Two Metaphors that Hinder Change

Many of you already know from last week's post that we need to change the trajectory of our churches in the Prairie Hills district.  We've been declining in attendance instead of growing by reaching new and younger people.  What I am about to say may be hard to hear for some;  The key to change is pastoral leadership.  As one who has watched and studied and led churches to reach new people and make new disciples for Jesus Christ I've come to understand it's leadership, leadership, leadership.

In the book, Hit the Bullseye, by Paul Borden, he argues that two metaphors hinder change.  The first is the image of Pastor as Shepherd.   This is leading from the inside and it perpetuates the idea that church is for those on the inside.  Pastors who see themselves primarily as Shepherd, will spend their time caring for the people; visiting in homes, going to the hospital, steering away from conflict, leading studies, focusing on how to better care for the people under their care.  The problem with this is it goes against the Biblical understanding in Ephesians 4:10-16 that says pastors aren't to do the ministry but equip others to do it.  Furthermore, it ignores the Great Commission to go into the world to make new disciples.  Caring for people is important! But not at the expense of failing to reach outward.  Your job is not pastoral care but congregational care; creating a system so that lay people care for each other and then go out into the world to make disciples.

A second image that leads to ineffective ministry is the concept of church as family.  If church is a family then every Sunday is a family reunion.  Imagine not being family and walking into a family reunion.  All these people know each other, they are talking, laughing, reminiscing, telling stories, eating around the table - and you know no one.  You're an outsider.  People look at you with weird expressions on their face like you don't belong here.  Because you're not family people won't talk to you.  This is the church on most Sundays.  We see ourselves as family  and we have lost our missional focus of being a group of people, touched by grace, who will go out into the world and welcome people into the church with grace.

In order to bring about missonal change, change that moves us outward to reach new people and make new disciples of Jesus Christ, we must adapt how we lead and the concepts we use to talk about church.  As pastors, you are not just Shepherds, you are missional leaders.  Claim the role of being a missional leader in your congregation. Learn what it means to be missional and then lead from that perspective. The caring of people will happen, the leading doesn't unless you are intentional.  Stop using the concept of church as family since it perpetuates an inward focus and start talking about the church as a base camp from which we go out to save those who are lost by sharing the good news of God's transforming grace and then welcoming them into the base camp and teaching them how to go out with us on the next mission so that those who are lost and wandering, hurting and struggling, addicted or abusive, may experience their hearts, touched by God, strangely warmed.  And may that warming of the heart lead to a new and better life in Christ.

With you in ministry,

Kevin

Raising Expectations

When I was in high school I was on the track team.  I was actually a pole vaulter.  I was one of the crazy people that ran down the track with a long pole in hand, hoping to plant well, and then sail high over the bar. The bar, as you know, is movable.  The goal is to keep raising the bar so that new heights could be reached.  

One of the principles that has guided my ministry is this:  "People will rise to the level that is expected of them."  I learned that if I don't expect much of myself I will produce a mediocre ministry and mediocrity breeds mediocrity.  So I expect much of myself and I expect much from others.  Jesus told a parable about this in Luke 12.  He ends by saying,  "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." Luke 12:48 Jesus raised the expectation.  He expects that those have been trusted with much will produce much fruit. Isn't that story of the fig tree in Luke 13.  The owner of the garden has expectation that the fig tree would bear fruit.  "So the man said to his gardener, ’I have been looking for fruit on this tree for three years, but I never find any. Cut it down. Why should it waste the ground?’" Luke 13:7   Obviously, as you know, the owner showed grace and gave the gardener time to work with the fig tree so that it would bear fruit.

In this story, one might interpret that God is the owner, the fig tree represents churches, and the gardener is those of us entrusted with leadership in the church.  We're expected to do what we can to bear fruit.  What's the fruit?  I believe the fruit is new disciples.  Our mission as United Methodists is to make new disciples of Jesus Christ that transform the world.  We're to be about the work of growing our churches so that they produce new disciples that engage in a lifestyle and mission that transforms our world into the kingdom of God.

This week I want to encourage you to raise the bar - to raise what you expect of yourself and the churches you lead so that new disciples are made.  Our Conference may be one of 6 growing conferences but our district is in decline.  Those days of decline are over.  I expect that each of us will be tending the soil of the fig tree a bit more, a bit harder, and in different ways so that we bear fruit that pleases God.  I believe we can do it.  Much our district is set in growing areas around the Black Hills.  In the prairie region, growth in cities may be stagnant or declining but the numbers of unchurched people are growing.  The harvest is ripe!

As your DS I'm raising the bar, raising expectations that each and every church can and will grow to reach new heights in ministry.  I'm also raising the expectation that as a DS I will not simply sit and supervise but engage in conversations with you through coaching and teaching that will help you bear fruit in ministry. I will be working across the district, but primarily with those churches who are ready to grow or in an area where the population is growing,  to provide you with resources and encouragement and prayer to turn the corner so that our churches are growing once again.

I truly believe that you will rise to the expectation and that,empowered by the Holy Spirit, you will lead your churches to new heights!

With you in Ministry,

Kevin

Using Facebook to Reach New People

MINISTRY TIPS FROM A DS
Facebook is a great way for connecting people within your church but it is also a great tool for reaching new people.  Facebook currently has 156.5 million users in the United States.  It's the #1 social networking app in the world.  So let's, as leaders in the church, harness its power to reach new people for Christ. Here's a few ideas and I hope you will add your own.

1. Make sure your worship hours are on your church page.  A quick look at the churches in our district with Facebook pages reveals many don't include worship times.  It's a deadly mistake to neglect this because guests will often look at your page to find out when they can attend worship.

2. Keep your worship times current.  Worse than not having your worship times on your page is having the wrong ones.  Imagine a guest deciding for the first time to attend your church.  She looks at your Facebook page and sees 10:00am.  When she arrives people are leaving because the time was actually 9:00am and no one changed it from summer hours.

3. Post images and a short description (with a link to your web page) of the upcoming sermon series.  Then teach your congregation to like it and share it.  This multiplies the exposure of people seeing it.

4. Display "target rich" images.  If you are trying to reach younger people show images of younger people.  Younger people won't come if all they see are older people.   Define your target audience, the group you are trying to reach, and then display like pictures.

5. Display short videos of your worship band (if they are good!)  Music attracts people to church. They may not come for the message but if the music is uplifting and touches their heart they will come.

6. Teach your congregation to talk about your church online, including a link to your church Facebook page.  Here's an example.  "Today at church my 4 year old child started dancing in the aisle to one of the praise songs.  It was so cute.  I really love my church!  www.mychurch.facebook.com

7.  If you don't have a Facebook page for your church, make one!  Too many people use Facebook to let this one slip by.  It's a great way for reaching new people in your community and raising awareness of your church.

So add your comments or questions and let the learning continue...

Together in Ministry,

Kevin