Life Cycle Evaluation
Every church is a living organism -- always changing. It is important for each church to understand its current reality as to the placement on the life cycle. New Church Specialties has developed a Life Cycle Survey tool to help the local church identify its current placement on the Life Cycle.
The survey is taken by as many people in the church as possible and then the scores are compiled and NCS will provide a report as the placement on the Life Cycle and several recommendations based on the current reality. To order the Life Cycle survey, please e-mail Lonnie Bullock at office@newchurchspecialties.org or call 480-659-2547. The cost for the Life Cycle is $50.00.
Characteristics of the places in the Life Cycle
Birth
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The fuel that drives the church is a dominant vision.
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The church is living out its core values and mission.
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The church seeks to establish healthy patterns of worship, outreach and discipleship.
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There are no formal outreach programs and infrastructure in place.
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There is no formal discipleship plan in place.
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Members of the original leadership team turnover.
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The church asks the question “Who are we?”
Growth
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There is a passion to fulfill spiritual vision.
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The church develops intentional outreach/assimilation strategies.
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The church formally organizes as an entity.
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There is intentional fellowship, care ministry, and leadership development and kingdom involvement.
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There is an understanding of core values and belief systems.
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The church has a clearly defined worship style.
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There is implementation of a lay mobilization strategy.
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Need for adequate facilities an issue.
Maturity
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Congregation in its prime, relaxed, successful, clear vision and positive future.
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Feels it can accomplish anything.
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People connected involved, discipleship and spiritual growth taking place.
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Worship services are considered excellent.
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Attendance as large as it has ever been.
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Successful quantitative and qualitative ministries and activities.
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Well known in the community.
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Formal management systems working well.
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Overall congregation beginning to age.
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Finances at an all time high.
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Relaxed.
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Success is its vision.
Plateau
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Vision no longer dominant.
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Passive - past its prime.
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Focus is how to sustain and institutionalize gains of the congregation.
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No new initiatives that involve risk.
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A sense that what we are doing is working.
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No felt need for change; finances are excellent.
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Fastest growing demographic group - senior adults.
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Children and youth under 18 plateau or in decline.
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Selected groups/portion of congregations morale declining.
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Programs at qualitative height replacing vision.
Decline
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Worship attendance declining.
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Quality drops/programs in decline/disintegrating.
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A time of nostalgia usually ending in anger regarding the loss of the past.
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Looks for something or someone to blame.
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Finances are down.
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Confidence in ability of the pastor to lead diminishes.
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The way things used to be is the prevalent talk.
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Dysfunction starts to creep in.
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No longer a good place to invite friends, etc.
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Desire for new and younger pastor and programs.
Drop Out
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People begin to drop out of ministry positions.
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Ministry Positions often not filled.
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Worship life is full of precious memories, homecomings, and anniversaries.
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Congregation afraid to take any risks that might diminish the precious few resources it has left.
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The most significant numbers counted in old age congregations are the number of funerals, the number of people who are home-bound or in the nursing section of senior adult housing.
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As long as resources are available, old age congregations have the ability to survive long past any viable pro-active ministry life.
Death
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The congregation is now at subsistence level.
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Often outside support is needed to maintain the ministry
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Pastor becomes bi-vocational.
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Low morale among the congregation.
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Little hope for a new future.
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A preaching station or chaplaincy ministry
