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Principle # 2 – You Must Have A Clear and Simple Process.

I think most church leaders do not intend to muddy the waters of their church’s growth, it just happens. Things creep up on us like the proverbial frog in the kettle. The idea that you must have a ministry for every whim in order to grow the church is simply not true. I think this is especially true for church plants or newer churches. Here are just a few thoughts about simplifying your process for ministry.

1. Simplify your process. It sounds easier than it is. Leadership requires that you guard diligently the ministries God has called you to have and not get enamored with trying to do everything. We have all heard the laser versus a flash light analogy. Our church has very few ministries. That is on purpose and I work very hard to keep it that way.

2. Give yourself permission to do it differently. This was a big deal for me when we started Avalon Church 8 years ago. I had to give myself permission to break the mold of my past experiences. There is certainly nothing wrong with your past. We need to remember it; we just don’t need to live there.

3. Don’t feel guilty about it. Once you have decided what to simplify, what to keep, and what to get rid of you do not need to feel guilty about your choices. To this day I have to fight feelings of guilt when I hear about a church that is doing a kind of ministry that we do not do. You can’t do everything, so do not feel guilty about what God has called you to do.

4. It is ok if not everyone agrees with you. Not everybody outside your church is going to agree with your choices, ministry style, or philosophy. That is OK. My dad used to tell me that if somebody was kicking me in the tail it meant that I was out front and they were behind me.

Let me know what you think. You can learn more about our Avalon HOPE Pastors Coaching Network by clicking here.

Ritchie