Have specific questions about how the use of CHAT could benefit your church?
Call 719-785-3600 and ask
for Rick Anderson.
The CHAT instrument is based on the
research and
content from the Baker Bestseller,
Becoming a Healthy Church
"For 20 years, God has used Becoming A Healthy Church to encourage pastors and rejuvenate churches because of Steve Macchia's positive,
strengths-based approach to spiritual vitality in congregations. Don't miss what has helped thousands of churches enter a new season of
health and growth."
Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should we conduct a church assessment?
When is an ideal time for a church assessment?
What will I get out of using the Church Health Assessment Tool?
How was the Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) created?
Can we add questions of our own to the survey?
How much does the Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) cost?
Is it the same price for large churches and small ones?
What types of payment do you accept?
How long does it take for the average person to complete the survey?
Is there a paper version of the survey for those without a computer?
What is the best way to communicate the instructions for participation to the church body?
What will we receive at the end of the process?
Is there a section of the report that displays demographic information?
How long does the whole process take from the time my church signs up until we get our report?
How do I sign my church up for CHAT?
What if we would like additional assistance after the CHAT process?
How often should my church participate in a church health assessment?
Why should we conduct a church assessment ?
For the same reason you look both ways before you cross the street … to evaluate where you are, where you are headed, identify any
danger, and make wise decisions going forward. Having a solid baseline of accurate and objective information from your entire church (rather than
anecdotal conversations or gut feelings) dramatically increases your ability to plan, strategize, and lead the ministry God has called you
to. You may also discover an increase in the unity of your church body as a direct byproduct of the leadership clearly saying, "Our
church is made up of many people and each voice is important. We're conducting a church-wide 'listening exercise' and we value your
thoughts."
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When is an ideal time for a church assessment?
During periods of change such as:
- Transition in church leadership
- Shift in demographics of church body
- Change in ministry focus of the church
- Restructuring of staff/program framework
During periods of new developments such as:
- In preparation for a large project like a capital campaign
- Increasing ministry offerings or programs
- Expanding or relocating to another facilit
During periods of strategic planning such as:
- Identifying the priorities/goals for the coming year
- Distinguishing the unique strengths of your church to be maximized
- Categorizing the needs of your unique church community
- Budgeting for the future
What will I get out of using the Church Health Assessment Tool?
- Clarity. As a leader you know that decisions are more easily made in a context of clarity. The difficulty in decision making comes when we rely on a gut feeling or anecdotal feedback rather than a fully informed perspective. CHAT will cut through the fog and give you clear direction.
- Objectivity. Critics often have the loudest voices. CHAT levels the playing field and gives you sound affirmation of the areas where your ministry is excelling and clear insight into where your attention is needed the most. CHAT’s third-party objectivity prevents any particular bias from influencing the results.
- Measurability. Progress can be difficult to gauge without some quantifiable categories that you can compare from year to year. CHAT will provide that framework for you through helpful charts, graphs, and specific feedback.
- Unity. As an added benefit, engaging in this process communicates that you value your people. Members of the church family will appreciate knowing that their feedback is important and necessary in order for the church to grow in healthy, life-transforming ways.
How was the Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) created?
The assessment is based on extensive research with over 2,000 churches and individuals. This research study culminated
in the "10 traits of vital ministry" which are outlined in the
book Becoming a Healthy Church (by Stephen A. Macchia, Baker Books, 2006). The 72-question survey unpacks each of the
10 traits of a Healthy Church by looking at each trait from several different
angles. Click here to preview sample questions.
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Can we add questions of our own to the survey?
Yes you can. After signing up, you'll have the option to upgrade to the custom questions module for $49 which will give you the option
to add up to ten questions (multiple choice or 1-5 scale) plus a bonus question (open-ended). These questions will be added at the end
of the CHAT survey for each participant (online version only) and the results will display at the end of the Executive Summary of your
CHAT report.
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How much does the Church Health Assessment Tool (CHAT) cost?
$399 - which includes the use of CHAT for unlimited online and paper surveys, access to the Pastor's Console, and your CHAT report (including any demographic sub-reports). Click here to view the pricing page. Activating the custom questions module is
an additional $49.
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Is it the same price for large churches and small ones?
Yes, $399 includes the use of CHAT for unlimited online and paper surveys, access to the Pastor's Console, and your CHAT report (including any demographic sub-reports). Click here to view the pricing page. Activating the custom questions module is an additional $49.
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What types of payment do you accept?
VISA and MasterCard.
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How long does it take for the average person to complete the survey?
It takes the average person 20-25 minutes to participate in the survey.
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Is there a paper version of the survey for those without a computer?
Yes. Via the Pastor's Console, you can print paper copies of the survey for those who don't
have Internet access or are not computer savvy. Once the completed paper survey has been filled out, it can be manually entered into the
system by a church staff member (again, via the Pastor's Console). Another option is to place a computer with Internet
access in a common area of the church for public use while the survey is open for participation.
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What is the best way to communicate the instructions for participation to the church body?
Via the Pastor's Console, you can print bulletin inserts that contain all the information for
participation. These inserts are in MS Word format and can be customized for your church (these areas are marked in red text). You can
customize and print these instructions to be distributed at your worship service. You can also copy and paste the instructions
into an e-blast to your members (if you have this capability, we recommend doing this in addition to handing out the paper
instructions).
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What will we receive at the end of the process?
You'll receive a comprehensive report containing four sections: Executive Summary, Detailed Survey Findings, Additional Comments, and
Suggested Next Steps. All responses are kept strictly anonymous. The report is full color and easy to
read. Click Here to view a sample report.
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Is there a section of the report that displays demographic information?
Yes. The first piece of the assessment collects the following demographic information: Leadership/Congregation, Gender, Marital Status, Age,
Years at our Church, Ethnicity, and Education. These demographics are kept anonymous and displayed in pie chart form in the first section
of the end report. If you choose to activate the Custom Questions Module, you can add an additional 2 demographics questions.
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How long does the whole process take from the time my church signs up until we get our report?
You choose how long you want the survey to be available. In the process of registering your church for CHAT (which takes less than
5 minutes), you'll select the date that your survey opens and the date that it closes. Then you just need to get the word out to your
congregation and encourage as much participation as possible before the survey close date. On average, most churches will make
the survey available for about four weeks so that they have the opportunity to plug it during several services. When your survey
close date comes, your CHAT report will be generated over night and you'll receive an email the following morning with a link to your CHAT report.
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How do I sign my church up for CHAT?
The sign up process takes only 5 minutes. First, you'll fill out a quick registration form including some information about
your church, contact information, etc. Second, you'll choose the dates you'd like the survey to be available for participants and
customize the greeting that each person will see as they log in to participate in the survey. Third, you'll choose one password for
the leadership team and another for the congregation (we're going to track their responses separately for direct comparison in the report).
Finally, you'll use a VISA or MasterCard to pay $399 (plus, optional $49 custom questions upgrade). To sign up
now, Click Here.
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What if we would like additional assistance after the CHAT process?
If you feel like you might need some extra help after going through CHAT, you have the option to enlist the help of one of our
Church Health Coaches via a Teleconference Package. There
are several packages to choose from - each kept affordable by conducting the coaching by phone, rather than putting the coach on an
airplane. Click on the link above to read through each of the follow up sessions that will serve as a basic road map
in your telecom meetings together. Every church is different so your coach will advise you based on your specific church's
gifts, challenges, opportunities, etc.
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How often should my church participate in a church health assessment?
We recommend taking the assessment once every 12-18 months. Remember, this is not just an exercise, it's an opportunity to listen to one
another - and we recommend making a habit of it.
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Have specific questions about how the use of CHAT could benefit your church?
Call toll-free 877-832-6584 and ask for Rick Anderson.
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