According to Carl Dudley and Sally Johnson, the discovery of strong and compelling congregational self-images binds church members together and energizes ministry. They describe five images of churches’ relationships to their communities over time–the Survivor, Prophet, Pillar, Pilgrim, and Servant styles–thus allowing churches to gain the knowledge necessary to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses.
Sally A. Johnson is an associate of the Center for Church and Community Ministries in Chicago and a consulting staff member of the metropolitan Chicago affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.