Surface To Soul

Navigating change begins with identifying a congregation’s most pressing issues. Time is then spent visualizing God’s preferred future which is summed up in a brief narrative. Then 30-day, 90-day and 180-day and 360-day goals are created that will lead to the fulfillment of the vision. The list of goals include who’s responsible for each action step. Finally, goals and action steps are monitored regularly, with leaders taking time to celebrate their progress, address shortcomings and learn from their mistakes.

Most congregations struggle with defining their current reality, articulating their preferred future, and with having a roadmap to guide them in their efforts. Where does your organization struggle when navigating change? What do you need to pay closer attention to in the future?

I like nothing better than starting out my day with a cup of French Roast coffee. I savor the sound and smell of brewing coffee and that first cup seems to launch me into my day with a sense of hope and possibility.

Many congregational meetings and events I’ve attended recently seem to lack energy, hope and vision. Leaders appear frazzled, worn out, and disconnected to their role of ushering people into God’s presence. They need a jolt of spiritual caffeine.

How do your words and actions point people to Jesus and help others wonder what God is up to in their lives? My day starts with prayer and ends with prayer. It’s filled with inspiring passages and a few jokes to lighten my spirit. It’s filled with caring conversations and time to count my blessings. These daily rituals and faith practices bring back my mojo, helping me be energized by the Spirit and a blessing to others. Please share how to you maintain a fresh-brewed faith that’s open to the Spirit.

My oldest son asked me yesterday if I had ever considered getting a tattoo. I told him, “No, I don’t subject myself to pain if I can avoid it.” It’s the first time I’ve talked about tattoos with my family but it’s a common topic of conversation at Vibrant Faith Ministries. We talk about how people often dabble in faith practices, hoping to create a culture of vibrant faith, but what they experience is often just skin deep – like a tattoo. If vibrant faith is to become part of our home and congregational DNA, where it permeates everything we do, then we must go deeper. One place to start is with cross+generational ministry. How do we create worship experiences that engage and involve all generations? When we celebrate milestones, do we make sure that children, parents, grandparents and great grandparents are all part of the celebration? Consider going through the last 12 month’s of church newsletters, picking out all the events that could become more intentionally cross+generational. Where might you go deeper with cross+generational ministry, milestones ministry or practicing the Four Keys? How might you ensure that practicing faith becomes part of your DNA and not just a tattoo?

This past week 22 students attended Certification School held at Wartburg Theological Seminary. The school includes high ropes activities which are reflected upon afterwards. We discussed how easy it is to be immobilized by fear, and how we, as Christian leaders, must move beyond it.

Suggestions for moving beyond fear included creating a network of colleagues and cheerleaders to encourage us to along the way. Others mentioned keeping focused on the reward rather than the risk. Another suggested staying focused on the next step and blocking out everything else.

In what ways does fear immobilize your ministry? What can you and others do to move beyond it?