The Cult of Data

What if there are body-life plans that God designed that will bring the results and impact hoped for by the best strategist? What if there are tactics in God's arsenal that will bear the fruit of vibrant, sustained, long-term health, extending Kingdom purposes here or anywhere in the world?[Paul Ford. Moving From I to We (Colorado: NavPress 2013) 184

It is easy for ministers and leaders to become so consumed with busyness and the "how" something should function that we establish training programs to get the masses of people to fit the "how" that we overlook God's gifting and unique functions of people that are already involved.

What principles are we to consider as we plan and execute our strategies? Before we can consider an answer to this question, we need to look and a painful answer. I believe that God is weary of our humanly contrived and executed plans to reach the world. He is probably weary of our scheming to fulfill His purposes through the next program from SUPER CHURCH X or EVANGELISTIC BLOG Z. Perhaps we need to re-think Ezekiel 36-37, the valley of dry bones and read the story again from the perspective of God's spirit awakening dead lethargy by Spirit anointing. With that in mind consider what the cult of data is not:
1.  Do not prepare all people to do one type of task. Your "grand-church" vision should include the variety of talents and gifts within your church presently. "One-size" does not fit all and you risk loosing people for attempting to force them into ministry that does not fit their gift set.
2.  Promoting the "right" strategic person for ministry can devalue other people already working. This mind-set can sabotage a ministry opportunity and discourage others from feeling like they have worth and value in your ministry vision.
3.  Do not put all of your eggs into one basket. Accomplishing Kingdom purposes is not a one-size fits all approach. Recognize the value of multi-purposes and methods.

What if you could leverage God's unique giftedness of your leadership team as well as your entire congregation? How would that impact your goals and dreams? How would this information assist you in understanding why differences of opinions become crippling? What would the value of this information be worth to you in achieving Kingdom goals?

Contact Shepherds Advantage Inc at 502-607-0306 or garry.brackett@gmail.com

From Attractional to Incarnational

 From Attractional to Incarnational

QUESTION: “Is the Great Commission understood merely as a mandate to get more people to come to a church service or activity?”

Traditionally, most churches have identified themselves as places where things happen and where congregants receive religious goods and services. As such, they produce worship services and events that attract people. It is like a club that provides club activities for club members who in turn rate the services they have received either by their return visits or by their financial support.

The scorecard for this kind of attractional church is attendance and participation. This is reflected in the income it derives from satisfied customers/club members. Since the typical church member has spent their entire life in this kind of model it feels perfectly normal. Leadership for this kind of model revolves around training people to operate the business of church effectively. In many cases the effectiveness of leaders relates to their ability to “grow” the church, meaning of course, to improve its appeal and capacity to attract more people.

The Incarnational understanding of who the church is declares that we are the body of Christ in the world today. Incarnational approaches focus on the church “BEING THERE” – at home, in the street, in the marketplace, at school, in the neighborhood – in the places where people live their lives. Incarnational believers search for ways to connect not just to each other but to the world beyond the church. They look for ways to help people discover and live out their faith in the spaces they already occupy.

Back to the opening question. One thing is certain; it is more difficult to add incarnational DNA to an attractional culture than it is to incorporate attractional components into an incarnational approach. There is a natural tension that this discussion creates. Saint Thomas Crookes of Sheffield, England suggests; UP-IN-OUT! UP signals relationship with God, as in worship. IN refers to relationship with each other, fellowship. OUT points to the relationship with outside the church, mission to the world.

30 Questions For All Leaders

30 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Making Major Decisions[1]

NOTE: These questions will help in every situation to bring clarity to the real issues and to minimize the emotional impact. Leadership demands clarity to make the tough choices under pressure. These questions are designed to save hundreds of wasted hours of low productivity and thousands of dollars spent needlessly. These questions can be used as a checklist.

1. In one sentence what is the real decision we are facing? What is the bottom, bottom line?
2. What facts do we need before we can make this decision with total confidence?
3. What trends, changes, or problems are behind the need for this change? How long will these continue to be a factor?
4. Are we dealing with a cause or symptom?
5. What does the Bible say about this situation?
6. Am I thinking about this situation with a clear head, or am I fatigued to the point that I should not be making this decision at this time?
7. What would the ideal solution be in this situation?
8. Should we seek outside counsel in making this decision?
9. What are the hidden agendas that are “pushing” for a decision in this situation? Why do “we” or “they” want a change? What is the source of the emotional fuel that is driving this decision?
10. If I had to decide in the next two minutes…what decision would I make, and why?
11. What decision would I expect each of my three most respected advisors to favor in this situation?
12. Can an overall decision in this situation be broken up into parts, “sub-decisions” made at a few “go/no go” points along the way?
13. What are the key assumptions in our thinking that underlie the decision that we are leaning toward? What do we assume it will really cost? What do we assume will be its real benefits?
14. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? How much?
15. Have we given ourselves twenty-four hours to let this decision settle in our minds?
16. What differences will this decision make a year from now? Five years? Twenty years? A hundred years?
17. Is this decision consistent with our values in the past, or does it mark a change in direction or standards?
18. How will this decision affect our overall Master Plan? Will it sidetrack us?
19. Will this decision help maximize our key strengths?
20. Have we verified what the results have been for others who have made similar decision in similar circumstances? Have we checked this thoroughly?
21. How do we really feel about his decision?
22. Is this the decision that we would make if our budget was twice as large as it is? Half as large? Five times as large? One-tenth as large? Is it the same decision we would make if we had twice as many staff members? Half as many?
23. What would happen if we did not carry out this decision?
24. If we did not carry it out, what would be the best three alternative decisions?
25. Is this the best timing for carrying out this decision? If not, why not? And when?
26. Is this decision truly appropriate in scope and size to the situation we face? Are we possibly hunting an elephant with a BB gun, or a rabbit with a cannon?
27. As I pray about this decision, and look at it from God’s perspective, do I have a sense of peace about it?
28. How do our families feel about this decision? How will it affect them?
29. What questions still linger in our minds? What aspects of the situation will not be resolved or solved by this decision?
30. Should we write a policy about this decision to guide us in similar situations in the future?

Prepared by: Dr Garry L. Brackett

Shepherds Advantage Inc.

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[1] Bobb Biehl & Tedd W. Engstrom. Increasing Your Boardroom Confidence. (Questar: Sisters, Oregon) 1988.

Five Things I Want To Give You

Five Things That I Want To Give You!

1.     Cultivate a devotional relationship with Christ Jesus!

a.    Set a time and place

b.    Be creative in your devotional material

c.     Learn to listen for God’s voice

d.    Journal

2.     Cultivate a “LEARNERS HEART”

a.    You don’t know it all

b.    Learn from others

c.     Listen to others

d.    APPLY!

3.     Develop a “TEACHABLE SPIRIT”

a.    Get rid of arrogance

b.    God gives GRACE to the humble – James 4:6

c.     Allow someone on your “front porch”

4.     Develop  a “LIFE MISSION” Statement

a.    Who am I?

b.    Where am I going?

c.     What are my dreams for God?

d.    ILL. – I want to preach Christ to as many as I can, as long as I can, in as many places as I can, and as often I as can.

5.     Become a “LIFE-LEARNER”

a.    Do not turn your nose at education?

b.    Ignorance is expensive!

c.     Education is always examined on a resume’

d.    If you do not pursue formal education then you must demonstrate how you improve your skill-set.

e.    NOBODY HIRES LAZINESS!