Yesterday I started a conversation about ministry evaluation. I was making the point that because of the rapid growth we have experienced at Grace Community Church the last 4 and half years, we may not know it if there were problems within our structure. (You can read and discuss the content of that post HERE. You probably need to read that post to understand this one.)
I think where I have landed, at least for now, is that bigger than the issue of evaluation, is the issue of continuance. The fact is that I really do believe growth is occurring in individual lives, not just in the total numbers of people. We are accomplishing our objective to “make growing disciples of Jesus Christ”. I still want to consider ways to validate that belief, and I have some ideas I’m working on there, but the key word for me now is sustainability. I want us to be able to continue doing what we’ve been doing.
This week I emailed the staff this question:
If you were to disappear, how would your ministry continue to thrive at the level it is thriving today, and even improve? What is your plan for sustainment?
My first thoughts are that as the church continues to grow we may need to learn to:
- Delegate faster – To spread the workload
- Broaden our information base – Get more ideas on the table…more thinkers.
- Take even greater risks – in people and resources…
- Prepare more leaders – Through leadership development in the church, not just among the staff.
These are just initial thoughts. It takes me weeks to work through thoughts most times. I will encourage us to discuss these thoughts as a staff in the weeks to come. Thankfully, we have an amazing team of leaders and they are better thinkers than me most days. My personal goal is to see that the energy, vision, and momentum they have brought to our church continues.
What do you think? Do you see the issues here for us as a relatively new, fast-growing organization? I would love your input. What thoughts does yesterday’s and today’s posts trigger about your organization?
How does your church or organization plan for sustainment? Or does it?
Prepare more leaders – Through leadership development in the church, "not just among the staff."
ok, close. but, I would say,
"Leadership development IS staff development".
Prepare leaders for "staff" responsibility.
This is the responsible way forward.
Thanks! Good add
If you were to disappear, how would your ministry continue to thrive at the level it is thriving today, and even improve? What is your plan for sustainment?
I'm not a leader in a church, but I do understand the concept of sustainability. I guess the first step in tackling this challenge is deciding just what one wants to sustain. Is the goal sustaining the church or enabling believers to sustain their relationships with God? I have a feeling if you work on the later, the former will take care of itself. I think it's important to remember that the individuals in your church may leave your fellowship, but they won't leave God's. The time you invest in strengthening believers in their walk with God and giving them the freedom to be led by Him will pay off.
Good reply Patricia. Thanks
Great thoughts Eldon. Thanks for sharing.
good stuff Ron…can't wait to break it all down with the rest of the team. I agree 100% where you have landed…
Later -your office neighbor
Bayne
Miss you office neighbor.
First, I must say that as a pastor I have not experienced this kind of growth you are talking about, but the one thing that comes to mind is this…This isn't a new 'problem'. First few chapters of Acts shows that the church was off the hook when it came to growth. They were dealing with TONS of new people, problems of poverty, the demonic, inter-personal conflicts, ageism, sexism, classism and many other ism's. They had to deal with people who thought they were the leaders and wanted to take charge, people who used to be so far away from God that no one could trust them and those who doubted that this really was a genuine move of God.
The question is, what did they do. The one thing that I see over and over is this…the leader's prayed. It totally sounds like this is what you guys are doing. Sometimes we just try to over plan and over think what it is that God needs for us to do when all He is wanting is for us to spend time in prayer as leaders. United and listening to His voice. Like I said, it sounds like that is where you are at, so keep going.
In spiritual maturity, and I believe it was you that had this in a blog a while back, it's not how much more we read the bible, pray or go to church. It is what comes out of us on a daily basis. Galatians 5:22, 23 and others. I believe it is the same in growth. It's not what we can do, it's who we are becoming that needs to be the focus.
Ok, I've rambled and even confused myself as I reread this comment, so I will go. Blessings Ron, and thanks for helping to pastor a pastor!
I was talking to a friend yesterday. He has started working with churches to help develop the prayer lives of their members. He starts by doing a church wide survey. In general most churches only have about 20-25 percent that are happy with their prayer lives and only about 40-45 percent that say they have been ever happy with their prayer lives. So they start with the based data (a four page survey) and ask people to commit to praying 4 minutes a day and reading 5 verses a day. They then ask people to report to a group of 3 people how they are doing and pray for the other two people. Depending on the church they ask them to anonymously report sin in their lives as well. The result is that two of the churches that have been working on this for almost a year are now reporting 80 percent satisfaction in prayer lives.
My whole point is that, what you measure and investigate will make progress. Even on spiritual issues like prayer and sin.
Thanks Adam. That’s a great illustration. I agree, when you set the bar or identify where the bar is, you are much more likely to try to attain it or go over it. There’s something in most of us that pushes for that next level. Good thoughts.