Church Health Ideas

In 2005 the AGK office adopted and began sharing the Church Life Model of church health. Since then, many of our churches have begun using this model with positive results. This model provides a great, overall picture of what it takes for complete health in the local church body - Pentecostal spirituality, spiritual community, ministries and discipleship, comprehensive outreach, leadership and management. Below you can read and share practical ideas that have been helpful in increasing life and activity in one of these vital areas of church health.

For more information about this model visit our leadership structure page and follow the link to the Church Life Resources website.

Posted on Mon, July 12, 2010 by AGK

« Go Back

4 comments (Add your own)

1. Mark Lehman wrote:: 10 years ago when we arrived in Pittsburg the book "Conspiracy of Kindness" was strongly recommended to me. After reading it, and the companion book, "101 Ways To Reach Your Community," we got started with Servant Evangelism. Find them both at amazon.

Bottles of water, cocoa, tailgates, etc. This has been a tremendous way for us to be noticed, and to make umpteen thousands of pre-evangelism connections.

Reports on recent outreach's: http://flagchurch.blogspot.com/search?q=outreach
Tue, July 13, 2010 @ 11:13 AM
2. Jake Newman wrote:: My wife Lea and I moved to Kinsley a little over 2 years ago. Our church literally is on the other side of the tracks in our town and many people avoided coming to it just because of their misconceptions about Pentecostals. We moved to the town in April and I walked anywhere I needed to go in the town until that winter. I became known as the "Pastor of the AG church that walks everywhere." People would stop me on the streets just to meet me after hearing I was new to town. I did this so that each time I encountered someone on the street I could open a dialogue with them. This small step took our church from the other side of the tracks to the front steps of people in our community.
Tue, July 20, 2010 @ 10:02 PM
3. Marty Freeman wrote:: As most pastors, I'm always looking for a new approach, new idea, but have found that the most important aspect of church health is the pastor's health. Everything flows from the top, like it or not, and everyone follows our cue. I have found the more healthy, secure, confident I am, the better the church's overall health. People often come to church looking for answers and looking for healing. When wounded sheep discover your church is a safe place, they attach. When the lost find out your church is safe, even for a broken life in sin, they attach, feeling secure enough to belong, then they will listen, receive and believe. When the passionate, healthy worshipper finds out there is a clear, healthy vision, they attach, sensing there is a healthy atmosphere in which the Spirit can move. They energize others in the church because they often are looking for a place to serve, a place where their gifts can be realized.

None of this is possible if the pastor feels insecure, intimidated or unclear with his God-given vision for that church. Wounded people wound people. We must earnestly strive for our own spiritual and emotional health, so the weaknesses in others will not exploit our own hurts or unresolved wounds.

I continually ask myself and my staff if everyone, regardless of why they come, sense the security and safety of the Lord. They will when we as leadership feel safe and secure.

This bit of advice may not fall into one of the four church health areas specifically, but I think it actually is vital to all four. When we, as pastor, are healthy...spiritual vitality, discipleship, community and outreach will all flourish. Your best ideas for each area will actually come up through your people...they'll feel safe and confident to ask permission to serve, to worship, to lead...and you'll find your real challenge is keeping all your happy congregants busy enough!

Marty Freeman
Tue, August 3, 2010 @ 8:46 PM
4. Dr. Ron Nichols wrote:: I think that people are afraid of the churches b/c of what churches are doing. There is the misconception that the church is always after their money. We as a church must be willing to give away our money b/c in reality it is God's money. Food is the key here I believe. We are making plans to feed the entire working force at National Gypsom plant this Christmas. That is 116 employees. Next year, we will find another company to help. We are going to purchase either a Turkey or Ham and the fixins for a nice meal for each worker. Now, this meal will feed their entire family. This is a cost to us, but in the long run, we will reach more people b/c we are giving them money instead of asking for money.
A very simple plan that I use is to go to an area you want to target with your folks. At the door you have in your hand a small gift bag with a Pentecostal Evangel; paper telling your church times; a box of mac/cheese; bag of rice;bag of dry beans. Ring the door bell and say this."Hi, we are so and so from so and so church and we wanted to come by and give you this gift." Don't ask them to church. The paper has that on it. Just give them a gift; hence, giving away God's money again. It works.
Sun, August 8, 2010 @ 8:34 AM

Add a New Comment

Your Name:

Your Email/URL (Optional):

Your Comment:

Enter the code you see below:
code

Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.