...in which people and not just pastors are able to express the content of their faith, and also the basis for their biblical and theological convictions?

...in which both leaders and members are inspired and united by a vision of God's mission for the church, and not content simply to be consumers of a church's Sunday morning programs?

...whose leaders are wise in discerning both our swiftly changing world and God's unchanging Word, and are thus able to offer sound and balanced guidance for the church's ministry and mission?  

...in which the majority, rather than a minority of the congregation take part in the decision-making and ministries of the church?

...that is not content to be a Sunday "gathering of strangers," but moves deliberately to becoming a committed community of Christ-followers, open to any and every ethnicity?

...that is able not only to talk about God's mission and purpose, but is also able to organize and concretely move toward realizing that vision?

...that measures its health first of all not by its budgetary or membership goals, but by the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control?