One of the important services of SCE in "extending" ministry to pastors and churches is the Reality Check Church Analysis. This is offered to struggling churches who need help to survive, and/or to healthy churches seeking to target a plan for future ministry. In cases of question, the Reality Check will help identify the state of health in the church.
Along with the unchanging truth of Scripture, SCE Staff have decades of pastoral and ministry experiences to help in church analysis. The SCE Reality Check team will review church documents, meet with church leadership, church membership and friends, do demographic and community surveys, observe actual ministry and worship meetings, and walk the property to get an overall picture of the church's health, strengths, and needs. A written report is prepared, and an oral presentation is given to the congregation about one month after the analysis, and follow-up meetings are scheduled for 6- and 12-month review.
The Reality Check includes review of seven elements of local church ministry:
FAITH - Personal faith on the part of the members; and the church's ability to demonstrate faith in its daily practice and future planning
FOUNDATION - Church documents, such as Statement of Doctrine, constitution, policies, incorporation documents and job descriptions are evaluated.
FOCUS - This area of analysis examines the direction of the church in these areas:
Values - What the church IS; the non-negotiables that define this particular church family
Mission - Why the church exists; including a written mission statement
Vision - Where the church going; what the church desires to do
Strategy - How the church is going to implement its vision
FACULTY - Pastor, Elders, Deacons, teachers and all staff, including paid and volunteer
FELLOWSHIP- How the church body relates one to another
FACILITY - Buildings and property are evaluated by SCE staff who have construction and church ministry experience
FINANCES - Includes an overview of budgets, income, and expenses
Cost: There is no fee; the Reality Check is offered as a ministry of Southeast Church Extension. The host church is asked to cover travel, meals, and lodging expenses for the 2-member team and their wives, along with a commitment of monthly support of SCE for 12 months