Consulting Help Archives - Helping Churches Thrive

Church Health Assessments

The Value of a Fresh Perspective We’ve all had the experience: We’ve walked into a store, a restaurant or a church and were very quickly frustrated. We couldn’t find the Hispanic foods section, or the men’s socks or the rest rooms. Everything seemed to be designed for the people who are already there. You weren’t…

Comprehensive Church Health Assessments

Overview The Comprehensive Church Health Assessment is an opportunity for an evangelical congregation of any size to get a fresh, outsider’s look at its ministries, for a minimal cost. All assessment results are kept strictly confidential. With the church’s permission, Church Health Consultant Brian Thorstad may be assisted by one or more assessors-in-training, the…

The Seven Steps Of The Complete Church Assessment

1. Prayer and informing of the congregation by the pastor and board 2. The self-study materials are prepared by the church and sent to the Church Health Consultant 3. A demographic survey (Percept) is purchased by the church and a church health survey is completed by church members (I recommend the Lawless Group’s survey)….

A Little More Detail On Brian’s Consulting Work

Help for SOLO and SENIOR PASTORS: Monthly, leadership-oriented coaching sessions via phone or Zoom “Listening ear” coaching/counseling sessions Revitalization leadership training, by way of Becoming Effective Leaders (BEL) groups of 3-8 pastors. BEL group participants meet monthly for nine months and gain leadership and church revitalization skills in the context of personal coaching and great…

Surviving or Thriving: Options for the Declining Church

Here’s the bad news… 65-90% of American Protestant churches are plateaued or declining in attendance. 1% of America’s Protestant congregations close their doors each year. The average congregation of about 75 in Sunday attendance wins less than one adult unbeliever to Christ per year. Most churches believe that they can keep doing the same…

Three Ways Revitalizing Your Church Is Like Remodeling Your Home

“Revitalizing your church is like remodeling your house: It will take more time, cost more money and create a bigger mess than you ever could have imagined. But in the end, it’s worth it.” Anonymous I have loved that observation for a long time now, and…

The Small Church, Post-Pandemic, Survival Guide

Everybody knows that churches were hit hard by the COVID pandemic shutdowns: Theologically liberal churches lost large percentages of their attendees who don’t seem to be returning. Many of these congregations are closing their doors. May these buildings be re-occupied by gospel proclaiming “re-start” churches soon, for the glory of God! Larger evangelical churches lost…

Becoming Effective Leaders (BEL) Groups For Pastors

Those of us who serve Jesus as pastors deeply long to lead churches which are powerfully used by God to make real disciples – devoted followers – of our Savior. We want to lead disciple-making, transformational churches and we don’t want to just “spin our wheels” until it’s time to retire. But how do we…

This Old Church: Begin Your Revitalization With An Assessment

I heard it again on Sunday, described a little more eloquently this time than in the past. The homeowner and contractor told me how he had remodeled several homes, each time living in them during the process. He was grateful to have had the same wife with him throughout the whole adventure. As I had…

Surviving Those No-Win Pastoral Situations, Part Two

“I am greatly encouraged. In all our troubles, my joy knows no bounds.” …