The daily lives of residents of Voorhees, N.J., look a lot like the lives of individuals living in cities across the United States. Mom and Dad both work full-time jobs in order to maintain their upper middle-class status and lifestyle while soccer practices, ballet rehearsals, and homework seem to dominate the rare moments of family "free" time.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of living the American dream, however, a growing number of people around this particular New Jersey town have made the time to become involved in an activity with eternal implications. They've found their way to Discovery Church, a purpose driven church that has grown from a foundling church plant of less than 100 members to a prospering, active ministry averaging 500 in weekly attendance in less than three years.

Discovery Church began its ministry in 2004 after two of the church's pastors attended a Purpose Driven Church conference and several current leaders read The Purpose Driven Church. An introduction to the Purpose Driven structure was all it took to convince a small group of ministry-minded individuals to plant a church.

Now, two-and-a-half years later, one substantial reason for Discovery Church's rapid growth could be attributed to its Sunday worship services, which Pastor Randy Smith said are extremely "seeker-oriented."

"We have an outward-in perspective to growth and evangelism," Smith said. "[We] go to great lengths to train our people how to invite and, when the time is right, share their faith."

Smith said the Sunday service is intended to act as a partner in evangelism because members know "they can always bring somebody on Sunday and they'll never be ostracized, embarrassed, or turned away."

"Our goal is to work as a team to win our world," he said.

Getting visitors through the door, however, is only the first step, and Discovery Church recognizes the need to take new believers to the next level in their faith.

A highly developed discipleship program characterizes Discovery Church's ministry. New members go through C.L.A.S.S. 101 to 401 as part of the Discovery University.

Smith said the church is currently working to incorporate the C.L.A.S.S. program into the small group ministry at the church. While this transition has required a total reworking of the C.L.A.S.S. notes, Smith said the benefits of teaching the program through small groups overshadows the added work load necessary to make the transition.

"Our biggest customization [of the Purpose Driven concepts] is incorporating C.L.A.S.S. into small groups," Smith said. "From small groups, we hope to develop leaders in every ministry – including future campus pastors."

Training pastors for future campuses may seem premature for a less than 3-year-old church, but Discovery Church already began a second campus about a year ago in nearby Washington Township. Plans are currently in the works for a third location slated to begin operating in 2007. Both new campuses are designed to follow the Purpose Driven model in everything from structure to discipleship training and intention.

Even while Discovery Church looks to expand its footprint within the immediate community, the church is working to develop its already established ministry and help its member develop their Christian lives.

The church emphasizes the importance of fellowship through extensive small group options and encourages members to discover and use their spiritual gifts through the S.H.A.P.E. curriculum.

All of these programs lead to a better understanding of stewardship, which Smith defined as "offering ourselves and our resources to God."

Discovery Church has seen the immense benefits of a Purpose Driven structure and leadership there now works to share those positive outcomes with other churches even as Discovery matures itself through 40 Days of Purpose campaigns and Purpose Driven Life small groups.

Smith himself serves as a Purpose Driven planting coach who heads from New Jersey to Saddleback Church in California once a month to train others interested in establishing Purpose Driven structures.

"Purpose Driven changed my life and has given us the chance to teach others how to plant purpose driven churches," he said.

All 2006 Church Health Award winner information is correct as of Jan. 1, 2006.