Five Reasons To Embrace Natural Church Development

By: Gary Rohrmayer

How can the Natural Church Development Survey help your church?

1. The survey will close the gap between lay leaders and pastoral staff.

Pastors sold out to the cause of Christ think about ministry 24/7. How much time do your committed lay leaders think about ministry in the local church? As a layperson in my church, I now know the answer to that question. Not as much as the pastor thinks! This mental focus alone can cause a large gap of misunderstanding. The pastor feels the church’s needs are not necessarily what the congregation perceives. The NCD Survey is a great way to close that gap of misunderstanding and constructively bring more harmony and health into the church.

I can’t tell you how often pastors have said, “My staff and I thought we knew what the weak systems were in our church, but we were completely caught off guard by the results. If we had gone in our direction, we would have wasted so much time, created confusion, and addressed only our felt needs as staff and not the real needs of the congregation.”

2. The survey will help you identify the weak systems that needs to be addressed in your ministry from the perspective of your key leaders.

I am a big proponent of systems theory. Too often, we think we have a people problem, but we really have a systems problem. I define church systems as reproducible and interconnected processes by which the church actualizes its values and achieves its mission.

Every healthy church values leadership, evangelism, spiritual formation, service, loving relationships and small groups. So the question is, do you have a reproducible and interconnected process that:

  • Empowers leaders into the harvest?
  • Ensures inspirational worship gatherings?
  • Encourages evangelism throughout the community?
  • Stimulates spiritual passion in every believer?
  • Promotes healthy relationships in your community of faith?
  • Connects people in healthy small groups?
  • Deploys people into ministry?
  • Builds organizational health?

The Natural Church Development Survey will help pinpoint the underdeveloped system that needs attention. Thus, it gives you a starting point in your strategic planning process.

3. The survey reveals the morale and needs of your key leaders and influencers in the church.

The quality side of ministry is soft and subjective because it is based on people’s attitudes, feelings and perspectives. The NCD Survey can give you an accurate read on the morale of your key leaders. If a church scores a total average in the 50s, it has above-average morale.  The church that scores below 50 has below-average morale. In my work, the highest score I have seen is 77. Not only is this church one of the fastest-growing churches in our region, but it also has a high level of optimism that fuels the growth.

From this sample profile, we see that the key leaders in the church feel that the church is in a great place. This average score of 57 is considered an above-average health score, which means that the quality of the services is in a healthy range. They might be experiencing some level of numerical growth but are probably plateaued and facing a growth barrier. NCD International reports that a church whose average score is 65 or above is experiencing numerical growth.

What else can we learn from this snapshot?

Areas of Strength: Here, the leaders felt their church had a vital worship experience, a high level of relational harmony and a great sense of spiritual passion with sound systems and structures.

Areas for Focus: The leadership system needs to be fully developed here. Through this score, your leaders need to be empowered for ministry, spiritual development, better delegation, more precise goals, more robust communication within the leadership structure and more support in their ministries through coaching.

Quality growth is measured by your critical leaders’ attitudes, feelings and perspectives toward the church’s programs, people and progress.

4. The survey provides a measurable process for improving the quality of your ministry.

There are two ways to measure the health of your church.

  1. Quantitative Growth is built around critical numbers and their percentages.
    • New Visitor Ratio: How many new visitors do you need in an average month to grow your church?
    • Baptism Ratio: What is a healthy percentage between the average worship attendance and the number of baptisms annually?
    • Giving Ratio: What is a healthy dollar amount given per person on an average Sunday?
    • Serving Ratio: What is a healthy percentage of average attendees and those engaged in a ministry?
    • Small Group Ratio: What is a healthy percentage of those attending on an average weekend and those engaged in a small group?
    • Membership Ratio: What is a healthy percentage of those attending on an average weekend and those who are committed members?
    • Leadership Ratio: How many new leaders are added to your leadership community annually?
  2. Qualitative Growth is measured through the attitudes, feelings and perspectives towards people, programs and the progress of the church.

In doing the NCD Survey every year, you can see the measurable results of your team’s work in improving that weak area of your ministry and how that affects all the other ministry areas. Here is an example of one church’s journey:

This church put significant energy into improving the structures or systems which increased by 14 points. They improved the overall quality of the ministry by 20 points. This means they significantly raised the morale of their leaders. Six out of the eight areas had positive growth; only two areas slipped in quality. This could be interpreted as people focusing too much on structures and systems, and because of that, spiritual formation and relationships took a hit. In addressing their new area of focus, which is need-oriented evangelism, they will need to focus on the how-to by strengthening that area with a greater sensitivity to relationships and a more profound dependence on God in the process.

Doing repeated surveys will help you raise the quality of your ministry and also help you tackle it more constructively and sensitively.

5. The survey helps the pastor and leaders think of ministry in terms of process.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul wrote, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-14)

When Paul speaks of equipping, he is talking about a training process. A process that the KJV refers to as “perfecting the saints for ministry.” NCD helps the church think through and answer the following questions:

What is our process for multiplying leaders throughout the church?

  • What is our process for equipping people in evangelism?
  • What is our process for stimulating spiritual formation in our new believers and faithful followers?
  • What is our process for promoting healthy relationships throughout the church?
  • What is our process for launching small groups?
  • What is our process for deploying people into ministry and service?
  • What is our process for ensuring that our worship services are inspirational?

Bonus Reason for Embracing NCD

Most churches have a weakness that they tend to ignore; they only want to grow further in their strengths.

To say “build on your strengths” as a universal rule is misleading. A church must build on its strengths and deal with its weaknesses. No church can function well without those eight systems functioning at a high level.

A church’s weak area may be evangelism, for example. They are likely to go on teaching because they are good at it, but they should direct more spiritual energy towards evangelism.

It’s like a human body. If you have problems with your heart and need surgery, the doctor cannot say, “You have a nice voice. Focus on singing.” You need heart surgery first. Then, you can build on your strengths. Building on your strengths while dealing with your weaknesses is the mature and balanced way to approach church health.

From now until the end of May, Converge MSC wants to make an investment in your church with a special promotion for any churches registering for the Natural Church Development Survey! The surveys usually cost $400, but if you sign up between now and the end of May, you will only pay $300. You need only to sign up now, but you can schedule the NCD for later in the year. Sign-up now!

Navigating New Horizons at Converge MSC

Discover more about the promising future of Converge MSC in our latest article featuring Gary Rohrmayer’s upcoming retirement and his successor, Danny Parmelee. Read all about the details of the transition and explore what lies ahead as Gary and Danny share their insights and experiences.

Gary Rohrmayer's Interview

Can you recount a moment in your career when you felt the weight of a decision that deeply impacted your life and the lives of those around you? How did you navigate through this challenging time, and what role did prayer and discernment play in your decision-making process?

Yes, it was over 25 years ago when we left the church we started and pastored for 10 years. Standing in front of the congregation and asking them to send us out as missionaries was one of the most difficult decisions we ever made. I remember the moment my wife Mary and I joined our trembling hands together praying God would be honored by this step of faith and protect our church and our family, and grant us success in this decision. That was bathed in prayer, fasting, and wise counsel by those outside the circle of being personally affected by the decision. As we decided to step down and turn the leadership over to a successor we entered the same process with the same fear and trembling.

Reflecting on your journey, what lessons have you learned about the importance of leadership transitions and succession planning? How do you approach these transitions with empathy and understanding, ensuring that both the organization and individuals involved feel supported and valued?

Key words to understand, embrace, and apply during leadership transition and succession planning: Integrity, Clarity, Consistency, and Simplicity.

Integrity: The leader needs to know in his heart is ready to move on and let go of the position. Spirituality meaning God has released him from this call and has given him another assignment. For me, it was a clear draw to focus my energies on my Axelerate.org coaching and consulting ministry. I also needed to be financially, relationally, and emotionally ready to step away. Doing a self-appraisal in these areas was very helpful. What I like to say to leaders is, “If you can’t let go then don’t go!” The moment I asked Danny to be my successor, I knew I had to be 100% ready because it would be carelessly evil to say I changed my mind after asking him and getting his hopes up for the position.

Clarity: Outlining a clear timetable and process.

Succession Steps Outline

      1. Invite a Successor to Pray – Spring 2022
      2. Inform Board Chair – Summer 2022
      3. Inform Board – Fall 2022
      4. Board begins one-year vetting process – Winter-Fall 2023
      5. Board Nominates Candidate to Conference
      6. Delegates – Fall of 2023
      7. Candidate and President Succession Tour Together – Winter 2023 to Fall 2024
      8. VP First Sabbatical – May-July 2024
      9. Candidate Voted on at Triennial Meeting – Vote at Triennial Meeting Fall of 2024
      10. President Coached/Mentored by outgoing President – Fall 2024 to 2025

Consistency: Working on the plan and checking in with the key players at key moments. Every month Danny would check in during our normal one-on-one staff time. I check in with our chairman Jeff Forester to review where we were at in the plan and the process as well. At every Executive Board Meeting, we would review with them how we were executing each phase of the plan to make sure everything was going as planned and that we were not missing anything.

Simplicity: Succession Plans get messy when people get messy. I am amazed at how many people feel that there are hidden agendas, untold stories, or how stories get made up and embellished by others. Simplicity rests in the integrity of the leader’s character, the board’s confidence in that leader, and the nominees’ trust in the leader’s character. I am so glad this process has been steeped in simplicity because when people ask me tough questions I can say with confidence that this whole process was initiated by me two years ago through the prompting of the Holy Spirit and is being confirmed every step of the way by submitting to the process our region has set up to make decisions like this one.

Could you share a personal anecdote about a time when you found yourself navigating through a period of significant change or transition within Converge MSC? How did you manage any uncertainty or apprehension among team members, and what strategies did you use to foster a sense of unity and purpose during this time?

When there was a vacancy in the National Office for the Presidency of Converge in 2014, many thought that I should apply for the position but after much prayer Mary and I decided that it was not a direction we desired to go at the time, instead, we decided to endorse Scott Ridout for the position so I wrote an endorsement letter and had the entire staff proofread it so they would realize that I was not eager to apply to the position and squash any talk to the contrary. It seemed to help us keep focused on the task at hand as we were experiencing historic growth at that time.

As you reflect on your leadership journey, can you share a moment when you felt the power of open communication and transparency in fostering a sense of community and belonging within Converge MSC? How do you prioritize building meaningful connections and relationships, especially during times of transition?

Every one of the Succession Tour Meetings has been very meaningful to me as I have seen more and more pastors and leaders make an emotional connection with Danny as the next leader of Converge MSC. Whether it is in Haiti, throughout Florida, Chicagoland, Detroit, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. It thrills my heart to hear pastors and leaders praying with passion for Danny and his family as they seek God’s confirmation for this next appointment and assignment for ministry at our Connect Conference in October 2024. I feel nothing but a good sense of pride that the Holy Spirit is confirming what I have seen in Danny all along.

Danny Parmelee's Interview

Can you describe a pivotal moment in your journey with Converge, from your introduction to the organization as a college student to your current role as Vice President of Converge MidAmerica?

My introduction to Converge began in my freshman year of college when I attended a church that was part of Converge. The initial turning point came when the church’s pastor recognized my innate talents, suggesting they suited me well for church planting. This recognition not only validated my sensed calling to ministry but also clarified my path towards church planting.

Another defining moment was my decision to attend Bethel Seminary. Among several options, Bethel stood out and ultimately reinforced my connection with Converge, given its affiliation with the seminary. Upon graduating, Converge became my partner in church planting. This collaboration was a natural progression of my existing relationships within Converge, and their support was instrumental in realizing my vision to establish a church in Milwaukee, WI.

How has your experience as a church planter shaped your approach to leadership and ministry within Converge, particularly in your role of recruiting and training church planters?

My journey through the entire process of church planting has equipped me with a great understanding of its complexities and nuances. The hands-on experience I gained, applying the principles and tactics passed down to me, has enabled me to coach others and passed down what I learned. Being candid, this journey has also allowed me to guide new church planters in sidestepping some of the significant errors I encountered.

Moreover, founding epikos church has afforded me unique insights into managing churches of various sizes. I can relate with the small church planter who dreams big with just 25 members, navigate the challenges of a mid-sized church with a few hundred attendees and limited resources, and understand the dynamics of a large church with a substantial staff and budget. Although I’ve primarily served as the lead pastor of just one church, my experience spans across churches of multiple sizes, enriching my perspective and approach to church leadership not just church planting.

What led you to make the transition from leading Epikos Church to serving as Vice President of Converge MidAmerica, and how has this transition impacted your perspective on ministry and leadership?

People ask me this question all of the time. It was not an easy decision to make, to leave something that you’ve started and poured your life into. However, several factors provided me with comfort in making this transition. Foremost among these was the healthy state of epikos church. Our team consisted of highly capable staff, leaders, and a small army of volunteers. Notably, we had established a strong teaching team capable of sharing responsibilities, which is crucial.

Often, a church faces challenges when their lead pastor leaves, primarily if they are accustomed to hearing them preach every Sunday. Our approach, which involved multiple teachers, reassured me that the church would continue to thrive in my absence. Additionally, despite Epikos being in a phase of growth, I felt a led towards taking on a more significant role regionally.

I believed that my leadership skills could better serve a broader community, aiding church planters and pastors in expanding their church plants and churches, rather than focusing solely on the growth of the church I served.

Could you elaborate on your relationship with Gary Rohrmayer and its influence on your ministry journey, particularly in your decision to consider succeeding him as President of Converge MSC?

It’s crazy to think about, but I’ve known Gary for nearly two decades! During my initial phase of church planting, as I navigated through the assessment center and was gearing up for the launch, I was introduced to some pivotal leaders within Converge’s church planting network. Given my plans to plant in Wisconsin, it naturally followed that people suggested I connect with Gary.

At that time, Gary was actively involved with Converge National, in addition to his church planting efforts with Converge MidAmerica. In those formative years, I even participated in Gary’s church planting training sessions in Chicago. Many of the principles and concepts I absorbed then are the same ones I teach to our planters today. Indeed, contexts evolve, but the core fundamentals remain constant.

When I took the VP role in Church Planting, I hadn’t anticipated succeeding Gary. Yet I am profoundly thankful for this opportunity. As the transition nears, my enthusiasm to lead only grows. I am deeply appreciative of the systems and resources Gary has built over the years. Stepping into a role with such a well-laid foundation is exceptionally rare in ministry, and for that, I am immensely grateful.

As you reflect on your tenure with Converge and your potential future as President, how do you envision leveraging your gifts and experiences to further advance the mission and impact of Converge MSC?

During the succession tour, I emphasized my rallying cry to “relentlessly serve our pastors, planters, and churches.” I want this rallying cry to shape all the decisions that the Converge MSC Board and staff team make. As to the gifts and abilities to carry out our mission and vision I’d have to say that I attribute my ability to my leadership and strategic planning skills will be most relied upon.

Following our recent merger, we’ve seen significant growth. To maintain this momentum, it’s crucial to focus on aligning our staff and organizational structure to be effective. Ensuring we have robust systems and a healthy, highly productive team in place is essential for supporting our pastors, planters, and churches in their growth. I also look forward to utilizing technology to bolster how we serve our pastors.

What I mean by this, is that there are so many tools available that can help reduce redundant activities, freeing up more time to spend on leading the movement. Another phrase that I’ve been sharing on the succession tour is “High Tech, High Touch.” Using technology is not meant to replace real human interaction. Instead, tech can be used to free up more time for real relationships.

NCD to Navigate Church Growth

Author: Gary Ricci, MSC Church Strengthening Regional Director

The Problem

How do you decide what will help your church grow? Should we hire a worship director or invest in small group leaders? Are the systems of our church getting in the way of growth and need to be overhauled, or should we focus on a new outreach strategy for our community? Every church desiring to live out the Great Commision faces these challenges. One tool that my church and countless others have used to help navigate these questions is Natural Church Development or NCD.

The Basics

Natural Church Development, pioneered by Christian Schwarz, represents a holistic approach to church growth and health. At its core is the understanding that healthy churches are characterized by balance across eight key quality characteristics: empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, functional structures, inspiring worship services, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism, and loving relationships.

NCD surveys serve as diagnostic tools designed to measure these eight quality characteristics within a congregation. Congregants respond to a series of questions related to these aspects, providing quantitative data that offers insights into the church’s strengths and areas needing improvement. This data-driven approach empowers church leaders with valuable information to make informed decisions and implement targeted strategies for growth. Utilizing NCD every 1-2 years helps a church track its progress over a large course of time to see long-term trends and discover strategies that are not slaves to ministry trends or short-term crises.

Benefits of NCD

Identifying Strengths and Weakness: NCD surveys provide churches with a comprehensive assessment of their health, enabling leaders to identify areas of strength that can be leveraged for further growth, as well as weaknesses that require attention. This clarity helps prioritize efforts and resources effectively.

Fostering Unity and Engagement: Involving congregants in the survey process fosters a sense of ownership and unity within the church community. When individuals see their voices heard and their feedback valued, they become more engaged in the collective journey towards improvement.

Strategic Decision Making: Armed with data from NCD surveys, church leaders can make strategic decisions aligned with the congregation’s needs and aspirations. Whether it’s restructuring ministries, refining worship experiences, or enhancing small group dynamics, decisions are grounded in empirical insights rather than conjecture.

Catalyzing Growth: By addressing areas of weakness identified through NCD surveys, churches can overcome barriers to growth and vitality. Whether it involves nurturing leadership, fostering spiritual depth, or enhancing outreach efforts, targeted interventions can lead to transformative growth experiences for both individuals and the congregation as a whole.

Enhancing Accountability and Follow-up: Regularly conducting NCD surveys creates a culture of accountability within the church. It encourages ongoing reflection and follow-up actions to track progress and ensure that efforts to improve are sustained over time.

Aligning with Biblical Principles: The framework of NCD surveys aligns with biblical principles of church health and growth. By focusing on aspects such as empowering leadership, spiritual fervor, and community engagement, churches can fulfill their mandate to be vibrant, impactful communities of faith.

Case Study

In a recent NCD Survey I was involved in, the church discovered a weakness in its outreach effectiveness which NCD calls need oriented evangelism. They were engaged in outreach activities but not in a way their community responded to. The NCD gave the leadership some common language about the problem and allowed them to talk about it in non-accusatory ways. Everyone knew there was an issue but they hadn’t been able to talk about it openly. During our coaching session and the follow-up meetings, we brainstormed new approaches the church was excited to engage. Just a few months later they started to see new fruit of those efforts which brought a great excitement, renewed engagement and hope to the church.

The Process

If your church is interested in NCD simply complete this interest form, and we will connect you with a member of our staff to walk you through the process. Surveys can be completed on paper or digitally and are available in English and Spanish. Your church will need to gather 30 core congregants to take the survey, often at a pre- or post-service gathering or mid-week evening gathering. A short time later the church will receive the results and a member of our staff will meet with the pastor(s) and selected leaders to understand the results and walk through a follow-up/implementation plan. If you sign-up now through the end of May, you will receive our Church Health Month promo rate of $300.

As each one of us endeavors to lead our churches to greater kingdom effectiveness do not forget that you are not alone! We are here to join with you and support you at every step. We are Better Together!

Church-Health Month is Coming!

By: Gary Rohrmayer

May is the season in our calendar where we encourage churches to take a close look at both the quality and the quantity of their church’s ministry through taking the Natural Church Development Survey.
Natural Church Development (NCD) is a comprehensive approach to assessing and enhancing the health of churches, pioneered by Christian Schwarz. At its core, NCD focuses on identifying and cultivating the essential elements that contribute to the vitality and growth of a congregation. The NCD Survey serves as the foundation for this transformative process, offering valuable insights that empower churches to thrive.

The NCD Survey is not a mere checklist; rather, it delves into eight key systems that underpin a healthy church. These systems include empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, effective structures, inspiring worship services, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism and loving relationships. By assessing the quality of these systems, churches gain a holistic understanding of their strengths and areas that may need improvement, ultimately seeking to use their strengths to address their areas of concern.

One of the foundational elements of a healthy church, as revealed by the NCD Survey, is empowering leadership. This goes beyond traditional notions of leadership; it involves equipping and entitling every member to contribute their unique gifts and talents. Empowering leadership creates a culture where individuals feel valued and engaged, fostering a sense of ownership and shared responsibility within the congregation.

Gift-oriented ministry is another crucial aspect highlighted by the NCD Survey. It emphasizes the importance of aligning individuals with roles that resonate with their natural abilities and passions. When members are involved in ministries that align with their gifts, they are more likely to experience fulfillment and contribute meaningfully to the church’s mission.

Passionate spirituality is a dynamic characteristic that distinguishes healthy churches. It involves fostering a deep, vibrant relationship with God that permeates every aspect of the congregation’s life. The NCD Survey encourages churches to prioritize spiritual growth and cultivate an environment where individuals are inspired to pursue an authentic and passionate connection with their faith.

Effective structures represent the organizational framework that supports a healthy church. The NCD Survey prompts churches to assess their administrative systems and processes, ensuring they are working for the church and not against the church and its mission. A well-organized structure enables the congregation to operate smoothly and focus on its core mission.

Inspiring worship services play a vital role in the health of a church, as revealed by the NCD Survey. These services should engage and uplift the congregation, creating an atmosphere that facilitates meaningful encounters with God. The survey encourages churches to evaluate the impact of their worship services on the spiritual vitality of their members.

Holistic small groups are essential for fostering a sense of community and connection within a church. The NCD Survey emphasizes the importance of smaller connection points that go beyond mere social gatherings, providing opportunities for spiritual growth, accountability, support and effective ministry.

Need-oriented evangelism challenges churches to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to outreach. 

The NCD Survey prompts congregations to understand the specific needs of their community and tailor their evangelistic efforts accordingly. This targeted approach increases the relevance and effectiveness of the church’s outreach initiatives while seeking to equip every member as missionary in the sphere of influence.

Loving relationships are at the heart of a healthy church, according to the NCD Survey. It encourages congregations to prioritize the development of genuine, caring connections among members. A church characterized by love and unity is not only more attractive to newcomers but also provides a nurturing environment for growth and transformation.

In conclusion, the Natural Church Development Survey by Christian Schwarz offers a comprehensive and insightful framework for enhancing the health of churches. By assessing and cultivating empowering leadership, gift-oriented ministry, passionate spirituality, effective structures, inspiring worship services, holistic small groups, need-oriented evangelism and loving relationships, congregations can embark on a transformative journey toward greater vitality and impact. The NCD Survey empowers churches to identify their strengths and areas for improvement, ultimately guiding them on a path towards holistic health and growth.

From now until the end of May, Converge MSC wants to make an investment in your church with a special promotion for any churches registering for the Natural Church Development Survey! The surveys usually cost $400, but if you sign up between now and the end of May, you will only pay $300. You need only to sign up now, but you can schedule the NCD for later in the year. Sign-up now!