Is your church stuck? Ask these five questions to help.
  1. Does your church have a ministry plan? You know the saying, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!”  Also, “if you aim at nothing, you’re probably going to hit it.”  A ministry plan does not have to be elaborate or complicated, but a simple, Biblical plan that can be understood and followed is a KEY to move a church forward. Our KBC Regional Consultants are trained and ready to assist any pastor or church wanting to develop a plan for ministry.
  2.  Does your plan have a leader?  The senior or lead pastor is the key person in developing and communicating the ministry plan.  He is not the only person who is important to the process, but he is vital for success.  John C. Maxwell says that “anyone can steer the boat, but it takes a leader to chart the course.” Throughout the year, we have numerous leadership development opportunities through the Church Consulting & Revitalization Team. Some of those include personal coaching, individual and church consultations, Sunday School training, Financial and Stewardship Education, Ministry to Women, and Family Ministry along with events like Leadership IQ, Shepherding Conference, EQUIP Tour, Senior Living Celebrations, and Ministers in Transition Retreat to mention a few.
  3.  Does the staff know the plan?  Many church staffs are working hard, but they’re not working together–not working in the same direction. To move a church forward, the staff must be moving in the same direction.  The staff must plan the work and work the plan–the same plan! The CCR Regional Consultants can help a church develop an overall plan and our CCR Ministry Consultants can help a church develop a plan in specific ministry areas.
  4.  Do the members know the plan?  It is common for the ministry plan to be lost between the staff and the pew.  The plan must be communicated over and over, again and again. The people do not know what they do not know! The ministry plan must be communicated both verbally and visionally.
  5.  Does the plan shape our decisions and ministries?  Sometimes the most difficult question is not what do we do, it is what do we no longer do? Churches tend to function day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month, and year-to-year doing pretty much the same things.  Dr. Gary L. McIntosh says that “they assume that existing ministries continue to be sufficient for today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.” Being busy is not enough!  We must not just do good things; we must do God’s things, i.e., the ministries to which God has currently called us!

Let me know if one of my consultants or I can help you in any way as you strive to get your church unstuck!  You can reach me by email at steve.rice@kybaptist.org or at (502) 489-3571.