Here are the ten characteristics of a healthy church with a brief descriptor and an accompanying scripture verse. A healthy church is prayerful in all of the following aspects of church life and ministry, is reliant upon God's power and the authority of His word, and values...

1. God's empowering presence
The healthy church actively seeks the Holy Spirit's direction and empowerment for its daily life and ministry (Romans 8:16, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children").

2. God-exalting worship
The healthy church gathers regularly as the local expression of the body of Christ to worship God in ways that engage the heart, mind, soul, and strength of the people (John 4:23, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks").

3. Spiritual disciplines
The healthy church provides training, models, and resources for members of all ages to develop their daily spiritual disciplines (James 3:17, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven if first of all pure, then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere").

4. Learning and growing in community
The healthy church encourages believers to grow in their walks with God and with one another in the context of a safe, affirming environment (Romans 14:19, "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification").

5. A committment to loving and caring relationships
The healthy church is intentional in its efforts to build loving, caring relationships within families, between members, and within the community they serve (I John 3:16, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers").

6. Servant-leadership development
The healthy church identifies and develops individuals whom God has called and given the gift of leadership and challenges them to become servant-leaders (Ephesians 4:16, "From Him (Christ) the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work").

7. An outward focus
The healthy church places high priority on communicating the truth of Jesus and demonstrating the love of Jesus to those outside the faith (Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost").

8. Wise administration and accountability
The healthy church utilizes appropriate facilities, equipment, and systems to provide maximum support for the growth and development of its ministries (Luke 16:11, "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?").

9. Networking with the body of Christ
The healthy church reaches out to others in the body of Christ for collaboration, resource sharing, learning opportunities, and united celebrations of worship (John 17:23, "May they (the church) be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me").

10. Stewardship and generosity
The healthy church teaches its members that they are stewards of their God-given resources and challenges them to sacrificial generosity in sharing with others (2 Corinthians 9:6, "Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously").

Taken from Becoming A Healthy Church by Stephen A. Macchia, Baker Books, 1999/2006.

*Mission Statement

To educate and nurture students of all levels in practical and technological skills using bible-based resources.

First class academic and curriculum based program to build the next generation of leaders for the Kingdom of God through the use of practical and technological resources.

The concept for Life School was borne during BWCC’s 2010 strategic planning session.  After much reflection and discussion, the sub-group charged with evaluating the educational needs at the Complex decided that learning should be a lifelong experience rather than a Sunday morning or midweek exercise. 

Sunday School was renamed Life School to reflect a change in the educational direction of the complex and to establish a graded educational curriculum.  Life School addresses the needs of all students on every level, including spiritual, emotional, as well as nutritional.  Life School Learning Centers have been established and are located throughout the educational facility of BWCC for Pre-K through high school. Adult men and women classes are taught in the church edifice.

Students are evaluated on attendance, class participation, scriptural memorization, and comprehension.  Each student is provided a Life School calendar which includes the quarterly grading schedule, Life School events, staff development meetings, and memory verses. Students are recognized on academic achievements through certificates and awards.