Anyone who has ever worked in a church, or done a significant amount of volunteer work in one, will tell you that church leaders have a lot on their plates! Churches are often understaffed, due to a lack of funding, so its leaders have to take on a lot of responsibilities. With so much going on around them, they may not have the time to stop and take stock of how things are actually going. However, there are a few easy-to-spot signs that could mean it’s time to take a good look at the health of your church by conducting a church assessment.
Long-time Attendees Are Leaving
Have you noticed that some of your most faithful members or attendees have left to attend a different church? Church members come and go, but when people who have attended your church for a decade or more start to leave, it’s time to find out why. Most likely, there are those who are still in your church who have similar concerns or frustrations, but don’t want to say anything. An anonymous church assessment could reveal those things before it’s too late to right the ship.
People Come, but Don’t Stay
Does your church see a lot of new faces, but few of them actually stick around long-term? There could be a lot of reasons for this, but you’ll never know what they are unless you take the time to complete a church assessment. The issue could turn out to be something very simple!
You’re Not Seeing Spiritual Growth
Are you finding that even though people have been in your church for many years, they don’t seem to be progressing in their spiritual walks? Is there little or no fruit in their lives? Are they unable or unwilling to share the gospel or disciple others? A church with seemingly stagnant believers would be wise to ask some deep questions and find out the root cause(s).
There’s a Lot of Internal Conflict
As a church leader, are you inundated with people coming to your office to express frustration with others on staff or within the congregation? Do you find yourself mediating conflict between church members regularly? There may be some things going on beneath the surface of the issues they are expressing that need to be addressed.
A thorough church assessment, completed by an organization that specializes in assessments, could be just what your church needs to uncover its underlying issues. Many church leaders are surprised by what a thorough assessment can reveal. It may not just be simple disagreements, but something deeper.
An organization like VitalChurh Ministry offers three levels of church assessments, based on a church’s needs. The entry-level church assessment is an online survey that includes a follow-up phone call with church diagnostic experts. Their Comprehensive Church Assessment includes on-site interviews with leaders and key volunteers, as well as a customized all-church survey. A full report and an in-person meeting to discuss results and a path forward is included.
