We’ve talked a lot in our blog recently about church assessments. We’ve discussed why your church should consider undergoing a health assessment and what type of church assessment would be best for your church’s current situation. Hopefully by now, you’ve been convinced that it’s a good idea to conduct an assessment of your congregation on a regular basis, even if everything appears to be going well. But in this post, we want to talk about why your church should consider working with VitalChurch Ministry, specifically, for a church health assessment.
We Are Pastors, Not Just Consultants
There are many church consultants and church consulting companies out there that do great work in this area. The difference at VitalChurch Ministry is that our church assessment team is led by a team of seasoned pastors with decades of real-world experience leading churches. They’ve worked in small and large churches, in rural and urban environments in all areas of the country, and with churches that are part of denominations and those that are not. They understand the struggles that are common to just about every church, and they have also worked with churches dealing with crisis situations that seem insurmountable.
Our diagnostic team is much more than just data analysts (although they are very good at data analytics). They approach every church as the pastors they are. They don’t just see data points and lines on a chart—they see people. They see the lives and the whole communities that can be changed through a church that is fully surrendered to God and his purposes. They have made it their goal to help bring every church to a place of intimacy with Christ by equipping them to operate in full effectiveness and unity.
Diagnostic Experts
The diagnostic team at VitalChurch is also made up of some of the most skilled church diagnostic experts out there! They are regularly called upon to make presentations at conferences around the country—and even in other parts of the world. They have also worked with many different denominations to help assess their member congregations.
Experience is key in the area of church assessments. Knowing the right questions to ask can yield helpful insights—even some that are surprising. We sometimes work with pastors and elder boards who think they have a good idea of what is hindering their church’s vitality and growth and just want some confirmation. Our assessments often reveal something else entirely—something church leaders may not have even considered. This is because the presenting issues are not always the actual issues in churches.
Though the assessment results initially come as a surprise, church leaders are typically grateful to have some concrete data points and insights to use as they move forward. In many cases, our assessment results have led churches to pray about pursuing new ministries and new ways of engaging with their congregations and communities. Pastors have also been encouraged to revisit some theological basics in their preaching when the assessment reveals that the congregation has a limited (or incorrect) understanding in a certain area.
Offering Prayerfully Considered Recommendations
With all the church assessments we conduct at VitalChurch, we don’t just deliver raw data once the assessment is complete. Our diagnostic team also provides insights and prayerfully considered recommendations in the ensuing report. In addition, we provide churches with opportunities to ask questions and talk through the assessment results and their implications. Even with our most basic church assessment—our online Church Vitality Survey—we include a follow-up call with one of our pastors. Our most comprehensive church assessment (Tier 3 – Comprehensive Church Assessment) includes an in-person visit from key members of the diagnostic team to discuss the report’s findings and our recommendations.
To find out more about the church assessment options offered by VitalChurch Ministry, visit our Diagnostic Analysis page. You can also feel free to contact us at any time! Someone from our helpful staff will get back to you in a timely manner to answer all your questions.