It is without gain saying that our Lord Jesus Christ wants a church that will prevail against every gate of hell in every locality, community and neighbourhood. He wants a church that will be a light and bring life to people and places.

A keen observer will discover that many preachers, pastors and church leaders have gone out from Christ to build various kinds of churches today. When we say church you will discover various kinds, shapes, sizes and models. Unfortunately many of them cannot prevail as Christ intended. I firmly believe that this teaching is a mirror that every serious church leader should use to look at himself or herself as to what kind of Church he or she is running and building.

I am going to use building analogy to describe the kind of churches we see today. Many churches fall into these categories.

Light house Churches
These are evangelistic churches. Their primary mission is to send out a beacon of salvation light to their community by aggressive evangelism programmes. Crusades missions outreaches, tracts distribution and street meetings are their main activities. The pastor is usually a gifted evangelist who believes so much in sowing the seeds of salvation but nothing much on reaping. To him every believer must become a soul winner. The weakness of this approach is that people's needs are taken for granted and not met.

School House Churches:
These churches are characterised by their teaching emphasis. The people carry notebooks and lecture notes: classes and trainings are regular, Scripture memorization and regular lectures on fundamental doctrines, are prominent Sunday school, Bible Study and Retreats are major programmes. The pastor is usually a gifted teacher who is consumed by doctrinal rightness. The weakness of this approach is the holier than thou lifestyle of their members.

"...without gain saying Christ wants a church that will prevail against every gate of hell in every locality, community and neighbourhood..."

Concert Hall Churches:
These are churches that emphasise performance, music, drama and songs inspiration. They lift worship to central place. The preaching is shouting back and forth. Regular concerts, worship sessions and recording artists are part of the church. There is so much emotion involved. The pastor is usually a music artiste and worship freak who believes that worship is the main thing in life. The weakness of this approach is the sinful, shallow and imbalanced lifestyle of their members.

Hospital Churches:
These are churches that have a heart for the hurting and care for the wounded of this world. They counsel and are known as a place where people can find solace for their sorrows. Miracles, deliverance, healings and breakthroughs are the highpoint of these churches. Anointing oil, soaps, handkerchiefs and mantles are often sold to people.

The pastor is usually a prophet and a power demonstration minister who believes that everyone should go through power encounter and deliverance. The weakness of this approach is that people will come and receive blessings and move away later.

Prayer House Churches:
They emphasise prayer, intercession and waiting upon the Lord. Weeks of prayer, intercessory times are common practice: Prayer and fasting programmes are regular feature of these churches. Prayer mountains and seasons of waiting upon the Lord are emphasised.

The major focus of these prayers is the destruction of enemies. The pastor is usually a gifted prayer warrior who believes that everyone should be a prayer giant. The weakness of this approach is the imbalanced lifestyle of their members which makes it possible for them to see everybody and everything as perceived enemy.

Prayer House Churches:
These are churches of highly educated, orderly and methodical people. Songs, hymns and prayers are from hymn books. The service must follow a strait order. The seats are neatly arranged. The environment is neat land sparkling. The dress code is three piece suit and tie and the language is unblemished. The weekly programmes are not really there.

Only Sunday services are packed full because the members are usually in their various jobs during the week. The church also does everything Possible to maintain their status and 'therefore scrutinize those seeking membership carefully. The pastor is usually highly educated and trained theologian who could get a well-paid clergy to run the church for the members.

The weakness of this approach is that it creates class consciousness and spiritual deadness.

Business Center Churches:
These are churches that are known as 'Bless Me Club". The major emphasis is using the Bible and God to grow and uplift their business and standard of living. The major characteristics are financial prosperity, 'business success, operation poverty must die and giving to get from God. Even the (services are turning to business meetings and Sunday school times are used to teach high yielding business principles.

The pastor is usually a good preacher, orator rand a successful businessman. He functions as C.E.O. of the church. In fact, he runs the church as a business empire.

The weakness of this approach is the materialism, worldly mindedness and financial lucre in the lives of members which makes them earthly okay but heavenly useless.

Faithful Remnant-Churches: These are churches that are fundamentally conservative in their approach. They reject and resist change.

Family Chapel Churches:
These are churches that emphasis family fellowship. They are started by a family and being controlled by that family. The father, mother, children, in-laws and relations are the highest ranking officials of the church. The family emphasis turns it into secluded club of a few people.

The pastor is usually a family man that believes that families should rule the world. The weakness of this approach is that only few people will comer power and authority in the church.

Arena Churches:
The characteristics of these churches are their non-committed members. It is a places demand on people. Despite being regular attendants, they still live dress and carry on as if they are not saved. The people are spectators and they watch the minister do everything in the church. The church doesn't place a demand of holy, godly and devoted living on the people. Many are doing nothing in the church and the few that are workers don't show any sign of commitment either to Christ or His church.

The pastor is usually a hyper-active person who believes he should do everything in the church, provided the people pay their tithes and offerings. The weakness of this approach is that the church will have no future Christians will be a caricature of true believers.

Faithful Remnant-Churches:
These are churches that are fundamentally conservative in their approach. They reject and resist change. Church tradition and old methodology hold sway. They are skeptical of others. They believe theirs is the only true church and that they are not growing because of their hard and true doctrines which people cannot receive again.

The programmes are geared towards preparation for rapture. Hell, heaven, judgment and reward are the focus of the preaching. The pastor is usually an old believer and conservative minded. The weakness of this approach is that people will be heavenly minded but earthly useless. Also, stagnation and downward spiral an acceptable norm there.

Prevailing Approach – Balanced Emphasis
Churches that use any of the afore-mentioned approach can not experience any form of numerical, physical arid financial growth or the other, Churches grow belaying emphasis on their distinctive. But building prevailing churches demand for holistic approach as in the following:

1. Know your area of strength.
2. Discover your weaknesses.
3. Deliberate effort to balance your emphasis.
4. Your personal growth and maturity will determine.
5. Strategies to build a truly kingdom Christians.
Our name, approach and distinctive doesn't really matter at the end of the day. What really matter to God is whole, godly and heavenly minded Christians who will shine as lights in the world. (I Thes. 2:19; 4:7, 3:8,10).

Dr. Francis Bola Akin-John, is the President Church Growth Services Inc. Visit his website at www.churchgrowthafrica.org