Ten Characteristics of a Healthy Church
Extensive research, more than 100 church visits, in-depth Bible study, concerted prayer, and dialogue with hundreds of church leaders has led Vision New England to the exciting discovery of the 10 characteristics of a healthy church:
A healthy church is prayerful in all of the following aspects of church life and ministry, is reliant on God’s power and the authority of His Word, and values:
1. God’s empowering presence. The healthy church actively seeks the Holy Spirit’s direction and empowerment for its daily life and ministry.
2. God-exalting worship. The healthy church gathers regularly as the local expression of the body of Christ to worship God in ways that engage the heart, mind, soul, and strength of the people.
3. Spiritual disciplines. The healthy church provides training, models, and resources for members of all ages to develop their daily spiritual disciplines.
4. Learning and growing in community. The healthy church encourages believers to grow in their walk with God and with one another in the context of a safe, affirming environment.
5. A commitment to loving and caring relationships. The healthy church is intentional in its efforts to build loving, caring relationships within families, between members, and within the community.
6. Servant-leadership development. The healthy church identifies and develops individuals whom God has called and given the gift of leadership and challenges them to be servant leaders.
7. An outward focus. The healthy church places high priority on communicating the truth of Jesus and demonstrating the love of Jesus to those outside the faith.
8. Wise administration and accountability. The healthy church utilizes appropriate facilities, equipment, and systems to provide maximum support for the growth and development of its ministries.
9. Networking with the body of Christ. The healthy church reaches out to others in the body of Christ for collaboration, resource sharing, learning opportunities, and united celebrations of worship.
10. Stewardship and generosity. The healthy church teaches its members they are stewards of their God-given resources and challenges them to be sacrificially generous in sharing with others.