps Programs
5. Assimilation/ Wecome committee
6. Signage/Adverstizement
7. Improve Communication education
8. Holistic Approach
9. Debt Reduction
10. Work toward self-sufficiency
*Corps Assessment done by Dr. Bill Hoyt from Growing Healthy Churches Corps Assessment Spokane Citadel Corps
Recommendations & Goals
I. Focus the Ministry Direction of the Church
A. Develop mission and vision
B. Develop and implement a measurable ministry plan
II. Create Leader Development System
A. Build a Leadership team – Corps Councils
B. Enlarge volunteer base for ministry support by raising up new leaders
C. Retain twenty something (young adults)
III. Increase Evangelistic Effectiveness
A. Continue, increase effort to reach clients
B. Intentional and systematic to neighborhood and community
C. Consider initiating three worship services
IV. Improve effectiveness of Corps programs
V. Address Stewardship Issues
VI. Declare Yourself to be Outward Focused Church |
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