TORONTO — The Salvation Army in Ontario is reporting stronger church health and renewed momentum following four years of work with Natural Church Development (NCD), an internationally used congregational assessment tool, according to Divisional Secretary Mission Resources – Ontario Divisional Headquarters, Chris Rideout.
Eight years ago, leaders across the Ontario Division began asking an important question: How healthy is our church, really? Four years ago, that question became a commitment.
Through the implementation of NCD, The Salvation Army in Ontario set out to intentionally strengthen church health, not through programs or quick fixes, but by listening carefully to congregations and removing the obstacles that prevent growth.
“The survey gives voice to the people. And we take that voice seriously.”
According to Chris Rideout, overseeing the initiative, the results tell a hopeful story. The Salvation Army in Ontario now measures healthier than the national cross-denominational average, and the work is only just beginning.
Listening First: Why NCD Matters
NCD is an internationally recognized church health tool used across denominations and countries, including Salvation Army territories in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, and Canada. It measures eight core characteristics of church health, offering a clear picture of what is flourishing and what needs attention.
Four years ago, Ontario mandated NCD across its corps, committing to do the heavy lifting for local leaders.
To date:
- 130 surveys have been completed
- 260 conversations held with church boards
- 130 congregational conversations on church health
- More than 5,000 congregants engaged in dialogue
Removing Obstacles, Not Forcing Growth
At the heart of NCD is a simple but powerful principle. “God makes the church grow,” Rideout said. “Our role is to remove the barriers.” Using the metaphor of a plant, he explained that growth is limited by whatever is least developed at the time, whether that is soil, water, light, or space.
“God makes the church grow. Our role is to remove the barriers.”
He went on to explain that when growth stalls, the plant is not forced to grow but whatever is missing is found and added to nurture growth. The same is true for the church. This approach has helped Ontario corps identify common growth constraints and respond intentionally.
Slowing Down to Care: Relearning Holistic Community
One of the earliest insights from the divisional surveys was that holistic small groups did not come naturally to many congregations. Rather than introducing new programs, the division focused on reshaping culture using three familiar tools: Alpha, Café Church, and Messy Church.
“We are not trying to change what people do. We are trying to change how we gather.”
So instead of changing what their congregation did, they are trying to change how they gathered. Congregations were encouraged to slow down, pray together, ask meaningful questions, and create space for authentic care to create a space for healthy growth.
Building Trust Through Clear and Effective Structures
Another area identified for growth was effective structures, how churches organize, communicate, and lead. The survey gives voice to the people, and that voice is taken seriously.
In response, divisional leaders began meeting one-on-one with church boards to share best practices around clear vision and mission statements, transparent communication, regular reporting and accountability, and congregational engagement.
From Transactional to Transformational: The 1% Vision
Perhaps the most inspiring step forward is the 1% initiative. Ontario Salvation Army locations welcome approximately 150,000 people each year through community services. Rideout said the question became how to move beyond transactions toward transformation.
If they could influence just one per cent of the people who walk through our doors, then they could introduce 1,500 people a year to Jesus and welcome them into the family.
“This is not about doing more. It is about doing what matters most, and doing it well.”
That could mean planting new churches, strengthening discipleship, or releasing people into ministry and service. The focus was about doing what matters most and doing it well.
A First-of-Its-Kind Gathering
This vision is now being shared through five regional gatherings across Ontario, bringing together corps officers, church board members and community service staff. The gatherings are designed for shared vision, roundtable discussions, peer mentoring, and honest Q&A. Early feedback has been positive, with attendance continuing to grow. This is the first of its kind and is raising excitement across the churches.
“To my knowledge, this has never been done before in our Division.”
One of the most striking findings from NCD worldwide is that when joy and laughter are present in worship, church health scores rise. The results are not coincidental. Joy is a sign of health and as the Ontario Division continues on this journey, the focus remains on intentional faith formation.
“We have asked. We have listened. And we are responding. That is how credibility is built.”
Looking Ahead
Anchored in the words of John 15, the vine and the branches, the Ontario Division remains committed to bearing much fruit and lasting fruit. The church is growing stronger, and their goal is very simply to introduce people to Jesus, help them grow in faith, and support them as they serve others.
“And that 1% growth, Rideout concluded, Is a goal worth achieving.”
