One of the eight systems for leading a missional church is a church health system. This system measures not only the quantitative growth of a church but also the qualitative health of a local church.  The quantitative growth is built around key numbers and their percentages.

• New visitor ratio: How many new visitors do you need in an average month to grow your church?
• Baptism Ratio:  What is the a healthy percentage between average worship attendance and number of baptisms annually?
• Giving Ratio:  What is the healthy dollar amount given per person on a average Sunday?
• Serving Ratio:  What is a healthy percentage of average attenders and those engage in a ministry
• Small Group Ratio: What is a healthy percentage of those attending on an average weekend and those engaged in a small group?
• Membership Ratio:  What is a health percentage of those attending on an average weekend and those who are committed members
• Leadership Ratio:  How many new leaders are added to your leadership community annually?

In future posts we will be providing answers for these questions.

The qualitative health of a local church is measured through the attitudes, feelings and perspectives towards people, programs and the progress of the church.  The Natural Church Development Survey is one of the best ways to get to bottom of these issues in a productive manner.

• Empowering Leadership
• Gift-based Ministry
• Passionate Spirituality
• Effective Structures
• Holistic Small Groups
• Need-oriented Evangelism
• Loving Relationships
• Inspiring Worship Services

We are encouraging all of our churches to establish an annual church health rhythm.  The more churches we can get involved in looking at qualitative and quantitative growth issues that more focus we can be in providing resources, coaching groups, seminars and workshops.

What does a church health rhythm cycle look like?

Phase 1- Prepare & Take Surveys (Sometime during the months of May-June).

• First timers to NCD
  • Prepare ideas and options
    • Read The ABC’s of Natural Church Development (which is a quick read on the basics of NCD)
    • Read NextSteps for Leading a Missional Church. (which is a workbook that will help you through the process)
    • Attend a NextSteps for Leading a Missional Church Seminar.
  • Take surveys
    • Fill out a one page quantitative survey provide through Converge MidAmerica
    • Do a NCD Survey with 30 key leaders, staff and influencers in your church provide though Converge MidAmerica
      • Read How to Take the Survey in One Hour or Less
      • Costs: $175.00 for the Survey and Report Profile
• Past NCD Participants
  • Prepare ideas and options
    • Read NextSteps for Leading a Missional Church. (Gary offers a flesh perspective for Natural Church Development)
    • Attend a NextSteps for Leading a Missional Church Seminar with you team.
  • Take surveys
    • Fill out a one page quantitative survey provide through Converge MidAmerica
    • Do a NCD Survey along with the Insights report with 30 key leaders, staff and influencers in your church provide though Converge MidAmerica
      • Read How to Take the Survey in One Hour or Less
      • Costs:
        • $175.00 for the Survey and Report Profile
        • $ 70.00 for additional Insights Report
        • Total $245.00 (Converge MidAmerica offers these products for $225.00)

Phase 2 – Analyze Results (During the months of June-July)

Phase 3 – Develop Ministry Plan (During the months of July-August)

Phase 4 – Kick off, implement and monitor (Kick off in September and push hard to April)

Phase 5 – Evaluate with through surveys and repeat process (During May – June)

All the research has reveal that establishing a church health rhythm is critical for both the qualitative and quantitative growth of a local church.  Christian Schwarz researched over 50,000 churches and has discovered that churches who repeated this cycle for three years experience these four realities.

1. Each quality characteristic averaged a 6% increase.
2. They have increased their worship attendance by 51%.
3. Transfer growth decreased and conversion growth increased.
4. The work-load of the pastor decreased because they learn how to delegate and empower others.

What do you want your church to look like in the next three years? 

Click Here to start the process!

Join us on the journey towards health and missional impact by contact the Converge MidAmerica Ministry Center.