July 11, 2018
Nine Things We Have Learned About Churches
Updated with the new year!
Over the past 30 years, here are some things we have learned about churches.
Specifically, in church leadership. Through our accounting, payroll, administrative audits, and training + consulting work with over 3,000 ministries over the years, we have had the opportunity to work with church leaders of 30 several different backgrounds and denominations. Here are the nine things all of them had in common. (scroll down for the explanations of each point.)
1. Some things must remain the same.
At some point in the process, the church should identify what it will take a bullet for, or what it will die for, what must never change.
2. Some things must change.
Governance, leadership, management, staff, pastors, budgets, programs, ministries, methods, buildings, and locations can and should change and adapt as necessary. Items in this category run their course, or live their normal life cycle of usefulness. Churches that refuse to acknowledge and take action in these areas tend to suffer a slow death.
3. The future is uncertain and contains risk.
Regardless of prayer, our best laid plans, and our best human efforts, things happen. We must realize that God in in control. People change, they make mistakes, they stumble and sometimes they fall, but God remain the same. A certain amount of risk will be required to grow and expand God’s Kingdom.
4. There will be failures.
Churches that are moving forward, in motion and impacting the community, will encounter friction and occasional failures. If your car never leaves the garage, you can be relatively certain you won’t get in a wreck!
5. We can’t do everything.
Let God be God and be obedient to what He has called you and your church to do. No more and no less. If the devil can’t destroy your ministry, dilution is the next best strategy. Rifle vs shotgun. Laser targeting vs Cluster Bomb.
6. God’s will, will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven! He opens doors or windows of opportunities for churches and we either take advantage of them or He will use someone else or some other church or ministry. His will, will be done!
7. Quality brings quantity.
You don’t try to grow fruit before you grow a strong trunk, healthy branches, and corresponding leaves. All of those help create healthy fruit. You need to feed the tree, not the fruit! By providing quality ministries, people will be added, they will grow spiritually, and finances will increase.
8. Money Follows Stewardship.
Not the other way around. Too often we ask God to send resources for ministry, when we have previously failed to be good stewards of what He has already given to us. Good stewardship ranges from how we plan to spend money (budget), how we actually spend money (monthly reporting) as well as how we keep track of it and safeguard the hard earned tithes and offerings of congregation members (reporting and protecting church resources). Each time we see God bless a ministry, it is usually preceded by good stewardship.
9. Stay the course.
- Stay focused
- Don’t get disillusioned
- Don’t get discouraged
- Don’t get impatient
- Don’t grow weary in doing good!
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