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Focusing/Re-Focusing On Our Future -- Practical Steps toward Attaining a Preferred Future
Why Refocus?
In today’s fast-changing world, churches are realizing they must change some of their methods in order to continue to reach the world with the unchanging message of the gospel.
An Introduction & Overview
A preferred future can be described as the discovery of God's will for a congregation. Our underlying presupposition is that Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd and Vision Caster, and that Jesus has a preferred future already in His heart for our emerging congregation. The task of church leadership is to join with Jesus as co-laborers in extending the kingdom of God in this particular place and time with the resources and opportunities that He is providing.
A Biblical Precedent
1 Chronicles 12:32 describes the descendents of Issachar. They were described as a people “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” Re-Focusing On Our Future is initiating a change process in accordance with the times in which we live and the plans and purposes of God for this generation.
By Re-Focusing on Our Future we will be laying the foundation for our preferred future. Our aim, initially, is to clearly articulate our core values, mission, and vision. Written as an equation, it might look like this...
Core Values + Mission = Vision (Preferred Future)
• Core Values -- “WHO” we are (our unique distinctives)
• Mission -- “WHAT” we are called to do (Mat. 28:19,20)
• Vision -- “HOW” we will get there (strategic map)
A focused church then develops a strategic map for how it can fulfill God’s purposes. A strategic map reflects for our church a determined course of action that flows out of our values, mission, and vision.
Nehemiah
Another biblical precedent is found in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a leader so compelled by a vision that he was able to lead the people of God to trust him to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s process was very similar to that which has been described above -- from hearing God’s voice, to assessing the need, to passionately challenging God’s people, to implementing strategic plans.
Vision Brings Change; Change Means Risk
“Truly effective leaders are change agents, constantly repositioning people, ministries, resources, objectives, and whole organizations to best accomplish their institutional mission.”
• Strategic Positioning, Daniel Brown
“New paradigms, such as those that result from a process as this, put everyone practicing the old paradigm at great risk. The higher the position, the greater the risk.”
• Discovering the Future, Joel Baker
An Innovative Paradigm
Re-Focusing on Our Future offers an innovative paradigm in order to bring focus and continual renewal to the ministry of your church.
Local churches are living organisms. They have been designed by God to grow and reproduce. In order for churches to experience in their ministry the natural results of being a living organism (i.e., more and better disciples), a focusing process will be extremely helpful.
The process of Re-Focusing on Our Future is an invitation to consider how God has designed the church. We are seeking to assess our church in light of natural, or organic, elements of life and growth -- and to seek what God has in His heart for the future of your church.
In 1 Corinthians 3:7 Paul reminds his readers that although he planted and Apollos watered, it is only God “who makes things grow.” Growth is not a series of formulas and gimmicks. Growth occurs as God blesses those activities that most reflect His heart.
Mark 4:26-28 portrays a picture of a seed that grows all by itself. The sower waters and cares for the seed, but the growth occurs as a natural by-product of the essential elements all working together for health and growth.
Seven Focusing Questions
Once a church has assessed the health of its ministry and the areas for needed improvements, it is now ready to envision its preferred future and discover what God sees for the future of its ministry.
The Re-Focusing On Our Future process empowers churches to answer seven strategic questions:
1. Who has God shaped us to be? (Core Values)
2. Why do we exist as a church? (Biblical Mission)
3. Where is God leading us in the future? (Vision Statement)
4. Whom has God called us to reach? (Ministry Focus)
5. Which model best facilitates our vision? (Ministry Model)
6. How will we accomplish our vision? (Ministry Goals)
7. What is our plan for ministry for the next 3-5 years? (Strategic Mapping)
The Importance of Re-Focusing on Our Future
Nearly 80% of all existing churches have either plateaued or are in decline
The Re-Focusing on Our Future strategic mapping process seeks to initiate a long-term vitalization process through the development of a 2-4 year ministry plan.
Why do we need to plan?
“We should make plans...counting on God to direct us.” Proverbs 16:14 (TLB)
“Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.” Proverbs 24:34 (TLB)
How important is it to look ahead?
“A wise [person] thinks ahead: a fool doesn’t and even brags about it.” Proverbs 13:16 (TLB)
“A prudent [person] foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; the simpleton never looks, and suffers the consequences.” Proverbs 27:12 (TLB)
A focused church is a church that is positioned to engage in an intentional ministry that births new life – ministry that equips attenders to reach the unchurched, prodigals, and to plant new churches -- a community of believers who are equipping those attending to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
This process is most effective when there is a willingness within God’s people to examine why they exist as a local church, to align their ministry in accordance with the call to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, and a church with the courage to take the actions they need to help them be more in line with God’s desire for their ministry and their lives.
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