healthy parachurch ministries

I read this insightful article by Mack Stiles regarding the Nine Marks of a Healthy Parachurch Ministry. As I read it I couldn't help relate these excellent principles in a broader way to 'medium sized groups' (ala Carl F. George, Prepare Your Church for the Future). I think it important for those in parachurch and sub-congregational mid-sized church ministries (e.g., men's ministries) keep these principles in mind. These groups can be helpful or even necessary but should not be confused with the Church.

Stiles' post is lengthy so I post only the top-lines here.

Mark 1: A healthy parachurch ministry knows that it exists primarily to protect the church.
Mark 2: A healthy parachurch ministry makes a clear distinction between church and parachurch.
Mark 3: A healthy parachurch ministry avoids acting like the church.
Mark 4: A healthy parachurch ministry does not pressure the church to act like a parachurch.
Mark 5: A healthy parachurch ministry humbly heeds the history of parachurch movements.
Mark 6: A healthy parachurch ministry understands the difference between the pragmatic and the principled.
Mark 7: The healthy parachurch has a counter-cultural understanding of management and money.
Mark 8: The healthy parachurch maintains a strong commitment to, and understanding of, the gospel.
Mark 9: A healthy parachurch ministry seeks accountability relationships with the church.

CONCLUSION
Parachurch ministries are bigger and more influential than ever. And within the vast majority of them, God is at work for his kingdom in powerful ways. But we should never forget that his chosen method for the expansion of the kingdom is his church. So a healthy parachurch ministry keeps the primacy of the church front and center. It makes clear distinctions between church and parachurch, both avoiding the temptation to act like the church and refusing to pressurethe church to act like the parachurch. A healthy parachurch ministry humbly heeds the history of parachurch ministries, takes hold of the principles of the ministry over the pragmatism of the world, maintains its commitment to the gospel, and seeks accountability relationships with the church.

Read Stiles' entire post here.