The document discusses conducting an assessment of a church to evaluate its overall health. It recommends interviewing church members, collecting diagnostic data on metrics like attendance, and performing a visual and tactile examination. The assessment establishes benchmarks, identifies any health issues, and aims to prevent future crises. It also notes that church assessments provide an opportunity for all voices to be heard, measure attitudes, estimate where the church is in its life cycle, and create a reality check against its self-image. The end goal is to prescribe improvements to help the church better accomplish its mission.

1. The Process of Evaluating,
Promoting and Maintaining
Church Health
CHURCH
ASSESSMENT

2. Had Your Annual Physical?
 Interview
 How you feeling?
 Noticed any changes?
 Any complaints?
 How are you sleeping?

3. Had Your Annual Physical?
 Diagnostics
 Weight
 Eye chart
 Hearing
 Reflexes
 Blood Panel

4. Had Your Annual Physical?
 Visual and Tactile
Exam “Say ah.”
 “Cough”
 Cold stethoscope
 Rubber hammer on
the knee
 Poke, probe and swab

5. Had Your Annual Physical?
 Diagnostics
 X-rays
 Mammogram
 Sonogram
 MRI
 Cat-scan
 Colonoscopy

6. Why do you get a physical?
 Establish Benchmarks
 Determine Health
 Address Needs
 Avert Crisis

7. NATURE and IDENTITY of the
CHURCH
 The Church is not an ORGANIZATION, it is
an ORGANISM.
“Now you are the body of Christ …”
1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV)

8. Biblical Precedent for
Assessment
 Letters to the Churches – Revelation 2-3
 Assessment
 Diagnosis
 Prescription
 The Epistles

9. CHURCH LIFE
CYCLE
ENTREPRENEURIAL
ORGANIZATIONAL
PEAK EFFICIENCY
INSTITUTIONAL
DESCENT TO DEATH
Components
of Life:
Commitment to Mission and Vision
Involvement of People
Structure, Program & Organization
Attitude toward change
Moral, Emotion & ConfidenceViM
VIsAM
VISAM
i S -a -m
S -A -m

10. What is an Assessment?
 “Still frame snapshot” of the church
 An “X-ray” of the church
Invisible lumps, shadows and
breaks
 MRI – check for “soft tissue damage”
The “unfinished business”
 Long, lingering hurt
 Broken relationships
 Unresolved issues

11. What Is an Assessment?
 Systematic study of church’s present
condition
 Evaluation of:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Context – Percept Demographics
Trajectory

12. What Is an Assessment?
 Opportunity for all to speak
 Measurement of attitudes toward
programs
and ministries
 Estimate of church’s place on
“the Life Cycle Curve”
 “Reality check”
 “Cherry self image” vs. the way things
really are

13. Physicals for Churches
 Interview
 Visual and Tactile
 Diagnostics
 Prescriptions
Self-study and document revie
On-site
Survey, Life-cycle,
Team Collaboration
Prescriptions

14. Outreach and Evangelism
Intentionally cultivating relationships
outside our church family, serving our
community, and sharing the Gospel.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

15. Spiritual Formation
(Discipleship)
Helping believers develop into fully
devoted followers of Christ, becoming
like Him in His purity, passion, and
pursuits.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

16. Healthy Relationships
(Fellowship)
Developing an environment of mutual
love and care where members of the
church body know and serve one
another.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

17. Inspiring Worship
Creating the opportunity for a personal
and corporate encounter with the living
God.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

18. Corporate Prayer
Cultivating an awareness of God and His
work, our dependence upon Him, and
expressing grateful hearts in love and
praise.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

19. Effective Assimilation
Bringing new people into church life,
developing friendships, and actively
contributing to the life of the church.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

20. Lay Mobilization
Engaging people in the mission of the
church according to their gifts and
passions.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

21. Organizational
Stewardship
Encouraging the effective use of all of
the churches resources – finances,
workers and facilities – to accomplish
the church’s purpose or mission.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

22. Visionary Leadership
Equipping and empowering people for
effective ministry moving our
church toward accomplishing our
mission and vision.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

23. Leader Development
Equipping and developing leaders at all
levels of church ministry who in turn
reproduce more leaders.
CHURCH SYSTEMS

24. Why do an ASSESSMENT?
 Churches should assess their current
conditions regularly.
 An assessor, who is an independent, impartial,
outside observer, can see things that few in the
system can see.
 Ministries need to regularly assess alignment to
VALUES, MISSION and VISION.
 Assessment answers the question, “How are
we doing?”
 Assessment creates opportunities for ministry
improvement.