.:: keeping the ministry fresh ::.
Excellent quote from a recently elected politician here in New Zealand: ‘(My party) must move with the times, generate new ideas, recruit fresh talent, take risks and listen to New Zealanders.’
Not bad advice for anyone who is involved in ministry leadership! Let me tease this out a bit:
//Move with the times - the society around us is changing. It is essential that leaders spend time reading across a range of disciplines; and go for blogs where possible. Books are great, but often it can be a year between the finished manuscript and publishing and a lot happens in a year. Also subject yourself to the discipline of writing about where things are heading and how it applies to your area. This often forces careful thought - not a bad thing. For my latest piece see: The Bible in the Digital Space (1119)
//Generate new ideas - in my experience new ideas are easy, what is hard is finding the resources to make the great ideas become reality. And when I say ‘resource’ I am not thinking about money, but something way more important: talented staff (fresh talent). Getting the right people involved in a project at just the right time is one of the most important tasks of leadership.
// Listen - It amazes me how few Christian orgs. I have encountered will take the time to find out what the needs are in the community they are working with and seeking to influence. As one Pastor once said, ‘The church is answering questions no one is asking.’ It is absolutely essential to find out what the needs are in a community, to learn as much about the community so as to contextualize the offering. And in listening, be prepared to change the offering if required. It is essential to keep the ministry fresh.
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5 Responses to “.:: keeping the ministry fresh ::.”
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Though I haven’t been a contributor, I do read your messages and this one stands out because you speak to “fresh ideas” and the need to find resources to make those ideas become reality. You are correct. “Getting the right people involved in a project at just the right time is one of the most important tasks of leadership.” Sadly, I am discovering that involvement and commitment come hand in hand. I find that young adults, while certainly engaged in “spiritual things” (for lack of a better phrase at the moment), are constantly challenged when it comes to life priorities and spiritual priorities. Unfortunately, this same dilemma encompasses young leaders who emerge from this pool of talent. The result is the original “idea” must be constantly revisited and redefined in the crucible of development, implementation and launching. Young believers and young leaders, always constantly looking forward (because that is our mindset- look for the best or at least the better) and never quite settle into the “idea” after it is launched. Rather there is a longing for what is better. Mind you, there is nothing wrong with always looking forward. However, unfortunately, this always looking forward also creates a sense of transition, never a sense of permanency.
We have to redefine ministry within a multi-tasking concept which embraces this sense of transition. At present, when an idea is born and leadership is able to mobilize the manpower to bring the idea to reality, there is the parallel reality that within 12-24 months others must be found to continue the ministry beyond the launch and there lies the trap.
Young adults and young leaders are looking for a sense of permanency yet they live in an emotional and social environment where transition and change is prevalent. Listen to young leaders and they are always speaking to where they will be or what they will be doing 24 months from now, etc. A competent leader today is compelled to think in “time frames”, always recognizing that in order to sustain a ministry born of a great idea, new leaders must be in waiting. And even then, the “idea” and the resulting ministry will be subjected to constant revision as to its substance and application as new leaders emerge or as current leaders perform the ministry within the context of their own short term and long term life goals.
We see the paradox. Seeking permanency, we are asea in the midst of change. Meeting the challenges that come as we develop our personal faith, we retreat from doctrine to what we consider the basic fundamentals of the faith because our emotional and personal lifestyles don’t permit us the time to study the former with much depth. We live a sound byte world grasping our beliefs in sound bytes. Again, leaders emerge from this time conscious existence. Even when we believe that we are giving time to God, “Be still and know that I am God”, my experience is that everyone is looking at the clock.
Change is good. Change is necessary. New ideas are a must. But there must be a sense of implementation, life span, accomplishment and achievement.
The success is not in the fact that the idea was birthed and got off the ground. Unfortunately, that is the mindset of many of today’s young believers and emerging young leaders. Thus, ministry MUST be designed to meet the need for a sense of permanence while giving way to fact of change as an ever present reality. A ministry can be one thing today and something else even six months from now. Todays leaders, I believe, have to grasp that and seek, develop, implement and launch new ideas and the resulting new ministries with that in mind.
Keeping ministry fresh is one of the most difficult parts of ministry. All three of these points are excellent and essential. Relevancy, Ideas, and Change have their place and without them ministry would become routine and stagnant. I would add one to the mix thought…Ministry leaders must find refreshment.
Good leaders who are relevant, ripe with ideas, and agents of change are only so deep. They need to fit into the mix strategic time apart to dip into the well of refreshment and nourishment. I have watched good ministry leaders crash and burn while trying to keep ministry fresh, but neglect their own care and calling to allow God to fill and refill them on a regular basis.
As Lyn pointed out, the work and implementation are good for only a season and those seasons can change on a dime. This means that ministry leaders are running 90 mph and then have to hit the breaks hard for a sharp right turn when the need sneaks up them. Those who are not fresh or teetering on the edge of empty will find it next to impossible to not only meet the challenges of the moment, but will eventually find themselves just fighting to keep the status quo.
Thanks for all the insight everyone. I am new to this blog, but I love the refreshment and challenges I get. God bless.
One of the issues with being a Christian leader is that you never have time for anything. Just when you get your head around the latest thing there is something else to try and fit in. Congregations need to understand that their leaders need space to deal with a changing world.
Then, of course, who says ministry is only up to the leaders?
Thanks for your excellent thoughts Lyn, Shawn & Chris. As I read your comments I am reminded of the importance of succession planning, of leaders/ idea generators making sure their plans etc.. are sustainable long term. This involves leadership/team development (key) as well as constructing policy and processes for established ongoing practice.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.