We endeavor to be a Ministry of Excellence. While Pastor Marvin has detailed the 5 year plan according to the God given vision for this house, we must assess our progress towards those goals. This must be done simultaneously while empowering members (Full Life Coaches) and fulfilling ministry objectives (5 Star Team).

Why Five Star?

Several years ago, Pastor Marvin read a book entitled, “The Five Star Church”. One statement resonated with Pastor Marvin. This statement, “The only difference between a five star hotel and a motel was service. They each offered a bed and t.v., yet one offered additional amenities that emphasized service. This concept along with those outlined in a book entitled “Servant Leader” pricked his heart and initiated a prayer that would ask God to help him keep the ministry “service driven” meeting the needs of the family of faith and community at large. Further, he recognized that if the church operated as it was intended in scripture, his prayer would be answered. To that end, and endeavoring to be held accountable, he developed the Five Star Team. This team is a cross section of the congregation and each team member is appointed as God leads. They each bring specific skills and abilities and help s ensure that each ministry is held accountable in the spirit of excellence and service.

How do we assess if we are a ministry of service and excellence?

In short, we will be assessing what should be done, what has been done, and what can be done. Specifically, we will ask the following questions focusing on ministries, facilities and membership needs.

Where should we be?

The basis for answering this question is our church purpose and God's design for the church. This is a reflection of our potential, not our current reality. We are stating what our priorities ought to be. In light of God's purpose and design for our church, zero in on what ministry we should be doing to accomplish God's purpose and the resources we will need to do it. Resources will include the right people with the gifts, abilities, passions, experience, and maturity for the various ministries, finances for possible salaries, training, and materials, and facilities that are the right size, decor, and location.

Where have we been?

Given our short existence this question will have a short reply. However, next year we will be looking at where we begin today. We will look at what has worked and what can be done better.

Where are we now?

List our current ministries and their effectiveness in fulfilling God's purpose and design for our church. Examine the adequacy of current resources to do the ministries we have listed. We should gather both quantifiable and qualitative data. Quantifiable data could include attendance, growth rate, giving, and level of participation. Qualitative data could include how people feel about the ministry of the church, the effectiveness of our present programs, testimonials about effectiveness, level of spiritual growth and the climate of the house.

Where will we be if we keep going as we are now?

Here we are projecting ahead to what will happen if we make no significant changes in our ministry. We will be faced with accepting whether or not we are satisfied with this forecast (i.e. the rate of growth it will bring, how well needs will be met, how close we will come to the realization of God's purposes and priorities for us). If we are satisfied, we can stop the assessment. However, it is likely we will see the need for improvement. We will want to press onward and ask the final question.

Where will we go from here?

In the final stages of needs assessment we will draft a proposal based on our findings. We will suggest goals that will enable us to better meet the needs which surfaced through the assessment. We will also recommend strategies to accomplish those goals. This could include the initiation of new ministries. It may involve the reassignment of volunteer workers. Workers need to be fit into ministries suitable to their spiritual gifts, passions, and personalities.

After we have asked and answered these questions, the assessment process is completed for now. However, quarterly and annual assessments will keep us progressing toward God's potential for our church.

While the assessment may have reached its end, the process for resultant change and growth has not. The conclusions of the assessment must be communicated and goals must be implemented. A means of following up on progress must be put in place.

5 Star Ministry Assessment

What is a ministry needs assessment?

The assessment is a means of discerning if the church's ministry is on track with God's purposes and design for the church.

Is there a biblical basis for such evaluation?

Proverbs 14:8 - "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways ..."

Proverbs 24:3-6 - "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisors."

Luke 14:28-32 - "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, ... Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ... "

1 Corinthians 9:26 - "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."

We believe God’s word Pr 24:6 AMP

For by wise counsel you can wage your war, and in an abundance of counselors there is victory and safety.