What is a healthy church?
"[A] congregation that increasingly reflects God's character as his character has been revealed in his Word."
- Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church?

The Church Health Team is convinced that to become Great Commission congregations we must become captivated by the greatness of our majestic God. It is as we behold Jesus the King that we are “transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). To that end, we strive to provide resources, training and support to help make “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24) central in all our churches.

The pages listed in the left menu provide information on strategic planning, leadership and innovative churches - all are important areas in connection with church health. As you view the pages, let us know if we can assist you in any way. The vitality of the local church is central in God’s plan to reveal His glory to a watching world. We want to do whatever we can to see that happen.

Essential Church Conference
Why do more than two-thirds of 18- 22 year olds leave the church? Thom and Sam Rainer reveal the answer to this question in their book, Essential Church: Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts. “Churchgoing students drop out of the church because it is not essential to their lives.”

So, what does an essential church look like? According to the authors, it has four major components: “First, the church has learned to simplify. Second, the church moves its members to deepen their knowledge of God’s Word and His truths. Third, the church has high expectations of its members. Fourth, an essential church is committed to helping its members multiply spiritually.” Thom and Sam commented on each of these components at the Essential Church Conference, April 28, 2009 at Apex Baptist Church near Raleigh, North Carolina. Click here for more information about the conference.