The Healthy Church Program

...until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. (Eph 4:13 Message)

The Need for Healthy Churches

Why Healthy Church?

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)

The Church exists to help people reach their God-given destiny. For that to happen, churches need to be safe places. Places where people can develop, flourish, and grow.

The Healthy Church Program is needed because churches carry enormous responsibility for the spiritual health, well-being, and development of people. Without intentional evaluation, unhealthy patterns, leadership blind spots, cultural weaknesses, or declining discipleship can remain unnoticed until significant damage is done.

Many churches operate primarily on perception, tradition, or instinct, yet effective stewardship requires clarity as well as passion. Healthy Church provides a structured and honest way to assess what is really happening beneath the surface, helping leaders identify strengths to build on, risks to address early, and opportunities for healthier growth. The goal is to help churches remain spiritually healthy, missionally effective, and safe places where people can grow, flourish, and move toward their God-given purpose.

Examination as a biblical imperative

“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks…” (Proverbs 27:23-24)

There are literally dozens of scriptures about the need to examine. Understanding our current state is vital to intentionally charting a route to our future. And yet so often we miss this intentional examination... and that, at our peril. Consider David in 1 Chronicles 12. Among the mighty warriors who joined him, numbering in the tens of thousands, we note that there were also 200 from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. In David’s strategy for victory, he saw the importance of intelligence.

The bible is clear that each one should test his own work" (Gal 6:4). Then, we can use that information intentionally, as it has been said, “What gets measured gets managed.”

See Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2; 1 Timothy 4:16; 1 Cor 13:5; Gal 6:4; Psalm 139,23 etc...

The Healthy Church Program. (Overview)

The Healthy Church Program will eventually consist of two modules. Pulse and 360 Matrix. (Coming in Spring 2027)

The Church Pulse generally takes place over eight days and is delivered digitally via an online questionnaire. It can be accessed via a QR code on a smartphone or via a computer. For those in the church who do not have access, the church can use tablets on a table at the back, with stewards helping.

Pulse - Key diagnostic questions put to attendees that are soundly based upon the five key metrics that Jesus gave to the church (Discipleship, Worship, Belonging, Evangelism and Service)

360 - The Senior Leader and SLT complete an online 360, with around 20 of those questions dovetailing into the church Pulse.

Generally, on diagnostic questions, the following rationale is used:

Diagnostic questions are recorded “Out of six”

Scores of 0-3 = Red. Urgent action is needed.

Scores of 3.1-5 = Amber. Action is needed.

Scores of 5-6 = Green. Healthy score.

This information then goes through software that generates a basic report showing the outcomes.

Those outcomes are then analysed by an experienced Church Consultant, who then develops a discussion/Action Plan and presents the findings to the church.

What are the Benefits of Running Pulse

After the data has been run through several sophisticated programs, including AI, it is analysed by a facilitator/Consultant.

Reports are generated, showing areas of celebration and those that may require attention, and then presented to the SLT.

It is anticipated that eventually, churches that complete the program will be issued a Healthy Church logo for their website, which will direct prospective attendees to an HC website outlining the Quality Control elements to which the church has subscribed. (In process)

An Action Plan is generated, outlining all key results and suggested pathways/discussion points. A Facilitator/Consultant reviews the results and adds commentary. It is geared toward bringing about change and action.

Safeguarding is a key element. Within the Pulse, participants can seek advice from Safeguarding organisations if needed. This is important because churches are then seen as proactive in safeguarding rather than reactive.

Pulse is an independent QC framework that shows that the church is keen to be transparent.
Pulse provides missional indicators as to the church's efficacy with the five outcome metrics that Jesus gave her. (Discipleship, Worship, Belonging, Evangelism and Service.)
Pulse is proactive in Safeguarding, intentionally asking for feedback.
Pulse gives a "next step" approach, whilst celebrating its successes, it also helps churches roadmap potential solutions to areas that need attention.
Pulse helps church attendees feel that their voice is important.