Right for a Lifetime?

"The more definitive and widely accepted the ‘answer’, the more it prevents people from seeing how it will turn out to be wrong. Once you think you know, for a fact, that things work in a particular way — or the answer to problem ‘a’ is always technique ‘b’ — there’s no need to explore any further. Of course, over time, the world changes, but almost nobody looks to see if that affects what they already know for sure — until the unthinkable happens and our nice, simple answers stop working." - Lifehack article

Observation: Churches of today eventually act like churches of yesterday.

"We've always done it that way" has turned into the banner of mediocrity for many churches. From the outside looking in, it seems to be closed mindedness. For those that reside comfortably within the cozy walls of unchanged existence -- it doesn't seem wrong at all.

Let's face it, we are often people of habit in matters that would benefit from a different perspective. When it comes to church, we like our experience predictable. We are not interested in what matters most to others, but rather what matters most to me. The creaking floors of traditional religion become a charming aspect to the familiar house we have built for ourselves. The structure becomes a warehouse of our junk and less of a house of worship.

We fall into the downward spiral of self-contentment when we fight for an answer found many years ago that once worked. Blood-red carpet, heavy pews, a 52-Sunday predictable rotation of sermons, first and last verse -- we grow attached to what worked then and can't see that it just might not work now.

The logic of the dilemma is entrenched in knowing what we know to be right and proclaiming "right lasts a lifetime." It isn't necessarily so.

Given, there are certain dogmas and practices that are to remain unchanged in describing and living the principles that Christ set forth -- however, there are variations to the theme in living out and expressing those unchanging tenets that our lazy belief structure tends to dismiss. If we believe something is right and will always work, the grip that we place on that belief is tight and steady. The only way for us to loosen that grip and reach out to something else is for us to see a different answer in the faces of a few we trust. It is a leaders responsibility to connect those dots.

Religious practices are viral. If we desire that God's presence in our life take on a realness, then we are open to hearing from others the real experiences of their spiritual encounters. We are open to change, when we see and experience a better way.

The fear of boat rocking has left many church lay leaders and pastors hesitant to change obsolete practices. Yet, the natural death of an ineffective church will eventually make the necessary changes without their participation. It is leadership's responsibility to do what is right; to take a chance.

The message to leadership is: Do nothing and your church will eventually die an unfortunate death. Do something and your odds of success are greatly improved.

Step 4 of Fulfilling Your Vision (Aligning Effort)

You have arrived at the last step in your journey to fulfill your vision for your church. With your champions enrolled and well versed in the urgent purpose you have called others to join in; the last step is where the impact is made and the vision takes shape.

Step 4 is the alignment of effort. Alignment is often the missing ingredient in a plan. By creating well defined roles and allowing others the flexibility to execute their portion of the vision, a unified effort brings results. Simple in concept, alignment is frequently overlooked in a volunteer organization such as a church. Leaders tend to not closely coordinate or align volunteer efforts as they would an employed position. Champion volunteers, on the other hand, are aligned first with your urgent purpose, making them more inclined to accept assigned roles and coordinated efforts. Be clear in your expectations of your champions and check in with them often to monitor their progress. Ensure they have reasonable timelines and the necessary support and resources.

It is important that each person involved not only understand their role, but also understand the role of other champions. Moving from the “big picture” to an individual’s specific role allows self-coordination and greater creativity without interfering with other roles. By using a “tight-loose-tight” oversight approach, you can appropriately manage a unified effort while allowing the personal touch of individual effort.

The initial “tight” is the definition of your urgent purpose. A vague purpose statement will not fulfill your vision. Create the expectation among champions that everyone will strive for the same, highly defined goal. Once the “tight” expectation is established through your urgent purpose definition and described during your focused communication phase, you can then allow a more “loose” approach to execution. Allow champions a great deal of latitude in executing their part of the plan. Encourage new approaches and different avenues. The final “tight” is in the expectation of timelines and end results that represent successful execution of the vision. “Tight-loose-tight” will inspire your team to individualize the effort while at the same time stay on goal.

By aligning effort your momentum is more likely to overcome negative opinions or political maneuvering by those desiring the status quo or an alternative direction. The alignment establishes your individual champions as a team of highly coordinated and inspired ambassadors for the cause. They will find strength in their coordination and satisfaction in the part they play. Celebrate with them as you reach your desired destination and realize the purpose for which God has called your church.

Here are links to all 4 steps:

Step One - Engaging Ministry Champions
Step Two - Defining an Urgent Purpose
Step Three - Focused Communication
Step Four - Aligning Effort

Step 3 of Fulfilling Your Vision (Focused Communication)

Let’s recap -- In Step 1 you chose your twelve individuals who share a desire to support your vision - your champions. Step 2 formed your urgent purpose and made sure it is well defined and easily described. You are now ready to begin the crucial phase of talking, often times deeply, about your urgent purpose and why you are called to achieve that purpose. Step 3 is all about communication.

The simplicity of this step will often cause people to down play its importance ending in a half communicated effort. Instead, commit that you will over communicate to the point that your 12 targeted champions will say “enough! -- we get it -- let‘s start!”

You should package your urgent purpose in a three size message. One version should be the short version -- an “elevator speech” that quickly communicates your passionate desire. Secondly, you should have a 20 to 30 minute version that you can share one-on-one with those in your targeted champion group ensuring that you wrap the message in the personal passion that you have for the purpose. Lastly, you should have a one hour version that is more suitable for a group that passionately paints the picture for the purpose and the end result of pursuing that purpose.

Once you have your three messages ready to go, the fun now begins. It should be your driving desire for the next 30-days to communicate to your targeted champions your urgent purpose, encouraging them to join the effort and recruit twelve of their own champions to join them in their part of the effort. As they identify champions, you meet with them in larger and larger groups so they can hear from you and hear from each other. It is in this pattern of focused communication that momentum is born.

The focus during this phase is to communicate your urgent purpose to champions. It is not a time to debate or address the controversy that will come from the typical naysayer. The message is in search of willing hearts. If willingness is absent in one person, move on to the next. A positive momentum fueled by the passion of champions will overcome negative reactions over time.

Finally, be creative in your approach to sharing your urgent purpose. Draw pictures on napkins, create a logo, boil it down to a memorable phrase -- do whatever it takes to share the spirit and excitement of the purpose.

Through focused communication your urgent purpose takes root in the hearts of those who will join with you in the effort. Communication at this level takes deliberate planning to ensure there are no distractions and that the setting inspires understanding. Let your champion understand the importance this purpose plays in your life as well as how important they are to realizing the goal. Test their understanding and acceptance; listen to their questions and use what you learn to strengthen your approach in future discussions.

Communication is the key to success and the cause of most failures. Give this phase the thought and dedication that it deserves. It will make Step 4, the last step and our next article, go much better. Begin today sharing your urgent purpose with your chosen champions!

Here are links to all 4 steps:

Step One - Engaging Ministry Champions
Step Two - Defining an Urgent Purpose
Step Three - Focused Communication
Step Four - Aligning Effort

Step 1 of Fulfilling Your Vision - (Engaging Ministry Champions vs. Lay Leaders)

Vision, to be implemented, requires champions. Champions are more than traditional “lay leaders” who show up for a meeting or two each month. They are special souls who are, or can become, as passionate as you are for the work that God has set before you. They are highly motivated by a sense of urgency to accomplish the vision you have put forth. They are energetic, creative and tireless in their pursuit of your vision. They are the people of your dreams. I suspect that at this very moment you are yearning for these champions. You can find them, but before we go further, we should distinguish between their way of thinking and that of lay leaders. The subtle difference between the world in which lay leaders live and the world in which you are calling them to serve -- makes a big difference. Here’s why.

Many a community leader and executive turned deacon, elder or teacher have underestimated the subtle, yet powerful distinction between the world in which they work and the church -- namely -- the power of employment.

There is something very controlling about having an employee’s paycheck at risk if he or she refuses to follow your vision. Countless Americans wake up each morning and head off to jobs they disdain. Yet, they do it. They tolerate the boss’s bad jokes, they endure the close confines of the cubicle, they trudge forward in a world of back-stabbing and inefficiency for one reason -- they don’t want to be fired - they need the job. For the most part -- they do what they are told, silently, begrudgingly. They do it. Not the case, though, when they are at church.

Something magically sinister happens when they enter the hallowed halls of church -- they become the recipient of their make-believe “God-given” right to criticize, chastise and rebuke. No individual, no minor detail escapes their critique. The pastor’s hair, the color of the carpet, the quality of the toilet paper, all fall prey to their biting tongue. The very same cheapo toilet paper found at church is silently endured at their workplace, but at church it is now an insult to their spirituality promulgated by none other than the Senior Pastor and it must be stopped with the execution of a curtly worded demand for his resignation appropriately signed anonymous. And so goes the difference between “at work” and “at church.”

It’s a difference that is lost on most well meaning business execs who serve on what they believe to be board-like positions at church. They miss the fact that the pastoral staff is holding it together on borrowed and begged time from volunteers. They don’t get that pastors have one of the most difficult roles in any organization. They treat a church like a business in which the pastor is a well-meaning but somewhat idealistic good guy who just needs to be guided. They don’t get that the pastor is God’s representative on site to ensure that God’s will is accomplished. They try to force what they know on an organization that is far more than what they can ever hope to know. They don’t get it, so they should not lead. They are different than champions -- they are merely leaders. The church doesn’t need more management technique wielding lay leaders. The church needs champions.

Lay leaders like to lead. But champions lead without knowing it. They draw people to the ministry. They recruit others to the effort by merely describing what God desires for their life. Champions support pastors in ways they could never imagine and in many instances without the pastor realizing so. Champions get things done without leaving a trail of bodies behind. Champions are rare in churches and even more rare in the corporate world which is why pastors need to look beyond the obvious business leaders and find the champions -- the inspired leaders that endear others to their leadership.

To successfully fulfill your vision and calling, you must have champions. To find these rare leaders will require some thoughtful observation and prayer. They are there. They are not easily visible because you have been taught to look in the wrong places. Step one toward reaching your vision is to find them. Once your champions are in place, the journey toward your vision involves a few additional simple principles (to be covered later in this series) coupled with the discipline of pursuit that only God can energize within you. With champions -- it is possible.

If you would like to pursue that journey through this series, let’s start with identifying some potential champions. Make a list of 12 individuals (yes, 12, worked well one other time) you believe have the capacity to be a ministry champion. Think of people who have joy in their life, who don’t have hungry egos, who have a heart for the things of Christ. Consider these people regardless of their position in life. You are looking for heart not title. Make the list and live with it a couple of weeks before moving to step two -- which is our next article in this series as we plot the path toward bringing your vision to life.

Here are the links to all 4 steps:

Step One - Engaging Ministry Champions
Step Two - Defining an Urgent Purpose
Step Three - Focused Communication
Step Four - Aligning Effort