7 Lessons From Vitalization
The responsibility of leaders is to see that the church thrives as a ‘come as you are’ community of people in process; where the curious, the unconvinced, the sceptical, and the used-to-believe, as well as the committed, informed and sold-out, come as they are together around the conviction that Jesus is the Saviour, the Son of the living God.
Vitalization is more than getting a definition of success right. It’s doing what Jesus calls his followers to become - faithful and fruitful.
1. Organizational life cycles apply to Spirit-anointed ministries.
Every organization follows a cycle of growth and decline unless there is intervention. The nation of Israel and the Church followed the pattern. Complexity is one of the most obvious signs that a church has begun to experience decline on the church life cycle.
Ignorance is not bliss. Evaluate: Where is your church on the life cycle? (Launch / Momentum Growth / Strategic Growth / Sustained Health / Maintenance / Preservation / Life Support)
2. Preference will lead to a deadly decline.
Plateau and decline take over when leaders become preoccupied with congregational preferences instead of focusing on Jesus’ commission and commands. Preference slowly destroys the functionality and fruitfulness of an entire church body, leading to a deadly decline. Bold change is required.
3. Change requires repentance.
The thinking that got you where you are, will not take you where you need to go. Great Commission thinking will transform congregations and outcomes. Discipleship, defined as reproduction, will protect a church from being conformed to the prevailing culture.
4. Change and transition are two sides of the same coin.
When changes occur, what people truly value becomes readily apparent. Every change means something new is embraced but something former is left behind. Purpose-rich changes usually garner high agreement and buy-in. What becomes confusing is that people will support the change but resist the transition. The transition involves the pain of loss. As leaders empathize with the pain of the transition, people are positioned to embrace the positives of the change.
5. People are down on what they are not up on.
There is no such thing as over-communication or redundancy when making changes. Communicate often. Communicate using all means available—video, print, social media, email, website, etc. Communicate critical changes and core messages. Rinse. Repeat.
6. Discipleship requires an intentional focus.
It’s a leader’s job to keep the focus on evangelism and fruitfulness, as it is easy to drift or become distracted.
i) Intentional. Every ministry takes on the intentionality of evangelism. Youth leaders give salvation invitations in every service. Children’s ministry give invitations every Sunday. During every Sunday service the speaker gives a clear invitation to follow Jesus. Asking people to record their decision and share it with a leader is a necessary part of the invitation process.
ii) Focus. The priority is people and the focus is on unchurched people. This simple statement assures an existing congregation they will be included, cared for, and discipled as the unchurched are reached.
“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last.”
John 15:16 (NIV)
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.