Experiences In Church Transformation

Planning For Success

Why is it that many Christian leaders seem programmed to expect failure?  If it were just Presbyterians that I have noticed this trend in, I would attribute it to our Calvin upbringing.  However, I do not feel that it is only limited to a denomination.  I believe that this trend can be seen any many Christian leaders.  Maybe this is a defense mechanism that has been ingrained because so many times we see our hopes and dreams dashed or falling short way too often.

Maybe the reason that we have experienced failure as Christian leaders is that we forget a primary reality of what it means to be a CHRISTIAN leader --- We follow the Lord's lead.  Maybe if we examined where we have found shortcomings, the key thread is that we have pursued our own dreams and plans rather than striving to follow the Lord's dream and plan.  This reminds us of the importance of spending the time to discern the Lord's will.  We must ask the question, "Lord, what would you have me (us) do?"  If we truly are listening for the Lord's voice, I believe that we would find ourselves achieving much more than we often do.

A good friend of mine, Phil Barrett, has on occasion reminded me and others that we need to plan for success within the church.  To me the starting point for this planning must be discerning the Lord's will.  It is great for us to have ideas, dreams, and hopes but if these are not in alignment with the timing and plan of the Lord, we will experience marginal success, or even failure.

Let's plan for success in the church..... always beginning with a dialog with the Lord!

Playing Games

When it comes to interpersonal relationships, it seems that humans can sometimes be the best "game players".  It is a skill that we seem to learn at a fairly young age.  Younger siblings quickly identify the best way to get an older sibling into trouble so that they may relish in watching.  Or what about the ways that we learn to play one parent against another.

Once this skill has taken root, we find it continues through many adult relationships.  We learn to manipulate circumstances and individuals to benefit our perspective.  We learn to spin the story to benefit our own point of view or goals. 

Scripture has many examples of this game playing.  Not only do humans do it within their relationships with each other but we even have the audacity to do it in our relationship with the Lord.

What does any of this have to do with church transformation?  Well, the reality is that this is one of the pitfalls that can easily side track our work.  We can get so involved dealing with the various games that are being played that we have no energy left to do the transformative work we have been called to do.  Be careful and be wise.  Realize when you have been pulled into a game and try to get out of the game as quickly as possible.  Strive to minimize the negative effects of the game playing and identify ways to take the positives out of the situation.

Scary, Isn't It

Recently we once again went through the annual rituals of Halloween.  When I was younger, I used to have a mixed reaction when it came to haunted houses like you see pop up around Halloween.  Part of me was very intrigued and drawn to walking through a haunted house.  The thrill of encountering the "unknown" and being surprised.  Part of me detested haunted houses.  I found that I was fine as long as no one grabbed me in the dark.  Whenever that occurred, I would lash out physically and would act like a madman myself. 

Sometimes transformation can have the same effect on people.  There is a part of us that wants to experience the thrill of the "unknown" and experience the gentle surprises.  But there always remains a part of us that detests those very things.  When we are forced to encounter them, we often lash out irrationally and act in a very abnormal manner.

This can be a huge pitfall for the leaders of transformation.  All our efforts and forward progress with a congregation can easily be undone if we do not keep the understanding of this dynamic in the forefront of our mind.  People that feel forced to advance to quickly will often lash out and do irrational things.  We must help keep the thrill of the "unknown" as a positive tool and not allow it to create a situation that leads people to respond negatively.

Best wishes as you strive to create the right balance!!

How Big?

I recently finished reading the book If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg (which I HIGHLY recommend).  He entitled the final chapter in this book, How Big Is Your God?, which became the challenge that he placed before the reader throughout the chapter.  One of the realities that he laid out and that I came to agree with is that many times we fail to remember and believe that the One we serve is greater than anything we have ever conceived.  There is absolutely nothing which the Lord cannot overcome.

The pitfall that I believe many Christians have is that we fail to live as people who believe in an inexhaustible, all-powerful God.  We hear the Lord's call and grasp the vision that the Lord places before us but then we falter because we start thinking of all the hurdles that will be "impossible" to overcome.  We are limited by the limits that we place (consciously or unconsciously) on our Lord.  We fall into the trap of thinking that we are the ones who have to make this vision happen.  Ortberg says, "We live in a constant state of fear and anxiety because everything depends on us."  We forget that we are God's tools but it is God who actually makes the vision become a reality.

We are the ones who place limits on God's power.  We try to reduce our Lord so that the Lord fits into the limits that we are accustomed to.  Ortberg states:  "When human beings shrink God, they offer prayer without faith, work without passion, service without joy, suffering without hope.  It results in fear, retreat, loss of vision, and failure to persevere."  But if we truly remember and believe what Paul states in his letter to the church of Philippians, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13), and know that it is truly the Lord working through us that makes things happen, then we are able to accomplish the converse of what Ortberg states.  We will find that we offer faith-based prayer, we work with renewed passion, we serve with great joy, and we suffer with an ever-abounding hope to sustain us in those times.  The result of this is that we stand firm, we grasp and live out God's vision, and we will persevere.

Failure, Or Is It

One of the traps that I believe many church leaders increasing fall into is that they try something new and it does not obtain the "success" that they hoped it would.  Many times when confronted with this experience, individuals choose a variety of negative responses.  They may become bitter and angry at the congregation for not seeing the importance of the new item and failing to support it.  They may throw up their hands in frustration and vow never to try something new.  I am sure each of you can identify other possible negative responses.  The point I am trying to make is that often times we allow these experiences to halt the forward growth and momentum of our selves and the ministries we are a part of. 

Recently, I experienced something like I have just been describing.  I decided that it was important to start focusing on one of the building blocks that I believe is necessary for discipleship and Christian growth.  I planned a series of events during Holy Week that I was sure would "prime the pump" and set up an interest in exploring one of the spiritual disciplines.  I then created a time the following month for individuals to regularly come together in order to focus and practice this spiritual discipline.  I put together resources and made all the necessary announcements.  I was ready for something exciting to happen.  What ended up happening was ---- nothing.  No one took advantage of this opportunity and I was very disappointed.

I will confess that the negative responses to the results that I received went through my mind.  Then I began to think about the situation and determined that I could let the situation stop my forward movement or I could examine how adjustments may provide a better path to acheiving a positive result.  I decided to step back and re-examine the situation and look for alternate routes.  I began asking myself some important questions:  Am I focusing on an area where there really is not a spiritual need among my congregation?  Would it be better to invite a few people to start the group rather than placing a blanket invitation to the whole congregation?  Was the timing of my introduction of this new group just off?

I will continue to explore questions and possible different approaches.  I will also do a better job of trying to discern the will of the Spirit.  The reality is that if this focus is needed, the Lord will provide a way and a path to its fulfillment. 

I share this to remind all of us that failure is not necessarily a stopping point.  In fact, maybe referring to the experience as "failure" is not even appropriate.  Instead maybe it would be much more helpful to look at an experience, such as I just shared, as an opportunity to regroup and redefine the path.

Staying on Track

One of the most difficult things to do when you are on a transformational journey is to allow yourself, and/or the congregation, to get off the tracks.  It is very easy to become derailed by a whole variety of things.  Sometimes it is by items that are within your control and sometimes it is by items under the control of others.  This derailment may be because things seem too risky.  Or a derailment may result from someone trying to redefine expectations or priorities.  Whatever the cause of the derailment, it is very important to get on track as quickly as possible.  Do not loose sight of what the call from the Lord is.  Always return to Scripture and prayer as a way to place yourself, and/or your congregation, on the path that the Lord has called you to.

STAY ON TRACK FOR THE LORD - REMEMBER YOUR CALLING

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  (Matthew 28:19-20)