According to a recent article by Kevin Ford, if you
answered "no" to any of these questions, your church has an inward
focus that needs urgent attention.
By contrast, a transforming church is one that has a
shared focus of mission beyond its walls, regardless of its size, personality,
or worship style. These courageous churches help transform people into God's
image. They transform the communities in which they minister. And, as
organizations, they are continually transforming how they lead, operate, and
minister. They are missional, or outwardly focused, in nature.
So what does it take to become a transforming
church?
If your church wants to
navigate toward a transformational focus, your leadership team will need to
implement these steps:
1. Redefine
your mission statement to target people outside the walls of the church
building.
2. Focus
your evangelism and mission efforts largely on your own local community.
3.
Help people connect to your outreach efforts.
4. Resist
the temptation to be all things to all people.
5.
Take time to develop a strategic plan that bridges your church's passions
and strengths with the needs of people in your community.
6. Engage
a large percentage of your membership in the process of discovering your
community and developing your strategic plan.
The paradox of focus is
simple. It would seem as though a narrow focus would yield minimal results. In
fact, the opposite is true. As the church focuses its resources on doing a few
things well, it provides a permission-giving culture for members to follow
their calling. Ministry then moves from a few to all members.
Amen?
