How HEALTHY is your church?
Natural Church Development is a diagnostic tool to help determine the health of your church.
No one single factor leads to growth in churches; it is the interplay of the eight elements as they relate to one another. The secret of growing churches does not consist in pushing or pulling the church in human strength and efforts – but in releasing and developing the potential God uses to build the church. Growth occurs automatically if we remove the obstacles that prevent growth.
Learning from growing churches does not mean adopting the models of growing churches. Natural Church Development looks at principles that have allowed churches to grow. By utilizing a survey taken by 30 people (or as few as 15) you can determine the strengths of your church, as well as the area of greatest weakness.
Through the Natural Church Development process you will find a greater understanding of how God wants the church to grow. You will learn how to release the growth potential within your church. Christian Schwarz, author of Natural Church Development writes, “Healthy churches are growing churches, making more and better disciples in loving obedience to Christ.”
Natural Church Development is a diagnostic tool to help you determine the health of your church. The survey rates your church in eight essential qualities that are present in all churches, and compares your church to other churches in the United States.
- Empowering Leadership
- Gift-Based Ministry
- Passionate Spirituality
- Effective Structures
- Inspiring Worship Service
- Holistic Small Groups
- Need-Oriented Evangelism
- Loving Relationships
The follow-up focus will consist of developing strategies to strengthen the area of greatest weakness.
To schedule a Natural Church Development survey for your church contact:
Dirk Elliott
Associate Director
Congregational Development
Conference Council on Ministries
800-831-3972 ext. 129
