Stategy

I've been giving a lot of thought to strategy of ministry lately. I'm a big believer that every church is unique. Because something was very successful in one church doesn't necessarily mean it will be so in another. When developing a strategy, I try to consider factors like location, culture, community needs, gift make-up of the church, obvious spiritual needs of the church, etc...

I try to be very thoughtful in the implementation of new programs. This is why I'm thinking so heavily on strategy. I'd like to develop an overall ministry strategy for Living Hope Church that we can settle into for at least a couple of years. If I just go start programs without any thought of the overall strategy, then there's a good chance we'll be saddled with a program that conflicts with our strategy once it finally comes into view.

This is a process that requires a lot of patience on my part, because I naturally want to come in and impulsively say "let's do this, this, and this" and just do it. But I know from experience that this kind of approach only leads to a ministry with a very disjointed feel and loads of internal problems. If the LHC staff, elders, and I can decide upon an overall course, we'll eventually have a ministry with a sense of intention, connectivity, and journey. I want LHC not to be a church of 200 different programming options, but rather, a church with intentional steps that guide Christ-followers toward maturity and mission.

John Maxwell said, "Attempting everything, like attempting nothing, will suck the life out of you."