Most Important Goals of Rural Ministry
You have little resources and few staff so you must make every opportunity count. Whether it’s a community event, weekend experience or staff retreat is must add VALUE to your church ministry goals. Here is how we spell VALUE:
V- ision
Everything you and I embark on must be in line with the overall organizational vision of your church. Our vision is Worship Him, Walk with Him and Welcome Other to Him. Not only the overall vision, but does the event have a vision or is it just an event. We are so apt to do what someone else has done instead of declaring God’s vision for you.
A-ttitude
Everyone and every event must have a Philippians 2:5 attitude. This attitude contains Energy. All leaders, volunteers, staff and events must be filled with this attitude and energy. Nothing depletes the effectiveness of your vision than a bad attitude.
L-eadership
Leadership is brought and taught. Some of the greatest leaders on our staff were taught leadership before they brought it. Only a few brought it first, but those who did were put on the forefront of our church. It is up to us as leaders to attract leaders. If you are struggling with attracting leaders you must ask yourself if you are a leader. The old Chinese proverb says, “He who think he leadeth and has no one following is only taking a walk.”
U-nderstanding
Each event and leader must be supporting the Senior Pastors vision. There cannot be a staff member scheduling events or sidelining church members for “their cause”. Loyalty and getting “under” the pastors vision is the key to success for every leader and event within the church.
E-xcellence
This cost you absolutely nothing! Excellence must be oozing on everything you do within the local church. Most rural churches smell, look and sound like they are from another planet. Aesthetics are important to God. Smell and aroma is important to God. Gods ears are attentive to the sounds of excellence and obedience. You can do excellence on a zero budget.
Let me know what you think is the most important thing in ministry effectiveness.
I think you’re hitting the nail on the head. I would like to add that in this age, there are more lost and unchurched people than ever – kids, teens, and young adults… so attractiveness seems to be a very effective weapon when fighting the enemy. You’ve proved it time and time again that if we, the volunteers, members, and staff – the congregation, can put people in the seats, God’s going to use you in so many different ways to change their lives and lead them to him. It’s been said in the past that some people break away and leave the church once the “new church smell” wears off, but those who see past the attractiveness and allow themselves to be spiritually fed will remain – at least until God calls them to another form or area of ministry.
I believe alignment is also necessary and important when it comes to effectiveness. Like you said, the vision needs to be in line with the vision of the local church and the pastor – which, when church is done right, will also be in line with God’s mission and vision. I’m so blessed to be able to be part of a church that is aligned with God’s vision – primarily seeking and saving the lost at all costs – and I don’t just mean financial costs. One of my favorite things about BNC is that we’re always so involved in different things – camps, trips, projects, house churches, multiple campuses – so we are never sitting still long enough to “gather moss.” I’m praying for huge things to happen for BNC… more campuses… more house churches… more missions – and it will all be possible because of the alignment that BNC has with God’s mission of reaching the lost and unchurched.
Shannon, I believe that you have hit the nail right on the head!
Feeding the hungry, visiting the lonely and ones in prison, clothing the naked, healing the sick,…everything else will fall into place.
Shannon you say above: ” Each event and leader must be supporting the Senior Pastors vision”, “getting “under” the pastors vision is the key to success “. Is it not the vision of God not you.
Yes God is the Head of the Church. This is implied, but it is good to reflect this Biblical truth in that statement.