Part 4 of 4 posts (click here for Part 1, 2, and 3)
by Dr. Donald E. Ross
Nelson Searcy Coaching Alum
Lead Pastor of Creekside Church (Mountlake Terrace, WA).
Issue # 9: Lifecycle.
Studies show that a church has about a 50-year lifecycle and it’s important to know where your church is on that ride. This fifty year bell curve model can be broken into five segments: 1) Launch, 2) Established 3) Maximum Efficiency 4) Institutionalization and 5) Disintegration.
Usually a turn-around church is locked in segment five and often down the scale on number five. The further down the scale you are the tougher and longer to turn around, but it can be done.
From a vision point of view, the people in a declining church see it at position three with just a few less people. They are usually not aware of the precarious position their church’s future is in. It is the leaders job to introduce the truth of the situation. Congregations usually have big rear view mirror, remembering the past with ease. They need large windshields to dream about the future.
Issue# 10: Peer Support.
Lone rangers make poor turn-around church pastors. It’s just too challenging to lead this project alone. You’ll need to find or build a group of other trustworthy pastors, who believe in you and what you’re doing.
These leaders will help you process your plans, reflect back to you pressure points and talk you through the minefield you are working in. You need them and God will give them to you. Don’t do this alone.
Issue# 11: Word.
You must have a high view of scripture to be an effective turn-around pastor. Being able to regularly “download” encouragement from God’s Word is a needed skill. Remember, Jesus is the one who said, “Strengthen what remains” which is exactly what you are attempting to do. Letting Him encourage you through His Word and give you direction. It’s important.
Reading the Biblical accounts of other turn-around leaders like Nehemiah, Joshua and Moses not only inspire you, it is spiritual life to you as a leader. You need a high view of scripture.
Issue# 12: Spirit.
Finally, there must be a sense in you, your family, and your leadership core that you are being lead by God’s Holy Spirit in this turn-around endeavor.
Jesus called the Holy Spirit, “the Advocate” (John 16:7) and anyone leading a turn-around church, needs an advocate to guide them. The Spirit will be your “life coach”, guiding you through tense meetings, difficult financial decisions and helping to develop a critical strategy to save this church.
Being a turn-around leader is rewarding, but much like a parent who waits years before being appreciated by their children, you will need to be willing to wait and endure to see the results you are working towards. There is no “quick fix” to seeing a declining church reverse direction, but it can happen, and it needs to happen.
Are you up for it? If you are, there are thousands of opportunities, as America is filled with declining churches.
Which one will stay alive because you said yes to Jesus?
For information on the Turn Around Church Coaching Network,
see www.TurnAroundChurch.org
P.S. For a package of resources to help you evaluate and improve the Systems of your church, check out The Systems Seminars Package.
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