According to Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources and a long-time church consultant, 94 percent of churches are either declining or growing more slowly than the surrounding community. The majority of these churches don't know how to break free from mediocrity. The need for outside help has never been greater.
Perhaps you are interested in church consulting. The following self-assessment quiz will help you determine if you're cut from consulting cloth and will give some perspective on your readiness for entering this field.
Answer "yes" or "no" to the following seven questions:
1. Do you have more than five years' experience serving on a church staff?
2. Do you understand how a church can be unhealthy?
3. Do you feel a deep desire to help churches become healthy?
4. Do you currently have an adequate source of income?
5. Do you have any experience in the business world?
6. Do you know of at least three churches that are significantly unhealthy?
7. Have you ever been involved in resolving serious church conflict?
(Give yourself one point for every "yes," then find your score below.)
SCORE: 6-7
You have the highest chance of success if you decide to pursue church consulting.
You have the experience, desire and opportunity necessary to help struggling churches. You are a natural candidate for professional training. Give yourself a chance; pray for and seek a trial run at this endeavor. You may eventually consider establishing a consulting business. However, if you're between jobs, don't jump into consulting as your primary source of income.
SCORE: 4-5
You have a good chance of success if you decide to pursue church consulting.
If you scored in this range, you should not consider becoming a full-time consultant, but you still have what it takes to help revitalize churches. If you work at it, you'll secure some paid consultations, but don't limit yourself to only doing those. You have some qualities that can and should be put to use in churches, regardless of their ability to pay. Investigate various resources and training to equip you for this work.
SCORE: 0-3
You have a modest to low chance of success if you decide to pursue consulting.
As you evaluate your next steps in ministry and life, consider focusing your time, efforts and resources on your home church rather than others. Investing your talents in your own congregation will probably be more fruitful because you intimately know the people, issues and opportunities. Consultant training can refine your skills, but your main goal should be to support your church's leadership and laity in every way you can. Remember—the best leaders have the best teams behind them.
No matter what you scored, remember to pray. Listen for the Lord's leading. Search the Scriptures. Talk to pastors and other church consultants. Finally, take stock of what you expect from your consulting efforts. If your main goal is income, you are likely to be disappointed, at least in the short term. Make sure you can support yourself while you build your clientele.
Real success is measured by the churches you help. The best consultant candidates have an insatiable desire to glorify Christ and see his church expand on the earth.
Reprinted and adapted, with permission, from "Career Crossover" (B&H Publishing) by Tom Harper.
