Providence CRC Finds Path to Spiritual Growth

Sue Prins, discipleship director at Providence Christian Reformed Church, says the congregation was full of energy and programs and attracting young families when it took the REVEAL Spiritual Life Survey in 2008.

The results were a little surprising.

On the one hand, the survey found that the church in Holland, Mich. was indeed growing and active. But REVEAL also referred to Providence as an “introverted church.”

This meant Providence needed to do more to get outside of itself by helping members to study scripture and apply it to the area of evangelistic outreach.

Other CRC congregations that have taken the survey also fall within this category of established, mature believers whose “faith-in-action behaviors (like evangelism and serving those in need)” fall short of what can be expected of a church that follows Christ, according to REVEAL.

“The results were a real wake up call for us,” says Prins. “Those results set us on a mission to learn more about how people grow spiritually and what the church can do to help them grow closer to Christ.” 

By taking to heart the survey results and suggestions REVEAL offered, says Prins, Providence found a new sense of spiritual renewal that it wants to share with others at a seminar running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 4.

Titled “The Introverted Church,” the seminar will focus on how REVEAL gives churches a snapshot of who they are and helps them to set priorities for a healthy future. It also will discuss the characteristics of an introverted church

“This does not mean these are churches of introverted people. Rather, it means that their spiritual temperature is introverted,” says Mike Johnson, a CRC pastor, church planter and faith formation coach who will speak at the seminar in June.

Besides Johnson, the seminar will feature Cally Parkinson, director of REVEAL, and Mark Ashton, lead pastor at Christ Community Church in Omaha, Neb. Teams of leaders from CRC and Reformed Church in America congregations are asked to register by May 28 for the event.

“Participants at the Introverted Church seminar will hear some really practical information that will help them move their congregation to great vibrancy,” says Prins.

Providence took its first REVEAL survey in 2008. After receiving and sorting through the results, the church began a variety of changes, building on the love and commitment members already had for the Bible.

Today, inspired and informed by the REVEAL process, Providence provides different tools to help people grow in their faith.

Each week, says Prins, the church bulletin contains a scripture-reading guide for individuals and their families.

In addition, Providence encourages people to participate in small groups “where people connect with others and connect to the Bible.”

The church also encourages people to engage inside the church by “using their gifts to serve meals, lead a Bible study, or serve in children’s ministry, youth group, etc. We also ask people to impact our community by serving outside of the church,” says Prins.

In 2004, Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago undertook a three-year study to measure spiritual growth using the REVEAL Spiritual Life Survey.      

Initially focusing on Willow Creek, the REVEAL survey expanded, becoming a tool to help other churches assess themselves and their level of spiritual growth and engagement.

As of June 2013, the REVEAL study had included 1,600 churches, representing some 480,000 individual surveys taken in five countries. About eight percent of the surveys involve churches from the Reformed tradition.