International Graduate School of Leadership

Steve Hobson

Church Health
Assignment C Guide

Ministry Analysis I - Due _____

Analyze a ministry you know well (e.g., church, military ministry, campus, market place), especially one you
minister in. Use principles from the course text and course notes as covered so far. Follow the steps below. Some
questions are church specific so adapt these as you can. This assignment will be graded not so much on giving
"correct" answers nor echoing text/notes; but more on the effort in pursuing a) a perceptive, insightful, specific,
ministry assessment/evaluation; and b) an improvement plan using concepts from the course notes & textbook.
Your suggested changes should be specific, practical, usable, and reasonable.

Assessment/Evaluation
1. Brief Intro of the Ministry (1/2 to 1 page) - Name, location, organizational affiliation, name of senior
leader and other key leaders. Note the age of the ministry, large group meeting (worship) attendance, % menwomen-youth. What is the target group or target area of the ministry? Include any other aspects of the ministry
that are important to understand, possibly: organizational structure (how authority is expressed), key
personalities, important part of the history that relates to the current dynamics, philosophy of small groups,
mission/vision, values, etc..
2. Metaphor Assessment (1 1/2 pages: Identity - corporate culture values) - From your observations,
which if the six church metaphors do you think the ministry emphasizes? Which metaphors are ignored?
Why - how can you tell? (See the chart: Household of God, Holy Nation of God, Body of Christ, Bride of
Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit, Vineyard of the Holy Spirit).
Considering the metaphor chart, evaluate: a) Is the ministry more task or people oriented? b) Organized or
spontaneous? c) Training or nurturing oriented? d) Upward, inward, outward? e) What changes need to be
made in the balance of the ministry?

3. Diagram and Evaluate the Ministry Infrastructure (2-3 pages) - Visualize how the existing group
meetings & structures of a ministry interrelate with each other.
DO NOT DRAW AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART!!
a. Draw the actual (not proposed) infrastructure using the symbols in the notes The Church As A System
An Organism, and the example below. Show graphically from bottom to top how the ministries and
groups in the church relate to the 3 basic levels of ministry (Build - caring restoration, Train - practical
strengthening, Send - insightful equipping). Remember, the shapes used for the groups reflect their
primary function and are not simply random decorations!
>>> Use the shapes to show the function of the group.
b. Include insight into the workings of the groups, noting the content and purpose of the group as
reflecting the class discussions. How do they relate to the level of ministry? Note connections
between groups, especially as people mature and need greater challenges. How do them move from
group to group? Are there standards?
c. Then analyze/evaluate on the effectiveness of the church groups as a disciple making system. Is the
church winning people to Christ, building them (caring restoration), training them (practical
strengthening) and multiplying them (insightful equipping) into gift-related ministry?
>>> How can the church improve as a disciple making system? Give specific suggestions.
d. Use the following generic symbols/shapes as you draw the infrastructure to show the primary
function of each group. Label each shape/symbol to show the purpose of the group. See below:

(Other symbols include the Leadership Community)

Covenant Group (smaller, high commitment, character

& skill development)

Administrative or task group (specify purpose/role)

This is usually not directly part of disciple making
system of groups.

Training group or class. Various sizes. (growth in

knowledge, some skills, usually limited duration)
May have prerequisites, closed after certain time.
Cell group open or closed (usually under 15).
Specify purpose (evangelistic, follow up, discipleship?)
Special needs support group. Various sizes. Open. Not
a regular affinity group, but designed to meet needs of a
special subgroup (widows, single moms, substance abusers)

Bridging Event. Short term, need meeting. Can be for

evangelism, or for recruiting people to cell groups

Larger groups, celebration or affinity group

Generally 15 + but depends more on how they function
(an affinity group like a womens fellowship, if only 10
ladies is not a necessarily a cell group) Open.

Outreaches that meet people where they are & draw them
into the church as they become spiritually open

See next page for an example.

3. Ministry Infrastructure (abbreviated example only, DO NOT not copy these words!!)
MINISTRY: _____________
(name)

INTRO Located. . . This is a small church (40 adults) with worship service, Bible Studies, occasional training
class (4SL, FU, worship seminar) and Deacon Board. The Prayer Chain is largely a phone network but the ladies
also meet together for an occasional group prayer meeting.

c. Multiply/Send?
Deacon
Board

(insightful equipping)

Occasional

Training Classes
b. Train
(practical strengthening)

Home BS
Cell
Prayer
Chain

Closed

Home BS
Cell

Closed

Home BS
Cell

Pastors

Open

Celebration Worship
Evangelistic Cell

Pastors Grp
Open

a. Build
(caring restoration)

Evangelism Event

Win
(outreach)

ANALYSIS:
Win: There is one Evangelistic Cell led by the pastor that is open and reaching out to new comers. It is ongoing.
The people come from . . . Regular attenders of the BS are encouraged and do invite friends from time to time. It is
very effective - with fun, warm hearted, & involves food/socials that open doors to friends. A couple attends
church, others not yet.
Occasionally the church holds an evangelistic event (e.g., concert, movie),
but follow up is not clearly intentional, except by church folks who invited friends.
Build/Win: This church has a lively, Christ-centered, worship service with contemporary music. Preaching is Bible
centered and encouraging. The gospel is part of the preaching and occasionally people are offered the opportunity
to trust Christ as Savior. Names of those responding are not collected and there is no follow up plan for them.
Train: There are three other Home Bible Studies: two led by the pastor, one by a Deacon. Two of the BS have been
going for over 6 months and are now essentially closed. They are studying books of the Bible knowledge
centered, little more. The groups are slowly growing in intimacy, but no skill training.
One of the BSs led by the pastor is open, people are invited to come in. It is a 15 wk study on marriage for
young couples, targeting new young families coming to the church. New comers to church are being invited to
come along with regular members. People can come into the group at any time, so it should stay open.
The Training Classes are offered when an outside ministry offers them (Campus Crusade or IGSL ministry week
team). Announcement is made in worship service and people are invited to come. No intentional recruiting. People
come and dont apply much. No reinforcement in Bible Studies or church. Pastor does not attend them. The Pastor
is not doing personal discipling/mentoring in a one-on-one or small group for leadership development.
The Deacon Bd meetings are only for church policy, direction issues. No training. Deacons are not much involved.
SUGGESTIONS: [this wld be expanded] There are missing elements in the system that can be addressed by the
pastor and leaders. Win: Follow up from events/worship is missing (contact info, people trained, etc); Build: Home
BS of pastor is effective for low level training; faithful people should be recruited for training classes. All home
BSs need balanced training and end dates so as to start afresh and reopen or people in BS trained to start new BS
for new people. Train: Pastor/Deacons should get training to run training classes regularly (disciplemaking topics:
follow up, leading discipleship groups, spiritual gifts, etc), then recruit growing disciples & train them to help with
follow up. Multiply: Pastor develops Deacons & other emerging leaders in high commitment, character/skill
oriented mentoring one-on-one or in small covenant group. They contribute to the system by teaching training
classes, helping encourage peoples growth, and leading affinity groups outreach like the pastors evangelistic cell.