A recent article in the Adventist Review (reprinted from an article by Thom Rainer) presents a conclusion from a research on church growth, outlining practices of healthy growing churches.
Seven high standards are set:
1. The church’s leadership and the laity hold to a high view of Scripture, holding fast to all Biblical teachings.
2. The churches and their leaders seek to be relevant, addressing real needs without compromise.
3. The churches and their leaders hold to the primacy of preaching, bringing into it preparation, power,
4. The churches have a healthy small group structure. From small groups in Sabbath Schools to small groups that met in diverse locations, these are nurturing and holistic communities. Pastors and church leaders are involved in groups. Membership in the church is linked to belonging to a group.
5. Healthy churches emphasize corporate prayer and church prayer ministries. They do more than give lip service to the importance of prayer.
6. Churches that are healthy take membership seriously. They do not have inflated membership rolls that have little integrity, means little or nothing and has no level of accountability. A casual attendee does not has the same level of accountability as a long-term leader.
7. The healthy churches are highly intentional about evangelism. They have ministries, programs and emphases that lead members to reach out with the Gospel to their unchurched friends, relatives, co-workers and acquaintances.
Tonight our elders will meet to dialogue about trends in our church. One urgency that is obvious is the need for small groups, communities of care where everyone will be connected, given an opportunity to develop their spiritual gifts, and an opportunity to be loving and loveable. As the leadership team works to develop plans and strategy for improvement, we seek your prayers.
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