Snap-Shot of a Healthy Church

Last year when I planted a church in Taylors, SC called BridgePointe Church I wanted to provide my core group with a one page form which would help them see what a healthy church looks like. So, I compiled a list of things from my personal experience as well as various church growth strategists which had impacted me. I would like to share it with all of you. This list is not exhaustive, but I believe that if you look at a healthy, growing church you will find each one of these elements. They are in no particular order.

Snap-shot Of A Healthy Church

1) The Priority of sharing the Gospel as its primary mission and purpose –
Members view personal witnessing as their responsibility.
Missions - Church promotes an Acts 1:8 and Mt 28:18-20 philosophy of ministry
Outreach – An organized and intentional strategy for community involvement and visitor follow up.

2) Relational Atmosphere –
People must feel welcome when they come to church. It must be a friendly place for members and visitors alike. It must be a positive and open environment where people encounter unity, promote friendships, and experience close-knit community.

3) Worship services -
Must be vibrant, uplifting and encouraging experiences where people feel they have encountered God.

4) Preaching –
Biblical – Content of sermons must arise directly from the Biblical text.
Relevant – Truth must be communicated in a manner that is directly applicable to the hearers.

5) Top shelf children’s and youth ministries –
Facilities must be clean, neat, organized. Environment must be safe and secure. Workers must be friendly and sensitive. Everything must be done with excellence and extreme professionalism.

6) Member mobilization –
Members are empowered to do ministry – this along with ongoing discipleship keeps people involved in church and increases the likelihood that the church will fulfill its mission.

7) Strong discipleship process –
Must be intentional and structured and a place where true spiritual transformation occurs.

8) The necessary foundation of prayer and spiritual power –
This will endue the people and the ministries of the church with supernatural power for performing God’s work. When the un-churched see this, they want to experience it firsthand. People are not looking for religion. But they are searching for genuine spirituality.

9) Leadership –
A Biblical understanding of the mission of the church
An identifiable strategy for carrying out the mission of the church.
Healthy pastoral leadership, integrity, and tenure.
Healthy staff relations.

10) Excellence -
Attention to detail is an indicator that the church is serious about its mission and is competent and capable of caring for people.


Would anybody add anything else to this list?