Assessments

The assessment is similar to going to the doctor for a check-up.  It evaluates the church's health and identifies strengths and weaknesses.  Recommendations are made that if implemented will lead to increased health and effectiveness.  The Region has conducted more than 20 assessments to date with positive results.

ABC of the Northwest  Assessment Process for Local Churches

Numerous churches are taking advantage of this new tool the Region is offering its churches. The fundamental goal of the assessment process is to assist congregations in becoming healthier and more mission-focused, for the Glory of God and the advance of His Kingdom.

By nature organizations become so caught up in the day-to-day routines they often overlook emerging opportunities for ministry or recognize systemic roadblocks to success. People involved in business and education are familiar with the advantages of outside eyes evaluating their organizations. Churches can benefit in like kind from external assessments. The assessment process is designed to objectively evaluate a congregation’s strengths and weaknesses. Specific recommendations are given to capitalize on strengths along with remedial steps for minimizing the impact of weaknesses. The expected result is a quicker shift towards increased growth and outward focus as the church implements the recommendations of the assessment.

Compelling reasons for conducting a Church Assessment:

• Determination of your church’s health and potential for growth
• Unbiased analysis of present ministries
• Provide counsel for ministry opportunities
• Identify barriers to effectiveness
• Leverage positive change
• A major step towards health and outward focus

The Assessment Process typically includes:

• Gathering of historical, financial and demographic information
• All-Church Online Survey
• Conducting focus groups and Individual Interviews
• Determining the church’s Life Cycle
• On site visit with observations of worship, teaching and fellowship gatherings
• Assembly and analysis of all data
• Verbal report covering the assessment’s conclusions to the entire congregation – typically conducted on Sunday evening

The Online Survey portion of the Assessment includes the following:

• ABCNW creates and provides the survey instrument
• Survey is administered online over the Internet
• Paper copy of the survey made available for non-Internet users
• ABCNW analyzes the data and reports findings and recommendations to leadership

Reporting

• A summary report in PowerPoint format with strategic recommendations is presented to leaders and the congregation at the conclusion of the assessment weekend
• A published summary of the Online Survey results
• Opportunity for questions to be directed to the ABCNW consultant or team is included in the reporting process
• Recommendations for follow-up coaching, training and ministry mapping

Cost
(These prices apply only to ABC of the Northwest churches supporting the Region through regular missions giving. These costs are heavily underwritten by the Region as a service to its constituent congregations. Typical street cost for an assessment runs $6,000 to $16,000.)

• For churches averaging less than 100 in worship attendance: $10 per average Sunday morning worship attendance plus expenses
• Churches over 100 in average Sunday worship attendance: $1,000 plus expenses (travel, hotel and meals)
• The Senior Pastor must be an active member of a Leadership Learning Community
• A church experiencing financial constraints may request a scholarship from the Region to assist with expenses of the assessment

To schedule an assessment contact:

Dr. Charles Revis
Executive Minister of the ABC of the Northwest
(208)777-2733
execminister@abcnw.org