~Going Deeper~ Part 6

You Focus on Activities Instead of Outcomes!

While many church leaders are full of vision and passion, they lack an effective strategy to accomplish their mission. That leads to a feeling of disorganization, and ultimately they feel stuck. When this happens, you’ll spend more time focused on activities instead of outcomes. How do you know you’re focused on activities? When you find yourself focusing on bigger versus better.
Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, said, "when we get better the customer will force us to get bigger!" In the church world, this means that we must take time to improve what we do, not just come up with bigger versions of what’s mediocre. Instead of trying to outdo your last event, set design, or sermon illustration, get together with your team and improve the little things.
You’ve got too many ideas and too little action. It’s more fun for leaders to brainstorm and dream, but that’s not the hard work of the ministry. Real effectiveness comes when we organize volunteers around a mission, create processes to follow up with guests and givers, and lead our staff with intentionality and intensity. Visionary leaders often make the mistake of thinking that their church can grow on vision. While vision is helpful and necessary, getting organized may have more long-term positive effects.
At some point, you have to just do the hard work and stick with it. A quote from Calvin Coolridge noted in the program at his memorial service in 1933 described it this way:
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.Are you distracted? As a church leader, there are many things that you can do. Even good opportunities can sidetrack us from doing what matters most. Instead of chasing new opportunities, go to work on your worship services, children’s ministry, and community service. Keep your eye on the ball. Don’t let too many new ministry opportunities dilute your core purpose.
Stop and ask if the activities on your schedule contribute to, or support, your core values and mission. If you don’t know your core values and mission, you’ve discovered one of your most glaring weaknesses!

In His Grip,
Pastor J