A person who has as his or her client a church, a denominational body, or some similar religious organization, with the goal of providing direction to that client for the improvement, expansion, or increased efficiency of that group.

The on-site consultation consists of the following steps:

• The request for consultation
• Defining the problem
• Data gathering: statistical and information
• Data gathering: interviews
• Problem solving
• Report and recommendations
• Implementation and feedback

Most consultants charge a per-hour fee, a per-day fee, or a per-project fee. Providence Consulting Group utilizes a per-project fee so that the church is fully aware of their final costs up front.

• An unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ and his church
• Local church experience
• Good written communication skills
• Good verbal communication skills
• Time management skills
• The ability to produce quality reports
• Deductive skills
• Marketing and Research skills
• Leadership skills which engender accountability

• To provide an objective, independent viewpoint
• To complete short-term projects without adding to staff
• To provide specialized expertise for a specific need
• To provide creative solutions for church challenges
• To train personnel
• To act as a catalyst between internal groups

There are several types of consultation:

Community Awareness Consultation: provides not only basic demographic trends, but psychographic, praxiographic, and mediagraphic trends. Learn how the community "thinks," what worship styles it prefers, what needs it expresses, and what type of church it seeks.

Church Health Survey Consultation: suggestions and action plans based on the results of a 160-question church health analysis; includes no on-site visits.

Short-term On-site Consultation: for churches seeking specific guidance in the overall direction of the church, or answers to specific issues such as facility needs, staff needs, spiritual gift/lay ministry assessments, or stewardship issues. This type of consultation is the most popular.

Long-term On-site Consultation: the most comprehensive of the consultation ministries, this ministry includes several on-site visits and in-depth analysis of the church. Not only are recommendations made, but the consultant is available to review the implementation of these recommendations.

Typically, an email conversation and/or brief telephone interview will give us sufficient information to make first step recommendations.

• Worship recommendations
• Strategies for growth
• Sunday School revitalization
• Stewardship growth
• Evangelistic strategies
• Leadership/management
• Search committee consultation
• Relocation guidance
• Community awareness
• Conflict resolution
• Facilities recommendations
• And many more

The report varies according to the type of consultation. In a full consultation, the report includes 30-50 pages of recommendations, analysis, demographics, and Church Health Survey results.

Providence Consulting Group offers several payment methods to serve any size congregation. Payment plans are negotiated per client and can span the entire length of consultation or be segmented into weekly or monthly installments.