One thing is for certain in a world filled with uncertainties and that is -- things are always changing. Because things are always changing, we as leaders are constantly being challenged to change both ourselves and our methods of ministry. One of the many things I have come to realize as a pastor is that if we as a local church do not change the way we do ministry, two years from now we will have very few new people in our church family. In this article I hope to identify a few simple truths that will enable you to “Find What Works” in your setting.
Keys to finding what works:
Learn from others.
Someone said there is no need to reinvent the wheel; but we can try to improve it. Looking at successful programs (methods) doesn’t mean I should clone them; it means I should learn from them, applying only the things that will work in my setting.
Evaluate programs and activities for effectiveness.
Questions we should ask are: Who attends? What are the goals; are they worthwhile and are they being accomplished? Would anyone notice or care if we no longer offered it? Could we be doing something more effective with the time and energy this consumes? When the horse dies dismount. (Maxwell) A number of years ago we started a Saturday night service that started out with a bang and ended with a slight pop. The first few weeks it was attended very well and then it began to downhill skid that we couldn’t stop. There are a number of reasons it didn’t work but the point is after six months we dismounted a dead horse. I say this to say that when you’re trying to find what works for you don’t be afraid for something not work. And when you see something isn’t working and you know that no matter what adjusts you make it never will or at least it won’t right now stop kicking the dead horse. Dismounting a dead horse will free you up to find what works.
Often the good replaces what works the best.
Try different things.
Truthfully, we as leaders will try many things before we find what works. Thomas Edison said he did not view over 1000 failed attempts at creating the light bulb as failures. His attitude was such that he said: “Each time an attempt failed I eliminated one way that would not work.”
Follow your passion.
God uses what comes natural to us and what we’re passionate about. Learn to listen the desires of your heart and you’ll find what works. God has graced you to be you and will not grace you to be someone else so again listen to your desires.