Is Your Ministry Predictable?

Last week I was meeting with my strategic leadership team and we were discussing changes to the ministry in the fall. At one point one of them asked me, “Chris, what are you hoping to accomplish by the end of this meeting?” I paused and felt a little bit of fear emerged but I reminded myself that this is a team I needed to trust. So, I told them, “I’ve been constantly thinking about doing ministry in a different way only to come up with the same old solutions. My goal is that we walk away looking at what we should be doing now so  that we don’t end up with the same old ministry model.”

What’s the same old ministry model? It’s not necessarily a large group versus small group approach. It isn’t games versus too much teaching. The same old ministry model is simply a strategy you used to use because it worked, but over time with all the change that’s going on around you, it’s lost its influence. Most of the time we realize this way too late.

No one wants to run a ministry that has no impact. It means a lot of work with little results, but getting unstuck isn’t so simple. It involves going beyond your COMFORT ZONE and EXPERTISE to determine your next steps. To keep things fresh and not get stuck in the same old, predictable ministry spend time reflecting on the following questions:

1. Am I clear on the overall vision of this ministry and the church it resides in?

2. What is our ministry ultimately trying to achieve? (Get specific)

3. Who do I trust to hold me accountable to my goals, results, and decisions?

4. What are some examples of a successful community outside of the church?

5. What’s the biggest challenge our community is currently facing and how are we addressing it?

6. Who are the experts in my field that I should be talking to?

7. What are the resources at my disposal that I have yet to use?

Now, here’s the thing, don’t just ask those questions once or twice a year. Make them a part of your weekly routine. Pick a day (I usually like the end of the week) to answer each of them. If you find yourself struggling with one of those questions then create a to-do for the following week to start answering them. Next, bring your answers to people who are there to help you grow your ministry. That might be your supervisor or a team of volunteers.

If you are afraid of creating a predictable and irrelevant ministry then start asking the hard questions. If you need someone to guide you through the process you can set up a free consultation with a ministry expert HERE. Bottom line, take the time look at the bigger picture because it’ll bring you a vision of something better.

What other questions do you ask yourself to keep your ministry fresh?

Looking for more great content? Sign up for the MYM Newsletter:

Sign Up Today