Doing Right Things; Doing Things Right
Phil Van Auken and Sharon Johnson
Two critical processes determine church health: the strategic process (doing right things), which focuses on defining the goals and purposes of a church, and the operational process (doing things right), which focuses on developing the programs and procedures of a church.
Doing Right Things; Doing Things Right
by Phil Van Auken and Sharon Johnson
Two critical processes determine church health: the strategic process (doing right things), which focuses on defining the goals and purposes of a church, and the operational process (doing things right), which focuses on developing the programs and procedures of a church. These processes are distinct yet interrelated.
Church strategy concerns such crucial matters as how to reach the unsaved, developing ministries to meet congregational needs, determining budget priorities, and equipping lay leaders to carry out the church's mission. Operations processes are needed to implement strategy -- visitation programs, secretarial support, formal and informal communications.
Strategy: Doing Right Things
The strategic process is the goal-determining process. To be effective, strategy must be:
Christ centered. Goals must reflect God's will for the church.
Clearly communicated. Goals must be visible to all in the church.
Consistently constructed. Effective strategy must develop goals that are consistent with one another and appropriately prioritized.
Consciously committed. Goals will be actively endorsed by church members only if they are personally relevant and participatively developed.
Operations: Doing Things Right
The operations process concerns goal implementation. The church engages in group and individual actions to generate and apply resources. Efficient operations should reflect several criteria:
Quantity. Are enough time, effort, and resources being applied?
Quality. Are the right actions being taken with a view to excellence?
Timing. Are steps being taken when they should be, in the order they should be taken?
Cost. Are resources being used at the planned rate and in reasonable proportion to anticipated results?
Accountability. Are actions being taken by the right people?
Feedback. Are the results of actions being collected, analyzed, and utilized to improve future performance?
Strategy and Operations: Four Positions
To simplify, we can relate strategy and operations on a grid:
| | Operations |
| | Efficient | Inefficient |
| Effective | 1 | 3 |
| Strategy | | | |
| Ineffective | 2 | 4 |
For the sake of illustration, we have created four situations showing various combinations of strategic and operational strengths and weaknesses.
Position 1. -- This church exhibits both effective strategy and efficient operations. Simply put, the church knows what it wants to do and does it well.
Position 2. -- This church operates with great efficiency but lacks meaningful strategy. Such a church is not always easy to recognize because it is active and efficient. Committees meet, classes are held, budgets are developed, programs are implemented. But in some way the church has a problem with its sense of direction. Maybe its evangelism effort is halting or rudderless, or considerable controversy surrounds budget priorities, or certain ministries undermine what other ministries are seeking to accomplish. To say that a church is strategically ineffective does not necessarily mean it is completely lacking a sense of direction. It may be that:
The church is pursuing so many goals that none receives adequate attention.
Goals are not communicated clearly or regularly.
Goals are not reviewed from year to year.
Goals are not really relevant to the average church member.
Goals are unrealistic in terms of available resources.
Goal are trivial or unchallenging.
Position 3. -- This church has an effective strategic position but is inefficient in reaching and sustaining that position operationally. Operational problems can stem from a variety of causes:
People. Too few, too many, poorly trained, unmotivated, misplaced, or uncooperative.
Timing. Action too late or too soon, action improperly sequenced.
Communication. Too little, too late, too much, wrong kind.
Organization Structure. Too loose, too rigid, too complicated.
Control. No standards, no follow-up, no corrective action.
Position 4. -- This church has neither effective strategy nor efficient operations -- it lacks both vision and vitality.
Churches in position 4 may well be characterized by sleepy indifference or arrogant blindness. For example, leaders might be locked in a paralyzing power struggle that saps the congregation's productive energies; or massive resistance to needed congregational change blunts every effort to grow; or so few congregation members volunteer their time (or money) that ongoing ministries begin to fall apart.
Practical Guidelines for Church Health
The following practical guidelines can be of great assistance to churches seeking to do right things in the right way:
Clarify the "why" of church programs and activities before the "how."
Derive congregational goals and priorities with maximum participation of members.
Remember, participation breeds commitment.
Do not equate talking about a problem with solving the problem.
Avoid "paralysis by analysis" that stems from incessant committee meetings, routine, and the status quo.
Periodically reevaluate the importance and fruitfulness of all entrenched programs and meetings.
Hold congregational leaders accountable for results achieved, not hours served.
Do not allow new ministries to undermine established ones unless this reflects an agreed-upon strategic plan.
Continually remind congregation members of church goals, strategies, and priorities.
Avoid going in too many directions at one time. Successful strategy execution demands prolonged commitment, frequent recharging of energy, and considerable patience.
Most importantly, unceasingly ask God to guide and direct the church's goals and priorities through enthusiasm born of the Holy Spirit.
Dr. Phil Van Auken is professor of management at the Hankermer School of Business at Baylor University.
Ministering to Children in Small Churches
Jan Johnson
Since the average church in America has 102 people at a worship service, a lot of children are being taught and loved in churches smaller than a hundred members. Thankfully, Rick Chromey doesn't believe that because a church is small, their children's ministry is haphazard or ineffective.
To that end, in his book Children's Ministry Guide for Smaller Churches, Chromey offers tips (and even forms) for evaluating and focusing children's ministry and even a plan for a children's ministry training seminar. Ever geared to small churches, he offers creative activities small churches can do well, alternatives to traditional Vacation Bible School, as well as good ideas for difficulties such as "The Money Monster" and "The Space Alien."
Title: Children's Ministry Guide for Smaller Churches
Author: Rick Chromey
Publisher: Group Publishing, 1995
ForMinistry contains material from ministry resource providers representing the full spectrum of Christian faith and practice.
Please Note: the American Bible Society, in keeping with its mission, avoids endorsing particular doctrinal positions.
The views expressed above are strictly those of the authors or organizations providing these materials.
Small Groups Bring Back Intimacy Lost in Large Churches
Andy Sloan
The way to get involved in a church 20 years ago was to make friends with the pastor. Now most newcomers and even members are lucky if they get to shake hands with the pastor. Today's big crowds, flashy presentations, and upbeat music may make more people come to church services, but no amount of hype or technology can provide the spiritual intimacy needed to make them feel part of “the church.” That's why more churches invest time and effort into developing small-group ministries.
“It is impossible for a pastor to provide attention, discipleship, and the care needed for large groups of people,” says William P. Donahue, director of adult education and leadership training at Willow Creek Community Church and author of Leading Life-Changing Small Groups, published by Zondervan Publishing House.
He recommends that churches organize small groups with a ratio of one leader to 10 members. Apprentice leaders can then be trained to form new groups as growth occurs.
Leading Life-Changing Small Groups is arranged in eight sections, which include:
Helping the leader become a shepherd
Skills and information needed to conduct life-changing meetings
Multiplying your ministry
How to start small groups in your own church
The manual was written “with a lot of common sense in mind,” and Donahue points out that Willow Creek's model is “an effective strategy for churches of 80, 000, or 8,000.” He asserts that readers will use certain parts of Leading Life-Changing Small Groups time after time in order to produce small groups where “change is the norm, not the exception.”
William P. Donahue is the director of adult education and leadership training at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill. He and his team work to provide training and resources for 2,000 small group leaders and overseers.
See Leading Life-Changing Small Groups for more information about this book or for information about ordering.
ForMinistry contains material from ministry resource providers representing the full spectrum of Christian faith and practice.
Please Note: the American Bible Society, in keeping with its mission, avoids endorsing particular doctrinal positions.
The views expressed above are strictly those of the authors or organizations providing these materials.
International Students: A Multi-Faceted Ministry
Marlee Alex
Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world.
-- Mark 16:15 CEV
Nonie Bell, originally of Easton, Penn., began working with international students in 1976 as an undergraduate. At her American university she began to see the potential of reaching internationals because cultural adjustment often meant their ethical and spiritual underpinnings had been pulled away. The students were questioning who they were and who God is, Nonie says. In this process, she recognized their spiritual openness. Because international students are often in personal crises, they are asking questions, and many are simply seeking truth.
At an Urbana missions conference in Urbana, Ill., Nonie made a commitment to God. "Well, Lord, it seems I'm gifted to work with university students," she admitted. "I enjoy international students in particular, so if you want me to do that overseas, here I am."
Nonie then began seeking opportunities. Under the umbrella of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, an interdenominational and evangelical campus ministry, Nonie works with a sister organization in Perugia, Italy, called Gruppi Biblici Universitari (GBU), or University Bible Groups.
Nonie, was your work in Italy an immediate success?
In Florence, Italy, where I was for 3 years, many of the internationals with whom my co-worker and I had contact on a consistent basis were English speaking. That was effective when my Italian wasn't so great, but that also contributed to my Italian not getting great! I also found those students would be in the city only one semester. These kids were on the run and didn't have a lot of time to become part of the local scene. It was frustrating because I had gone to Europe to work with internationals but found myself working primarily with Americans.
How is the work different where you are now?
In terms of ministry, Perugia is more strategic. The Italian government sends foreigners who inquire about higher education here first to study Italian language and culture. They receive the equivalent of a high school degree. Students come from all over the world, many from Arab, African, and Asian countries, then transfer to a university in another city. Some return to their home countries to work in business or economic development. The opportunity for impact goes way beyond the local scene. Those who receive Christ here will take the gospel with them.
We also work with Italian students from across the country in medicine, law, pharmacy, literature -- the whole gamut. Two years ago, there had been no kind of gospel outreach on the Italian University here. Campus Crusade for Christ and Navigators have tried to establish work, but found it difficult to make inroads.
Why is it so hard?
Satan has enjoyed a strong hold here for a long time. The life expectancy for missionaries in Italy is short. They often leave before their first term is over for any number of reasons: health, marriage, financial problems, or depression. University students in particular are a difficult mission field, and here they are often influenced by the most active group in the country, the communist party. This is not what Americans think of as everyone wearing gray uniforms. It's a different twist on communism, more from a philosophical perspective, but very anti-God.
Your goal was, in the course of four years, to establish a witnessing fellowship?
Yes, we wanted to be able to witness to internationals and Italians, to disciple some converts, and collaborate with local churches. Our philosophy is to have people from local churches involved so when we leave, the work doesn't all fall apart. Part of our long-term objective is to have an Italian staff in place by the end of the four years. Now into our third year, we have Bible study groups in three different languages. These include a weekly Italian study with some unbelievers and the occasional seeker, a bimonthly French speaking group of mostly Africans -- some from Muslim backgrounds -- and an English speaking study directed mostly toward seekers.
You accomplished this on your own?
For the first six months, it was just my coworker, Gloria, and I. But the tradition of the GBU (working in 12 of the 55 universities in Italy) is to have summer teams witness to the language students who come to Perugia just for the summer. Many of these are language teachers in their own countries.
Our long term goal is to pray into being permanent work here. Last summer, for the first time, we had two outreach teams running simultaneously: one, Italian speaking, consisting of local students.
For the Italians it is a serious commitment because the outreach happens during their exam period. They take time away from studies to be involved with literature distribution, organizing outreach activities in the evenings, and working with the foreign students who come to help -- a faith-stretching exercise.
At the end of the summer one of the Italian girls said, "It stuck me; this is our work. We're Italians in an Italian university. Christian foreign students come at their own expense in an exhausting schedule, but it is our responsibility."
It was exciting to see some of the Italians getting the vision. That's what we'd been praying all along.
What are some of the other facets of your ministry?
The biggest problem is that Italian universities don't have anywhere near the facilities of American campuses. Lecture halls are way overbooked, so sometimes its hard to find an empty room to pray as a group. We have prayer meetings each day of the week. That's a new concept for the Italians to pray for their classmates and professors by name, and to pray for opportunities. From the beginning we were convinced the only way witness was going to happen was by prayer. Prayer is integral. We have a monthly day of prayer and fasting and other prayer meetings for particular needs.
Last spring we got official recognition to sponsor a couple of lectures in the form of a student activity grant. We're going to be choosing a topic along the line of medical ethics such as, "Can man take the place of God?" It will be addressed toward medical students. Another topic within the philosophy or law department will be "Does justice exist?"
The GBU students will make the arrangements, advertise the lectures, distribute flyers, and set up a book table. We want to do follow up Bible studies with anyone interested.
It's a big scary venture. All of a sudden we're not just a group of friends who get together and pray. Now the students will realize all my professors and classmates will know I'm an evangelical. It's scary on a personal level for the students.
All the way along we've incorporated monthly international suppers during the academic year with students who want to practice French or English. They bring a covered dish (a new concept for Italians) and after dinner do a game or ice breaker activity. Later we present a gospel message in mime, music, or testimony. We keep it light. There is always a book table for people who want literature in their own language.
All six protestant churches in Perugia participate in the suppers. This alone is a big stride forward because in Italian Christianity people generally don't do things across denominations. They're leery of getting together if they differ in theology. Gloria and I see this as the work of God. It is not us because not only are we foreigners, but we're much older than the students. Gloria, in her 60s, and I in my 40s are just not cool. We're just ordinary people with a lot of failings, but somehow God is using us in this time and place. We're very grateful.
What were some of the most rewarding moments in this ministry?
I have seen the power of God's Word to change the way people think. When we get the Scriptures in somebody's hands, there is an impact. A young Italian man came to one of our suppers with an antagonistic attitude towards Christianity. I talked with him for a few minutes and made sure he got a New Testament because he indicated he'd never read it. I said, "You've got to go to the source material."
During the evening, Eduardo stayed around and talked with a number of believers and kept hearing you have to read the Bible. Later, the friend who'd invited him, a Japanese girl who is not even a believer, told me he had been reading that New Testament every day. "He's a different guy," she said. So one of our volunteers looked him up and had a good chat.
Eduardo said, "My big issue all along was who was this Jesus guy? I understand now that Jesus is God!"
Okay, I thought, we've got the major things down. I see again and again that when we get people into the Scriptures, ideas, actions, and attitudes are changed. The underpinnings are prayer and Scripture.
What are your future goals?
I love Italy and the people, but it is better if Gloria and I leave after four years. We've seen some students come to Christ and others grow in the Lord. We've seen many students go on to become pastors and missionaries and leaders in their churches. We are doing as much as we can to train and delegate leadership. We want to get Italians up front and leading the pack. We give them input and ideas that are helpful, but tell them, "You have to make it go."
I have always found that I may do things that look good from the outside, but the main issue is, Who am I in relationship to God? If my relationship to Christ is not first priority, if I'm not letting him change me, than what good is the fruit?
I'm thankful God kept me in this work long enough to bring me to where I was broken. I had to say, "I can't do this without you, Lord. I thought I could do it on my own, but I can't." I've been in campus ministry over twenty years, but in the last several I've had a deep sense of peace or assurance that this is his work. It is his work -- without a doubt.
For More Information:
For more information about ministry among international students please contact Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, PO Box 7895, Madison, WI 54707-7895, phone 608-274-9001. On their Web site you will also find information about the umbrella organization, International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and other international evangelical groups, as well as the Urbana Missions Conference.
Loving God and "Them"
James Watkins
The sunlight was just wiggling through the curtain folds as I sank into the overstuffed sofa in the office to curl up with the writings of Saint Teresa of Avila. Early morning, before the phone starts ringing and visitors start tapping on the door, is my time alone with God. The Lord, a good book (along with the Good Book), a Diet Pepsi, and meahhhh.
But then the phone rang. I knew who it was without picking up the phone. Jodi, is a mentally challenged woman who calls the parsonage at least once a day. She never announces who she is or engages in small talk.
"Listen ... " (she always begins with "Listen"!) "I need to know how much money I have 'cause I'm out of food and I need some meat. How much is in my checkbook? I think Pastor Lois paid some bills while she was here helping me balance my checkbook. So I need to know ..."
Once she stopped for a breath, I had a chance to say, "Pastor Lois is out of town for a few days, but I'll have her call you."
I tried to get back to my time alone with God, but found myself wondering how many times Jodi would call back today with the same question, because she has very little short-term memory following massive heart failure. I re-opened the book by Saint Teresa ...
"We cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may have good reasons for believing that we are, but we can know quite well if we are loving our neighbor."
Hmmm? Do I love God, only as much as I love Jodi? Or that critical board member? How 'bout those chattering teens on the back row? Can I not love God more than I love my neighbor with the barking dog?
Scripture seems to imply that's the case.
"My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God's children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him.
"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts" — 1 John 4:7-8, 12 CEV
I decided I needed to love God more and to take some food from the church's pantry to Jodie.
Jim Watkins is an ordained minister, conference speaker, and the author of 14 books, 1,500 articles, and an award-winning Web site at www.jameswatkins.com.
He has a degree in Theology from Indiana Wesleyan University and has completed 15 of 30 hours of graduate work at Ball State University School of Journalism and Purdue University. He has served as a minister at three churches, editorial director at Wesley Press, newspaper columnsist, and unicycle dare devil.
ForMinistry contains material from ministry resource providers representing the full spectrum of Christian faith and practice.
Please Note: the American Bible Society, in keeping with its mission, avoids endorsing particular doctrinal positions.
The views expressed above are strictly those of the authors or organizations providing these materials.
Into the Future: Turning Today's Church Trends into Tomorrow's Opportunities
Marlee Alex
Sep-30-2004
Title: Into the Future: Turning Today's Church Trends into Tomorrow's Opportunities
Author: Elmer Towns and Warren Bird
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Book House, 2000
I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it?
—Isaiah 43:19 (CEV)
Formatted with appeal to this generation's multi-sensory communication needs, Into the Future delivers.
Written tightly, simply, and intelligently, this book will take church leaders where they want to go: toward interaction with the postmodern seeker, the Christian who doesn't fit into the box of evangelicalism, and those burned by or disillusioned by their perception of Christianity.
"At issue is the level of a church's love and concern for people who are different," says one on the contributors, George Hunter, a theologian at Asbury Theological Seminary. Into the Future aims for the heart of the body of Christ—where diversity is the key word.
Some churches have left the starting gate and are ripping down the runway; this book brings profiles and insights into their success. Other churches are still dressing for the race, and it is to those this book will appeal most. Here are motivational stories, bite-sized nuggets of wisdom, inspiring insights and practical stepping stones needed for churches to get moving and be counted. Churches on the move, say the authors, are looking toward
- church health
- relational communication
- targeted outreach
- new forms for faith transfer
- greater appreciation of worship
- empowerment of lay leadership
- stewardship motives
The energy seeping through the pages of Into the Future is contagious—and no wonder. With excerpts from nearly 100 different sources, the latest internet research on demographics and other Christian statistical data, and specialists committed to reaching 21st century culture, the writers present 14 perspectives of the future church. The result is a passionate message: a business-as-usual approach is inadequate for focused mission. We are asked an important question: Is it possible to shift from program-centered agendas back to our roots of spiritually-driven ministry?
This book, declare Towns and Bird, "is designed to make you uncomfortable." If not uncomfortable, the bold subtitles, sidebars, charts, call-out quotes, and application questions won't leave you bored. Lots of references to websites are an additional clue to the value-added impact of this book. The reader can browse them whenever, or skip around in the book, easily finding material targeting specific interests. By the time you lay aside Into the Future, you'll be as infused with vision as the authors whose love for people and passion for God's kingdom shine through every page.
How to Start a Small-Group Ministry in Your Church
Andy Sloan
In reviewing Starting Small Groups—and Keeping Them Going, Michael Mack, founder of the Small Group Network, wrote:
“There are tons of 'how-to' small-group materials on the market these days. Some of them, unfortunately, are not very good. Every once in a while, however, I come across a resource that surprises me. Starting Small Groups—and Keeping Them Going is such a resource. This is what I would call a 'nuts-and-bolts' small group book. It contains a plethora of practical ideas and information for starting small groups and supporting an existing ministry.”
Starting Small Groups—and Keeping Them Going is a comprehensive guide to small-group ministry. Written with church leaders who direct small group programs in mind, the book is divided into three parts:
- Understanding Small Groups
- Organizing Small Groups in Your Church
- Training Small Group Facilitators
Part 1: Understanding Small Groups is brief, but lays a solid foundation for small-group ministry: the precedent of biblical practice, the strong tradition of small group communities throughout church history, and the clear need for small groups in today's context. A working definition of faithful small groups is also offered: Small groups listen to God, care for their members, relate to the church, and welcome the stranger.
Part 2: Organizing Small Groups in Your Church guides readers in a step-by-step process of implementing and maintaining a small group ministry. Starting Small Groups—and Keeping Them Going espouses three types of small groups: discipleship groups, which focus on spiritual growth; support and recovery groups, which focus on nurture; and ministry groups, which focus on tasks. Regardless of the kind of group, however, the book steers every group to include prayer, biblical reflection, mutual support, and ministry tasks.
In addition to methods for starting new groups, helpful suggestions are also given for refocusing or adding healthy small group components to existing groups—Sunday school classes, committees, choirs, Bible studies, etc. Small group coordinators will also find strategies for increasing participation and leadership development in groups and for evaluating groups.
Part 3: Training Small Group Facilitators retains the underlying focus of the book by providing five detailed training sessions for small group facilitators in these areas:
- Small group facilitators themselves
- Bible study
- Mutual support
- Prayer
Ministry tasks
A training session outline is also provided for support and recovery group facilitators. Supplementing this section is an abundance of relevant reproducible handouts. Aside from training, small group coordinators will appreciate the many forms for surveys, evaluations, and record keeping.
The only thing you won't find in Starting Small Groups—and Keeping Them Going is an easy, ready-made program for your church. Following the process of the book will take hard work, but the result will be a thoughtful, customized ministry suited to your own circumstances and location.
Starting Small Groups—and Keeping Them Going is part of the Intersections Small Group Series, published by Augsburg Fortress. To order this book or specific group studies in the series, go to Starting Small Groups—and Keeping Them Going.
ForMinistry contains material from ministry resource providers representing the full spectrum of
How to Teach Adults
Jan Johnson
When teaching adults, we sometimes deliver information and hope it makes an impact. Maybe the students will decide to compliment their spouse more or to try to stop raging at the pushy guy in the next car.
In this book, Richard Osmer instead urges us to move deeper into the experience of the adult's mind and heart. He outlines how a person's faith can change by:
- teaching for belief (ideas);
- teaching for relationship (trusting God more, spirituality);
- teaching for commitment (letting God's love reshape the way we understand our lives);
- teaching for mystery (accepting God's "other"-ness or transcendence).
Each sort of spiritual progress, according to Osmer, uses different teaching approaches. Teaching for relationship, for example, involves discussion. Osmer then offers ideas for how to use each method to meet that goal as well as helpful pointers in general.
Osmer's ideas make us think and help us look at the processes that go on within a person, respect those processes and cooperate with them for the progress of God's invasion of an adult's life.
Title: Teaching for Faith: A Guide for Teachers of Adult Classes
Author: Richard Robert Osmer
Publisher: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992
10 Spiritual Principles of Church Health
Dr. Philip Van Auken
Much current literature is devoted to church growth—what the church must do to be successful. In this article, church management authority Dr. Phil VanAuken focuses on the 10 principles of church health—what the church must be to be successful.
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Adult Religious Education: A Journey of Faith Development
Jan Johnson
If adult education in your church has become stale and isolated from the entire church’s life, this book presents an opportunity to consider bigger issues: How can adult education. be more than a simple transmission of faith? How can it equip adults to have a personal relationship with God?
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FM: How did you get started in small group ministry?
