Checking the pulse of church health

Once a year we stop and reflect on three simple questions:

1) Where have we as a church come from?

2) Why are we here?

3) Where are we going?

A church that is going somewhere knows how to answer these questions.

The first should be relatively easy to answer by reflecting on the church’s history and its roots. Although our church history is not well known, especially to many newcomers. That is why the Church History project is so needed. The work of collecting history data began more than a year ago. The general church history data is assembled and the mural will be presented to the church by the end of the summer, paving the way for the local history mural.

The second question should be even easier to answer. Just a look at the Scripture reveals the reason for being, is to ‘make disciples’. It is to be working under the guidance and direction of our Lord Jesus, aiming to fulfill His mandate – the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20. This is how we bring Him glory, by being obedient to His Word.

The third question then must, in looking to the future, be based around this mandate. Whatever the future, the local church must not deviate from the ‘making of disciples’. It is also true to say that where we are currently is a place where we surely don’t want to be – because we want to see our churches packed with new Christians and everyone being discipled. No one can be at peace, be happy and comfortable seeing multitudes of people who do not know Jesus. So how do we get from where we are currently to where we believe God would have us be? George Barna has said, the “things that got us where we are today will not get us where we need to be tomorrow.”

In seeking to begin to answer this third question, it is essential that our church first understands our current ‘reality’. It is important for our church to see our current position and be fully united in order to be able to begin to move forward together. To achieve this we take a ‘health check’ by looking at its ‘vital signs’, those areas that are essential to its health and vitality and potential for growth:

· Empowering leadership

· Gift-oriented Ministry

· Functional Structures

· Passionate Spirituality

· Inspiring Worship service

· Holistic Small Groups

· Need oriented Evangelism

· Loving Relationships

This Sabbath we simply collect the data – your answers to a set of questions. May 26^th we will present the results and consider the strategy for moving into the future. Pray for our church leaders as they seek God’s guidance and direction for serving our church.