What would happen if the church you lead or attend ceased to exist? Would the community even miss it? For too many churches, the answer to these questions would unfortunately be no! The church in America finds itself in a difficult position, with waning influence, aging leadership and in an overall state of decline. Bottom line, many churches have drifted from the purpose God originally called them.

So what can we do? Maybe the solution is to keep it simple and go back to the basics. Jesus gave His mission statement in Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." He adds texture to this statement and commissions His followers in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ... and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Then in the book of Acts, the church is born, and in Acts 2:42-47, we get a glimpse into this Spirit-empowered community of believers and the functions of a healthy church.

A healthy church pursues and obeys God passionately (Worship), engages and maintains loving relationships (Connect), develops and mobilizes its people (Grow), acts with clear direction and outward focus (Serve), and reproduces and multiplies His mission in other people and other places (Go). When these functions are present, and a discipleship pathway from cradle to grave is created, then any church can experience momentum and growth!

Here are few resources that may prove helpful as ministry leaders seek to improve the health of their church:

• Worship: Immediate Obedience by Rod Loy, Life With God by Richard Foster and The Blessed Life by Robert Morris.
• Connect: Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church by Mark DeYmaz, Sticky Church by Larry Osborne and Simple Church by Thom Rainer.
• Grow: Ready, Set, Grow by Scott Wilson, Growing Disciples Organically by Don Dietrich and Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley.
• Serve: Servolution by Dino Rizzo, Strategic Church by Frank Damazio and Act Normal by Scott Wilson.
• Go: Fusion by Nelson Searcy, Churchless by George Barna and David Kinnaman and The God Test by Rice Broocks.

Vibrant and healthy churches don't have to be a mirage or something we reminisce about. They are achievable if we follow the blueprint of Scripture. Spirit-empowered healthy churches are still the hope of the world. These churches are not only noticeable, but irreplaceable as they bring hope and life to the people and places they touch.

As senior director of leadership and church development for the Assemblies of God, Chris Railey is passionate about changing lives through the development of healthy leaders. He has held various academic and pastoral teaching positions, and is now part of the resourcing team at myhealthychurch.com.

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