A guy by the name of Christian Schwarz began doing research a number of years ago that looked at what made for healthy churches. He surveyed thousands of churches and came up with 8 quality characteristics of growing churches. These characteristics are 1. Empowering Leadership 2. Gift Based Ministry 3. Passionate Spirituality 4. Effective Structures 5. Inspiring Worship Service 6. Holistic Small Groups 7. Need-oriented Evangelism 8. Loving relationships
Churches can participate in this survey in a very simple way: they have 30 members fill out a questionnaire and the results are tabulated. The questions on the survey focus on behaviors and on the perceptions of the person about their church.
As a part of an effort by Classis Georgetown (the local association of churches EverGreen is a part of) to have all the churches of the classis do this survey we had 30 of our members fill the surveys a couple of months ago (in case you are wondering who was chosen, a few surveys were handed to each staff member and they gave them out to people in their different ministry areas, also the council filled them out).
We received the results back about EverGreen a couple of weeks ago. We wanted to share them with you. As you look at the results it is helpful to know that the average score in each of these categories is a 45.
Empowering Leadership 63
Gift Oriented Ministry 69
Passionate Spirituality 57
Functional structures 64
Inspiring Worship 78
Holistic Small groups 67
Need-oriented Evanglism 72
Loving Relationships 70
Our overall average score was a 67.
As you can tell EverGreen is a pretty healthy church--and that is because of you! Thanks for all you do to make the different areas of church life vibrant.
While we are pleased with the results of the Natural Church survey we are also looking closely at areas where we are weaker--such as passionate spirituality. We want to be continually building, growing and maturing EverGreen so we can reach the full potential that God has for us as a church.
4 comments:
Dear Pastor Larry,
I just checked out your blog for the first time. I like it!
The survey is an excellent tool for measuring the spiritual health of EGM. I am not surprised that individual scores exceeded the average of 45.
In the area of spiritual health of EGM (although the score was good), I do believe that we as a church have sacrificed some important ministries that encourage spiritual growth and health, i.e., regular Adult Sunday School classes, Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings that include a Bible Lesson on a particular subject or indepth study of a specific passage, etc. These ministries help to support the work that you do from behind the pulpit and serve vital roles.
Yes, we have a small group ministry, which is fabulous. However, there are some that maybe because of time constraints, work schedules, or other obligations are not able to be a part of a small group. Yet, if a regular Adult Sunday School class was offered (for various age groups or situations, i.e., Young Marrieds, Singles, College/Career, 30-50, etc.) these same individuals may very well get involved in that as they already have the day set aside to worship and learn. Adult Sunday School classes offer an alternative to small groups. I remember very well the special relationships formed while attending Adult Sunday School many years ago.
In addition, I still remember very well the lessons learned at Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings where the Book of Proverbs was taught one verse at a time. Powerful study! Then a time of prayer followed the lesson. This type of setting also helps to encouragement a special bond among members/regular attenders.
I know it is difficult because to have these ministries in place means to ask for help to run the ministries and places more work on you and Pastor Tom if a more formalized Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting and Adult Sunday School classes were incorporated. This is something that could be shared between the two of you as you already do on Sundays.
I hope that you are not offended by the above suggestions. These were just a couple of my thoughts as someone who comes from the "old church," even though I'm only 44! Ha!
May you have a blessed day!
In His Care,
Dawn
Good point Dawn.
I know that my small group really suffers because of scheduling. It should be simple to get together...but it just isn't. And I feel like it is a personality issue too. Not everyone likes to have something to add to the schedule. Maybe a scheduled class or something already at church wouldn't be as scary to some people. Those formal setting really foster relationships too over time. I thrive on those kind of relationships...those with a purpose. Small group is kind of scary to me, IMHO.
But when we've tried to classes at church, the turn-out has been really small.
I'm not sure what the solution is.
I did wonder what those forms were for. That's great to know!
EverGreen is a great place to serve God. :)
Hi Amanda!
I agree that small groups can be intimidating for some; whereas, in a formal Sunday School setting, there are more people, which puts less focus on individuals.
Your statement is true that when there have been classes offered, attendance has been low. I believe that part of this is because we as a society are of the mindset, "Get in..get out!"
People have adjusted to coming to church for an hour and going home. In the "old days," it was just expected that you went to church and to Sunday School.
I was really glad when the church decided to keep Sunday evening services. To have cancelled those services would have brought the church one step closer to distancing ourselves as a body of believers.
EGM has wonderful opportunities to serve the community, but let's not forget our immediate church family. As mentioned in my previous comments, SS for all age groups and situations, Prayer Meeting with Bible Study, etc., not only provide for fellowship and the bonding together of believers, but more importantly offer excellent opportunities to learn and grow in God's Word. That statement then relates back to Pastor Larry's concern of the spiritual health/growth of EGM.
If SS and a more formal Prayer Meeting/Bible Study were reinstituted, it may take time to build the attendance, but I believe it would be well worth the effort!
Have a great day!
Great points, Dawn!
It's really weird to converse in cyberspace with someone I actually know. LOL!
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