When you go the doctor’s office, a nurse usually takes your pulse and blood pressure before the doctor comes in. It is a quick and easy way to get a general read on the patient’s health. Even though every body is different, the results are compared to a standardized set of criteria for what constitutes good health.

According to the Apostle Paul, the church is like a human body (Romans 12:4-5). It stands to reason then that every living church has a pulse. Taking the PULSE of a church provides a general read on the health and vitality of that unique body of believers.

The standardized set of criteria used in PULSE is the ten healthy missional markers that flow out of Veritas. Even though every church is different, these markers can be used to determine a church’s general level of health and vitality.

In addition to the ten healthy missional markers, we include other factors as well. We look at the VIM and vigor level of the church. We look at tenure and leadership. We consult with the pastor and conference representatives. We report on income levels and attendance trends over the last two decades. We provide demographic information on zip codes surrounding your church. We also take into account the halo effect which Paul refers to in Romans 12:3.

Based on these various factors and depending on the Holy Spirit for discernment, we offer a suggestion on whether your church is Healthy Missional, Stable, Critical Moment or At-Risk. We then provide recommendations and next steps to become a healthy missional church.

And that is our prayer…that every Covenant Church become a healthy missional church. By “healthy” we mean pursuing Christ. By “missional” we mean pursuing Christ’s priorities in the world.

Awareness and acceptance of one’s current reality is an important step in becoming a healthy missional church. Admitting the truth is the first step toward change.

The seven letters of Revelation were addressed to seven distinct churches to help them develop a deeper awareness and acceptance of their current reality. Only then could they overcome and reach their full kingdom potential in Christ. In addition, the Spirit also gave each church some direction as to how to move forward. That is the spirit of PULSE!

Everyone in the church, not just members, gets to participate in PULSE. The actual survey is around 50 questions and takes about thirty minutes to complete online. Once all the results are in, within thirty days the church will receive a 25 page report and a power point presentation that the pastor may use in presenting the results.

PULSE is free. You can even let us take your PULSE every year in order to track your progress and develop benchmarks and accountability points.

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In order to let us take your PULSE, there are four prerequisites:

• First, your church has participated in Veritas (either live or DVD).
• Second, your church has participated in EPIC (either live or DVD).
• Third, you have a Veritas team in place.
• Fourth, you have created and adopted a Behavioral Covenant.

When these four critical factors are completed, you may contact CGE and we will guide you through the PULSE experience.  We will ask that you complete a PULSE Verification Form noting your fulfillment of the prerequisites.  Click here to download the form.

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PULSE is a joint venture partnership between CGE and the Covenant Resource Center. We also contracted with a Covenant survey specialist, a seminary professor at NPTS, and my Prayer and Advisory Team to shape this tool. It took us more than a year to conceptualize and create PULSE.

So far we have beta-tested PULSE with two Covenant churches. We are continuing in our beta-test mode in order to establish an accurate baseline. In the meantime, start working on those four prerequisites, and we should be ready for you when the time comes.

The purpose of PULSE is to edify and strengthen Covenant churches.

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PULSE…

P rovides awareness of current reality
U pdates progress annually
L inks the church more closely with the mission and message of Jesus
S uggests next steps
E ncourages spiritual discernment

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So I pray that you will someday let us take your PULSE.  I pray that you will use this tool year after year to keep in step with the Spirit and to follow the Spirit wherever the Spirit leads.

We are here for you.  As someone once said, the local church does not exist for the denomination; rather the denomination exists for the local church.  This is why, with God’s help, we created PULSE.