Church Health??

In my ministry career I have had the privilege to be on the learning end of some pretty unique church situations. The term "Church Health" or is this church "Healthy" has come up a few times. My church situation in Saint Petersburg, Florida seemed to be a great church. I loved my time at this church, in fact it was my first full-time employment in the ministry. But what seemed to be a good ministry, church, situation, digressed into a non healthy body real fast. The senior minister and I had and still do have a great relationship. We would come up with ideas, or read what someone else is doing in the ministry and would immediately retool the idea and make it our own and put it into practice. On many occasions we would have several visitors proclaim this is the greatest church they had visited or this place rocks, what you guys are doing here...we have not seen in church before, we will be back. They never did come back.

Through much prayer and sleepless nights the senior minister and I decided with the consent of the "elders" and a so called "church consultant" to close the church body known as Northeast Christian Church. It was a sad day and yes you read right "closed down". We allowed the local churches to come in and put their name on things that might help there particular ministry situation. We had a last service complete with long time guests and some of our missionaries we support, which by the way got ten percent of what we sold the building for. It was a great death for this particular body....or was it?

Since the closing of the church in October '06 I have had misgivings about what I was able to take part in. What seemed to be good at the time has now been a constant prayer of forgiveness to our most gracious Lord. Part of the senior ministers and my severance packages was to go and get trained and certified as Church Consultants. Because the thoughts of my senior minister and me were and still are...We are not going to allow this to happen again. So as we took the training and began the certification process, one thing kept coming to our heads...Our church consultant didn't do it like this???

Now having gone through Church Centrals Church consultant training and now on the cusp of being trained and certified through Church Doctor Ministries I know for a fact that our church consultant might not have been the most trained or qualified person to handle the Northeast situation. In both of my training experiences closing a church down really was not an option to be discussed. The education was more like do whatever you have to, to save a church.

Which brings me to the point of the blog, if you are in a unhealthy church situation, or have lost direction, or the leadership doesn't understand 21st century ministry get some trained help. You do not want to close a church down, the repercussions are huge. This has really messed with my head. I keep asking God to forgive me. I keep thinking that I could have done something more to stop the closing from happening. If you are looking for help in determining your situation please get some good help that will come alongside of you and your ministry team to help you determine the best coarse of action. I for one being one who has" been there and done that" would love to talk with you and your team to at least help guide the ship so to speak.
There are all kinds of tools out there to help with any church situation. Worship studies, demographic studies, church health surveys, on-site visitation, you name it there are tools out there. My prayer is that you get qualified and trained people behind you so you can be part of the vibrant church of the 21st century.

Lets talk,

R