Simple Church Synchronicity & Coaching

HI All,

Last week I discussed the problem of how you line up the Simple Church concept of "Focus" (eliminating ministries which are not aimed at your goal), especially in the matter of how you handle announcements. Now I would like to offer a long-term solution to the problem. I say 'long-term' because it takes a long time to turn the ship around if your church has been around for more than seven years. You need to go slow and easy. While it may be difficult to make changes to existing ministries, you have a lot of control over the start of new ministries. And the way you do this is through new ministry coaching.

What is your plan for the start of new ministries? Do you have a guide or a help, or some form of instruction for people who want to start something new? If not, then your church will continue as a free-for-all, with anybody starting anything they want. This will violate all four principles of Simple Church: Clarity, Movement, Alignment & Focus.

Here's two steps you can take to make sure that new ministries, at least, will be in harmony with your Simple Church strategy:

First, create a written guide for new ministries. Whenever anybody wants to start a new ministry, require that they read through and answer the questions in the new ministry guide first. Your new ministry guide needs to teach the principles of Simple Church, and ask the right questions so that your people learn the implications of their ministry before they begin it. Too many people give no consideration or thought to how a new ministry will impact the already existing ministries in the church. For example, they will use space in the building, they will cost money from the budget, they will take time up in the church calendar. And they will ask for notice either through bulletin announcements or up-front announcements. All of these actions impact the other ministries in the church. People need to understand this. So make sure that they learn about all of these implications by completing the "New Ministry Guide" which will teach them Simple Church concepts. Take a look at this New Ministry Guide from HighPowerResources.com.

Second, establish 'new ministry coaches', who walk people through the process of starting a ministry in harmony with your church's philosophy of ministry. These coaches can not only help them start the ministry, but they can be there to help them through the problem solving and other issues which arise. Then at your monthly leadership community meetings of all your ministry team leaders, the coaches can meet with their teams and check in on progress and needs. That way you have a ministry lifestyle system which will help your ministry start well, and also excel.

God's best to you for growth and health in your ministry,

Dr. Bill