Diagnosing The State of the Church (cont.)

(2) It help's focus the resources of the church in time, finances, and manpower to the critical area of church life. Why spend money on reading glasses or lasik surgery when one really has a hearing problem and needs a hearing aid! Likewise, why focus on small groups when it could be that the worship services needs to be more meaningful?

(3) It relieves frustration of flaying away in non-problem areas that do not fix the real problem. Again you would not treat bronchitis when the problem really is a spastic colon!

(4) It establishes a process for future evaluations of the working parts of the church. As this diagnostic process becomes a part of your church structure you become aware of what could be happening in your church body just as one senses what is going on in their own physical body.

How Can this be Accomplished?

The church growth movement that is now about thirty-five years old has been able to assimilate multiplied thousands of bits of data. This data now shows (1) common characteristics of all growing churches (2) how to find out if these characteristics exist in a local church setting and (3) to what extent of effectiveness these characteristics presently contribute to the general health of a church desiring to grow.

How Often Should this Diagnosis Be Repeated?

Just as we scrupulously have a yearly physical check up with our family practitioner, so should the same be true of the "body" of the local church. All know the folly of putting off the physical issues in our lives. It will lead to compound issues that need treatment when the body actually breaks down and sickness occurs. Now it's sugar diabetes compounded with hypertension and on and on it goes! So a good yearly check up for the church can prevent many problems in the local assembly.

How Does One Get Started?

If you have a financial problem, you do not seek out a chiropractor. If you roof is leaking you do not call in a lawn expert. If your church needs help you call in a reputable church growth consultant! These men or women can help you diagnosis the state of your church and prescribe a course of action one should take. For more information on this, contact us at www.impactministriesinc.com. We can put you in touch with several good men who can help.