By AARON CHARLES
For Word News

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WordNews.org) March 4, 2012 – Pastor Ken Fetter said when considering making changes to his church’s ministry — such as developing new programs — he first makes sure it lines up with Hillside Missionary Church’s main purpose.

“Do you get so concerned with mortar, brick, and equipment that you lose sight of the people?” asked Fetter, who pastors the South Bend, Ind., church.

Fetter said he tries to keep the needs of his congregation at the forefront of his mind, and he said any improvements need to fall inline with Hillside’s values.

“Constantly review your purpose and make sure everything falls in line with that,” Fetter said.

According to a new study from the Barna Group, many pastors share Fetter’s concern for adhering to a church mission statement when making improvements.

Barna surveyed 614 pastors from across the country; each were given 12 options and asked how likely they were to implement them within the next year.

Of those surveyed, 59 percent said they would “definitely” assess their church’s mission statement within the next year; 31 percent said that measuring the spiritual needs of their community was a high priority.  These responses fall in line with Fetter’s thought process.

“We measure the rest of what we’re doing by our mission,” said Fetter.

This means that a constant assessment of the church’s values is a vital part of Hillside’s ministry. That, Fetter said, gives them room to make improvements such as using more media in the children’s ministry or seeking to reach the community through a new Sunday School curriculum.

Today, churches face a constant struggle to adapt to changing times. Many pastors have different views of how to best improve their church’s impact. Fetter chooses to always keep in mind his church’s values and mission when looking to make improvements – and he is not alone.

According to the Barna survey:

* 38 percent said they would assess their church’s reputation

* 25 percent said they would focus on safety and security issues

* 22 percent said they would assess the spiritual transformation of their congregation

* 22 percent said they would invest in facilities and equipment for children

The survey has a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points.