The New Economy

My son and I have a game we play almost every day - it’s called “What’s the price of gas today?” He is great at remembering what and where and keeping me informed. I almost always get the lowest price around!

At one intersection close to our house there are several gas stations. Two of the stations are usually within a few cents of each other, while a third station is at least 10 cents more. Guess where the lines are.

While the more expensive gas may be a better quality, no one is there.

There is a change from “see how much I paid”… to “see how little I paid”

What does that mean for churches and non profits? More than you think.

The decades of self indulgence are coming to an abrupt halt. Giving to “bigger and better” is dead. If you want to survive, you need to know the new rules.

For years church buildings have been the height of self indulgence. I remember one church that was constructing a family life center (gym). When I asked why..the response was that the YMCA was really crowded in the mornings, and also 20 minutes farther than the church. I appreciated their answer because most churches just don’t have the guts to confess their real motives for what they build and why.

Each month our staff gets together and tells stories about the lives that we have seen changed through what we do. It is incredible to hear those stories, and know that what we do really does matter. We routinely run out of time before we run out of stories.

I have asked other groups to tell me their changed lives stories. There are blank stares, and awkward silences. If I ask them about their next building project they can talk forever - and in great detail, down to the type of carpet they are using.

Those who support us are no longer going to be moved by the expensive carpet or the new building: They are going to be moved by the lives that are changed.

It is time to rethink the purpose of our facilities, worship centers, offices, classrooms and gyms. It is time to look at the needs of our communities and see how what we have can be used to make the human condition a bit better (or a lot better). It is time to stop rationalizing multimillion dollar projects that are really just monuments to ourselves. It is time to open up, and use what we have in ways that we have never thought of before.

If you don’t have those stories to tell - then its time to close your doors.

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Budget for 09

It is budgeting time for churches and non profits. With the shaky economy right now, most organizations are looking to cut back on expenditures. 2009 looks to be a tighter year than 08. At the same time that “lower funds” are being expected for 09, income is actually increasing in 08. This can create a false sense for the budgeting process. Here are a few things that may help you to get a good perspective.

1. There is no money for 09. The Economy is in the worst shape since WWII. With very few exceptions, everyone is expecting for churches and nonprofits to have less money given to them in 09.

2. They are wrong. Long term studies show that these groups still maintain income, regardless of the ups and downs in the economy.

3. Budget as if they are right. No one will let you put a “growing” budget out right now. If you try - they will doubt your ability to see reality. You cannot win this argument.

As a leader, you budget for slight decrease to flat - and have a plan on what to add in each quarter as the “unexpected” funds come in. If by some fluke, history is wrong - you will still be OK.

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Becoming a Vital Church

There are very specific things that each and every local church must do if they expect to be around in the next 25 years. 25 years may seem like a random time frame. It’s not. That’s how long it takes for most churches to move from vital to declining (and soon to dead).

Honestly, most church leaders are not worried about what their church will look like in 25 years - they are just trying to figure out how to make things work for today. The good news is that these concepts apply to both today and tomorrow.

Let me begin by saying that I believe each and every local church has a mission to fulfill. No church is the “vermiform appendix” of the Body of Christ. No church had a purpose for existing in the past, but not one today.

Where that mindset exists, you have leaders who have missed what God is calling them to do and to be. I am not referring to the clergy when I use the term “leaders”, but rather the people who influence the direction the church is allowed to go.

Before this conversation begins, you need to ask yourself if you are actually open to doing whatever God may call you to do…or are you just hoping that God will bless what you choose to do.

Most North American churches are in the second category - and will soon be dead. What about you?

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Finding Your Next Move

As several of you have noticed… the past series was more like an article than a post. My apologizes! So let’ s move to some shorter focused (and very practical) issues.

One question that I get is “how do we determine where to focus our attention?”

In the worlds of nonprofit and churches, that issues is usually it is driven by “who” more than “what”. “Who” is upset, “who” is giving money, “who” started the project, “who” will benefit from the project, etc. (is that supposed to be “whom”?)

In order to get beyond the “who” barrier, you must bring in some sort of unbiased assessment. This may be a person or an evaluation tool of some kind. Many consultants have the skills and resources to do both. ( I am not simply plugging 218Consulting…but I really do believe in what I do!) The outside consultant can see things that you haven’t, say things that you won’t, and do things that no one else can. It is, in my opinion, the best way to focus.

There are assessment tools that you can use without a consultant. For churches, I recommend Natural Church Development (NCD). This tool has a proven history in many churches across denominational and geographical lines. It measures effectiveness in 8 areas, and has a great amount of resources available to help you make progress in the areas you identify. I have used it in many churches, and seen very positive results.

Whatever you do - make your decisions wisely, not out of fear or pressure. What you do really matters, and is worth investing time and resources to do it well.

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Formula For Change…part 4

The remaining elements for our formula are V and F. V is the actual casting of the Vision and F is the defined First Step. Pastor Joe is really good at preaching and connecting with people, so he is still trying to convince his board that now is the time to cast the Vision to the church. If you were on the church board - would you agree?

Imagine for a moment that you are in a city planning meeting and the speaker begins to address the issue of youth crime in your community. You have noticed over the past several months that the reports of crime have been getting closer to the neighborhood where you live. Your family is getting nervous about going out at night and you just had a neighbor get robbed. All of this plays in your head as the speaker spells out the depth of the problem and talks about other communities that have faced this exact issue. At this point you are engaged on both an emotional and intellectual level.

He proceeds to talk about how much better things are in a community that is very similar to yours - and says that the solution came when people in the community “got tired of living in fear and did something about it”. He goes on to describe what life is like for those families now and how great it would be have the same experience. The meeting ends.

He has just cast a compelling Vision for the future. Are you excited or frustrated?

Probably both. Excited to know that things can be different, but frustrated at not knowing exactly what to do. The other issue is that everyone is left to come up with their own idea of what ” got tired of living in fear and did something about it” means. Some may think community watch, some may think armed security guards, or a hundred other options. One thing is certain - there is no focused effort to follow.

Pastor Joe and the board need to lay out a series of steps that must take place in order for the church to launch the new service. From that series, they must select ONE very specific First Step that he will ask the church to take.

It must be clear and must involve action. Going home and “thinking and praying” about it do not qualify. Giving a financial gift, being a part of a focus group or study group, coming to a special information meeting all qualify because they involve action. People will think and pray about whether or not to take the step - so it accomplishes both.

So now that the F is defined, Pastor Joe can develop a Vision casting message that ends with a clear, specific, actionable First Step for the church.

The possibility that a new service will start at First Church is very high if the Formula for Change is taken seriously and in order.

Here it is; C iff (D)(V)(F) > S

Stated: Change will occur if and only if D times V times F is greater than S.

D = Dissatisfaction with identified issue

V = Vision of how that issue could be

F = First Step toward that Vision

S = Status Quo

Enjoy the changes!

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StrengthsFinder in the Church

One of the topics that is receiving a lot of attention is how to effectively incorporate StrengthsFinder into the life of a local church. If you are not familiar with StrengthsFinder, you will be soon! Overall, I am seeing a significant trend toward the strengths based approach in both the church and not-for-profit areas. This is mirroring the action in the for-profit sectors. Companies and organizations have invested millions of dollars and hours into trying to get peak performance. Systems and processes have been refined to the Six Sigma standards - but that still hasn’t solved the key issue. Business and organizations are people interacting with people. If your people can’t deliver, neither can your Six Sigma system. In the church, the same concept applies.

You can have a great mission and model for ministry- but if you do not have the people in place that can deliver, then you are in trouble. StrengthsFinder is a great tool to help your key leaders get a better understanding of themselves, and where they best fit into your system. As a leader, you need to know your team and what they can or can’t do well.

Every time I give this talk in a church, someone quotes the scripture that His power is made perfect in our weakness (2Cor 12:9). That is true (of course), but the passage is about Paul asking God to take away his weakness (”thorn in the flesh”). God’s response is that this “thorn” is a reminder to Paul that even though Paul is a great man, he is still just a man and dependent upon God for true power. This line of thinking actually helps us get past the idea that trying to fix our weaknesses is the goal. The goal is to humbly understand that we all have strengths and weaknesses - but that we should focus on understanding both, and build on our strengths.

During this next week, I will be detailing specific ways that you can move your church or organization to an effective strengths based model.

If you are already on board with this idea, but would like to be coached through implementing these strategies, contact us about distance or on site coaching.

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Leading into the Future

Personalities and Positions

As I have read and studied, one thing that I have noticed is that the opinions given about the future form of the Church seem to connect strongly to the personal leanings of the speaker/author of the given information.

George Barna, who has long been seen as a neutral voice on state of the Church, says in his book, Revolution, that the House Church will be the predominate form of church in the future. He warns the MegaChurches to get ready to sell their property and buildings (more or less). He also goes on to align himself personally with the House Church model, and the movement that has inspired it. His life experience impacts his vision for the Church of the future.

On the other end of the spectrum are leaders like Mark Driscoll. Mark is the Senior Pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. He says in his book, Confessions, that the MegaChurch is just getting going and is the primary form of church in the future. His view is that the Church has really been a MegaChurch from the beginning, and quotes some scripture to back that idea up. He pastors a MegaChurch.

In all honesty, I’d be disappointed if either one of them took the opposing position. I am glad that they believe passionately in the form of the church where they have a personal connection.

Can you imagine what Mark’s church would say if he predicted the demise of the MegaChurch in the next 20 years?!

Read more about the TeraChurchProject, a collaborative wiki project on the future forms of the local church.

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from TeraChurch.net

Over and over again, we find ourselves looking for clues as to what the future holds. We understand that with knowledge, we can be prepared, and possibly avoid disaster. The Church is no exception. One of the primary questions that Church leaders throughout our country are asking is…

“Why are we losing members?“

The response to this question almost always begins with “they should” referring to those who are not there. That is completely the wrong approach. The correct answer begins with “We should have” and ends with “so that is how we will move forward”.

With all of the information available to Churches today, there is no valid reason for having a dying church. Don’t misunderstand that point, I know there are plenty of excuses, and as a church consultant I have heard most of them.

The CANNOTs

“Our church cannot attract young families”
“Our church cannot compete with…”
“Our Pastor just cannot”

The WILL NOTs

Our church will not offer…
Our church will not encourage those people to come here!
Our church will not share a pastor with another church!
Our church WILL NOT change!

Did any of those statements sound familiar?

They should.

These and other similar sentiments are at the very heart of why

the Church in America is in decline.

read TeraChurch in its entirety

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Conforming to the Emergent Church

There is a great old joke about how all non-conformists dress alike. It is true though. That is the way that you can tell who they are! Even those who identify themselves as being different from everyone else have learned that you have to find ways to be identified by everyone else as different from everyone else. Otherwise, you are just part of the crowd - and no self respecting non-conformist would want that. But what does a non-conformist look like in a large crowd of non-conformists?

This is not just an exercise in mental gymnastics, but rather a question that I have after reading way to many blogs and articles on the Emergent Church.

I have written before about the concepts and focus of the Emergent (or Emerging) Church, so I won’t go into that again. The issue for me is that it is all getting very boring to listen to and read. I find the same mantras, same names, same everything all over the place. Conformity is winning over the non-conformists. What started out as a movement to understand what it means to effectively be the Church (and church) in our day and culture has turned into a very cohesive marketing machine. Go ahead - Google Emergent Church and Emerging Church. Write down the names connected to the movement. You will find a very small number of voices from the “movement”, but a lot of resources to buy.

In my work, I regularly hear about this new approach to church. It is categorized as either the “right way” to do it, or as “Satan himself”. Of course, neither extreme is correct. All of this really reminds me of early Methodism. John Wesley himself was concerned that the “movement” he was a part of - which was a pretty radical new way of doing church - would one day simply become another “form of Godliness”.

In Wesley’s day, information traveled slowly. It took a long time for new ideas to get out, and even longer for them to be adopted. Now, a new idea can be expressed, evaluated and adopted within days. With this time compression, movements can quickly become organizations that then become forms of what they once represented.

I guess what I am saying is that I believe the Scripture that says in 1 Cor 4:20 that the Kingdom of God is not one of talk but of power. And I am pretty sure that doesn’t mean marketing power.

update: I may have been in a bit of a cynical mood when I wrote this post. My apologies to the Emergents that are sincerely seeking and following God.

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Community Impact - 101

So what does it take to truly impact a community?

Maybe the first question a leader should ask is “Why do we want to impact our community?” - or “Do we really want to impact our community?”.

Over the years I have seen leaders of various churches and organizations boldly proclaim that they are going to have a positive impact on their communities. The sentiment is seen as some sort of rallying cry to get the members on board with this new directional goal. Often times the reality of what this means goes undefined. Maybe that is intentional, maybe it’s just assumed people know, or maybe the reality is that those leading the new movement really don’t know what it means.

“Community” is a new buzzword. It brings up all kind of images in our minds. It can mean anything and everything from a small group of people who are friends to a neighborhood, or even to the idea of the global community. It is a word that is used to connect us to whatever feels good about the idea of ‘belonging”. So when leaders announce the plan to impact the community, we hear whatever we connect to. You may translate it to ” We are going to reach the people in your neighborhood and make them feel great about this church/organization that you support”. “Fantastic!” you think to yourself- “I want my neighbors to think highly about the church/organization that I belong to”. Unfortunately, 1000 others hear their own version of the message. Clarity is nowhere to be found.

First : Define it. The very first step is for the leadership to clearly define community for your organization. Is it a 3 mile radius from your church? Is it the county that you serve through your organization? Is it the world? Let people know what the target is.

Second: Describe it. What do you mean by “impact”? Are you trying to bring about change, or just offer assistance? Are you expecting people to be radically different or just more aware of what you do? What does the end result look like? Come up with a 30 second “word picture” that can describe the community after it has been impacted.

Third: Fund it. Unfunded mandates are the joke of most organizations. It screams “political move” to everyone who hears it. If you are serious, then find new funds or divert existing funds to make it happen. Give your people the resources that they will need to get the job done.

Finally: Do it! It is amazing how many times churches and organizations never get off the ground with new initiatives. You can make it through the first three steps and still fail if you never get the ball rolling. There are many people in leadership positions that enjoy getting the idea out there and sold - but do not have the ability to get it done. Make sure that the right people are empowered to make things happen!

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