When you visit the doctor, the first thing they do is check your vital signs—temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. These numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they do point to whether something might be wrong. A high fever isn’t the issue in itself, but it’s often a sign that your body is fighting something deeper. Churches, like people, also need regular checkups. They need to take their own “vital signs”—simple indicators that help leaders see if something’s off beneath the surface. For instance, attendance numbers for a church might be a vital sign. A decline in membership might indicate some deeper problem. Then again, it may not—because there could be very positive reasons for fewer people (like half the congregation became missionaries!) When there is a change in the graph, it triggers the attention of leadership to step back and evaluate what is happening.
What Are a Church’s Vital Signs?
Not everything measurable is important, but some metrics provide valuable insights into the health of your church. Here are some examples:
- Weekly attendance
- Financial giving
- Personal evangelism
- Leaders in training
- Salvations
- Baptisms
- New believers in discipleship
- Number of missionaries sent out
These aren’t the only signs of life, but they are signs. A dip in giving or discipleship could be a red flag—or it might mean God is calling your church to shift direction. Either way, tracking these helps your leadership stop, reflect, and respond.
From Sitting in Seats to Stepping Into Service
One vital sign that churches often overlook? Whether their members are being trained for ministry—not just taught.
Many churches are great at teaching. Sermons, Bible studies, theology classes—we’ve nailed the transfer of knowledge. But Jesus didn’t call us to fill heads. He called us to raise up disciples who can go out and serve, lead, and multiply. There is no room to debate that one of the jobs of a leader is to train leaders (Ephesians 4:11-12). If churches are going to produce personnel for cross-cultural ministries, they will have to deliberately equip the saints to do ministry.
That takes training—not just information, but transformation and preparation.
6 Steps to Start Training Missionaries and Leaders
If your church is serious about sending workers into the harvest, here’s an idea for where to begin:
- Commit to Training
This will cost time, energy, and even budget. It will eat into the pastors’ and other church leaders’ week, but Ephesians 4:12 is clear—leaders are to equip the saints for ministry. Training isn’t optional.
- Start With the End in Mind
What kind of disciple or leader are you trying to develop? Paint a vivid picture of what the person will be, know and do. Define the goal before building the curriculum and path.
- Identify the Raw Material
Not everyone should be trained for leadership—but every believer should be discipled. For leadership development, look for faithfulness (2 Timothy 2:1-2; Luke 16). Faithful people will steward the training investment well.
- Clarify Your Philosophy
Will your training be formal or relational? Classroom or mentorship? Academic or holistic? Decide now how your church will shape hearts, minds, and hands.
- Choose the Right Tools
You don’t have to build your own curriculum from scratch (though many are gifted in this way!) If there are resources that align with your church’s theology, culture and mission, don’t be afraid to start with that and adapt them if necessary.
- Create a Culture of Growth
Training needs to be modelled as lifelong learning by church leadership. The church’s culture should cultivate and support this – making it part of the body’s identity. Those who are currently serving should be encouraged to train someone else to do what they’re doing so that they can someday take their place.
The Bottom Line: Healthy Churches Reproduce
When churches regularly check their spiritual vital signs—and intentionally train their people—they position themselves to grow, send, and multiply. In fact, this may be the best indicator of church health.
So, how’s your church doing? Maybe it’s time for a checkup. If so, we’d love to come alongside you with free workshops and resources. Contact us if you’d like to take the next steps!
