What lessons can we learn from healthy churches?

James Slack said he saw 14 lessons for church leaders from his in-depth research on congregations of the Southern Baptist Convention. His work reminds us that observations worthy of consideration can come from analyzing and reflecting on demographics, spreadsheets, surveys, interviews, and historical studies. Below are his 14 conclusions about local churches. Which of them do you find surprising?

Which churches are growing?

  1. New units grow faster than long-established churches.
  2. Aging within a church almost inevitably ushers in a ministry style that is "come" oriented in contrast to ministry that is "go" centered.
  3. Older churches do not start as many new churches as do younger churches.
  4. Churches often drift upward on the economic scale.
  5. The longer a church is in a community, the less it becomes like the demographics of that community.
  6. Existing, established churches have normal plateau and ministry limits.
  7. Only as a church expands its discipleship base will it sustain infinitely reproducible church growth and church planting.
  8. More baptisms and greater membership growth occurs in zones or areas that are located away from existing churches and their "come"-oriented activities.
  9. The difference between ministry in so-called "responsive" and "non-responsive" people groups is not in the average number of baptisms per church but in the number of new units or churches that are being started.
  10. Churches in resistant cultures tend to begin as or soon become cosmopolitan drawing members from a large geographic area rather than community churches rooted in the neighborhood. In resistant cultures, community churches have far greater influence on the culture than do cosmopolitan churches.
  11. As models or ways of church planting, training, and materials are repeated and age, they become hallowed -- and almost "unchangeable" -- patterns even if they are no longer relevant.
  12. If a lost person or people group is illiterate and poor, the chance of their being evangelized decreases proportionately to the heights of their illiteracy and the depths of their poverty.
  13. Most theological training programs tend to be more academic than functional.
  14. To be fruitful, Bible teaching, including Sunday School and other forms of discipleship, must be done in a context that includes intentional evangelism.

Slack, James B. "Strategies for Church Planting" in Missiology. Edited by John Mark Terry, Ebbie Smith and Justin Anderson. Nashville, TN.: Broadman and Holman Publishers.

Does God like variety?

"We have some concepts about what a church is that come more from our culture than from the Scripture. We need small churches and large churches equally. We need vibrant churches and conservative churches as well. It seems to me that God has a diversified portfolio." -- Chris Babcock in "Church Size and Outreach Success"

    -- Howard Culbertson,

Afterword: What Do Healthy Churches Look Like?

Healthy church congregations share several of the following 10 characteristics:

  1. Healthy congregations develop a sense of belonging and support among members. They prioritize building relationships, creating fellowship opportunities, and caring for one another.
  2. They have a clear understanding of their purpose and mission. That is what guides their activities and decisions. This clarity helps members stay focused and motivated toward common goals.
  3. Healthy churches have leaders who are visionary, compassionate, and capable of inspiring others. These leaders call for participation in church ministries, delegate responsibilities, and empower members.
  4. Healthy congregations prioritize sound biblical teaching and provide opportunities for spiritual growth and discipleship. This includes relevant preaching, Bible studies, small groups, and mentoring relationships.
  5. They value authentic worship experiences that engage hearts and minds and draw people closer to God. Prayer is central to their gatherings, both corporately and individually.
  6. Healthy churches are actively involved in their surrounding community. They seek to share the love of Christ through practical service and evangelism.
  7. They embrace diversity within the body of believers while maintaining unity in faith and purpose. They celebrate the unique gifts and viewpoints of each member. They seek to build a welcoming culture of mutual respect.
  8. Healthy congregations understand the importance of stewardship, not only of financial resources but also of time, talents, and other gifts. They push for generous giving and responsible management of resources.
  9. They are open to change and innovation. They realize the need to adapt to cultural shifts and new ministry opportunities. At the same time, however, they stay grounded in timeless biblical principles.
  10. Healthy churches set up accountability structures to ensure integrity and monitor spiritual growth among members and leaders. They practice discipline in a spirit of restoration and reconciliation.

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