Strategy Development
by Bob Perry,
Strategy Development Team Leader
A part of the work of the Strategy Development
team as we move ahead with the Vision 2020
initiative will be to help churches develop
HOPEFUL intentions for their futures. I see the
word HOPE as key to our work.
Many of our churches and their leaders have
become frustrated and discouraged. They feel
that they have tried many things and worked
very hard to achieve church growth with little
or no positive results to show for it. It is
understandable that over time we become
discouraged.
But I think there are two things that we must keep uppermost in our minds as our plateaued and declining churches look toward the future:
1. We are called to be faithful, not necessarily successful. We often define success in church life in wrong ways. We tend to look at, as some have said, nickels and noses. Is the attendance good, and are the offerings coming in? But we are involved in a spiritual enterprise; there has to be a better way of measuring what we are doing. Are we touching lives in redemptive ways? Are we having a positive impact on our community? Are we being faithful to what God has called us to do?
2. We worship a powerful God who can do amazing things in and through his people. Therefore, we should always maintain a stance of HOPE as we look ahead. God is for us, so who can stand against us? We need to be intentional about the future, seek God’s guidance in making plans and shaping change for the church, and we need to do that with an attitude of hope.
(continued on next page)
"We want to assist congregations as
they seek God’s will and shape
a positive future for ministry."