Remember the first time you rode your bike "solo," without training wheels or the steadying hand of a parent? What excitement! It's the same feeling when you begin a new ministry. Your future is exciting and full of promise. That first solo ride and that first day in your new ministry have other similarities. Take for example the turn you had to make at the end of the street. If you just turned the front wheel abruptly, without leaning in the direction you wanted to go, it was "crash and burn" time.
The first time you try to change the direction of your ministry, you, also, may experience a "crash and burn" situation. In a worst case scenario, you may be the one to experience change, to a new church. It can happen all too fast. But just as you learned how to turn your bike safely, you can learn how to make effective yet safe changes in your ministry.
Leaning into a turn allows you to change direction gradually. Your new ministry may cry out for change. You may even have been given a mandate to bring change. But, if you're wise, you will make those changes gradually because leading a new ministry requires that you understand the people and structures already present. There is a lot to learn and do before you can effectively and safely change the direction of your ministry.
Most people think of change as a single action. But more effective and lasting change comes through a four-step process: identify, join, encourage and, finally, change direction.
Step 1 - Identify the current direction: Your first solo bike ride only came after a lot of preparation.
- Tell your supervisor/elders that you plan to implement change gradually over a six to nine month period. Be sure they understand this is not idle time but time that's needed to insure effective long-term change.
- Learn from current ministry leaders. No matter how much experience you have, you don't have all the answers. Let them tell you about the church's history and values, its influential personalities and relationships, its sacred cows and land mines.
- Pray for your leaders, current and future, and for wisdom for yourself.
- Ask staff members to introduce you to key people and leaders in the church. Listen for where you need to be cautious and where some preparation for change has already taken place.
- Meet privately with leaders over coffee or dessert. Get to know them outside of a ministry relationship. Caution: avoid meeting alone with a member of the opposite sex. Always have a third person come along. Protect yourself against someone misunderstanding your actions.
- Make sure you build relationships with any administrative support staff and learn their perspective.
Step 2 - Join the current direction: You have to start peddling before you can turn your bike.
- Be one of the gang. Show your support for what is currently being done. Let others see you are a partner not a protagonist. Be one with the members of your ministry.
- Let leaders know that you appreciate their efforts and the sacrifices they are making.
- Visit a leader during one of their group meetings. Look for positive attitudes and behaviors. Avoid comments about future plans. If anyone asks, just say you're there to experience and enjoy all the good things happening in the group.
- Affirm the leader in front of their group; you can always find something good to say.
- Build teamwork and an attitude of cooperation. If you can break down personal tensions by building friendships and trust, you will automatically break down any working or ministry tensions.
- Send a thank you note or email after your visit. Thank the leader for the opportunity to be part of their group. Mention at least one positive thing you witnessed.
- Lead a group yourself. Start modeling the new direction you envision, but don't impose change on other leaders.
- Look for leaders who show an interest in helping the ministry grow and improve. You want to identify people with whom you would enjoy working and ministering.
- Invite leaders to an appreciation dessert or other event.
Step 3 - Encourage the current direction: Start to lean your bike into the turn, but take it slow.
- Recruit key leaders, those who are respected and influential, to become "coaches" overseeing other leaders.
- Ask coaches and leaders for ideas for how they would expand on the ministry's strengths and correct its weaknesses. People are motivated to enact their own ideas; motivation is movement and movement can be directed.
- Share your plans for implementing the changes you see necessary with your supervisor/elders and secure their support. Be ready to make adjustments.
- Start casting your vision privately with leaders and members of the church, but avoid any formal or official presentation.
- Recruit new leaders who are open and receptive to the ideas you have shared with them privately.
- Conduct short training events for current leaders which focus on implementing these new ideas.
- Give freedom to current leaders who don't immediately embrace these new ideas. Allow them to continue to lead their group as they have been doing. Be sensitive to the fact that some people may need more time than others to accept new ideas.
Step 4 - Change direction: You're ready to turn your bike wherever it needs to go.
- Give the ministry a face-lift by creating new promotional materials and strategies.
- Edit and redesign training materials to communicate and reinforce the changes and new direction the ministry is heading.
- Continue to recruit new leaders and coaches. They won't have any ties to the past and will be more open to the new direction.
- Challenge people to think in new terms. Define new goals and standards with phrases and images that highlight the benefits of the new direction.
- Document the impact of these changes. Determine how many new leaders and groups have been created. Calculate the total number of adults in small groups and what percentage of the total church adult population it represents. Include any other figures or information you think might be helpful.
- Recognize and promote as models those leaders who are successfully implementing change and seeing results.
- Continue to encourage leaders who still have not fully embraced or joined the new direction. Eventually, the success of these changes will become increasingly difficult to deny or ignore.
- Conduct larger scale meetings including coaches and others in the up-front leadership. Let them carry the banner and watch their excitement grow.
- Expose coaches and key leaders to other local churches and Internet resources. Let them share the pursuit for better ideas and new directions. They will excel in areas where you don't have the time or ability.
Anybody can turn a bike and anyone can change the direction of their ministry. Both require preparation, practice and patience. Ride safe, ride well, ride long!
