Making Decisions - Emotional or Missional

As churches face discussions of expansion, relocation, merger, or closure the process can become excruciating.  Many churches form  a committee to consider these decisions, others use the elder team and sometimes it is the decision of the Pastor.  In my experience, it is critical that these decisions are made by a selected group of leaders, call it a team or a committee, and then approved by the body.  I saw a plaque one time that said;

"For God so Loved the world that he didn't send a committee."

While a funny statement, especially to those that work with church committees, it is important to recognize the importance of running these decisions through a group of individuals that have committed to make a decision that best positions the church to accomplish the mission and vision of the church.  A committee or team must take the question at hand and look at it through a lens that asks the following questions:

1.  Does this decision better allow the church to accomplish the mission and vision?
2.  What is the cost of not making a decision, standing pat and doing nothing?
3.  Can we afford to take this step? Especially in expansion or relocation you must count the financial cost?
4.  Is this a missional decision or an emotional decision?

•  Missional - every action and ministry function being done with a focus on the mission of Christ, decisions made with the mission of the church at the core of its purpose.

I have seen many churches run in circles trying to make a decision to move, sell, or change.  These decisions can derail a church from accomplishing their mission and vision but they must approach the decisions from a missional perspective as if it is a business decision.  When a church considers, expansion, relocation, merger or closure there will be members with differing opinions and emotion.  Understanding your by-laws and ensuring that actions follow the by-laws and obtain congregational approval.  Successful change whether it is a move or a change of worship style will be most likely when there is trust in leadership and approval from the congregation.  This does not mean that the entire congregation is involved in every aspect of the decision process.  Committees or leadership teams will best serve the church when they keep the mission and vision of the church in mind as they make these decisions.

If you need assistance putting a leadership team or committee together email me today at johnpmuzyka@gmail.com.

Stewardship - Guard the Good Deposit

In starting the Stewardship series of posts, I decided to start with the one I get the most questions about.  In today's economy it is critical that every church have specific funds set aside for ministry and facilities.  Being a good steward means showing discipline in how we use ministry funds to accomplish the work God has for us to do.  The body faithfully brings their tithes and offerings and trusts that the leadership of the church will use that money in the best way to further the kingdom.

Speaking to several young churches recently I have been asked the following question. "How much money should we be saving?"  This question has generally come after I have discussed setting up a building fund.  The answer to the question is not a set answer for every church.  Each group is different and every budget is unique.  My response is this for most churches.  "Save every dollar you can".  You can't be wrong to start by saving 10% and setting it aside as savings.  If you are saving money specifically for a building fund I encourage the church to set a consistent amount aside each month to show discipline in setting aside funds.  This will help when a lender sees that a church has consistently paid a lease or a mortgage plus put away a consistent amount for the future.  When your church plans to expand or relocate you will need to have 20 - 30% in cash to get a loan.

The funds that you set aside are often considered to be a "building fund".  This is the popular thing to discuss.  It is critical that your church leadership understand that not only do you need to have cash set aside for capital improvements or a purchase but the church must also have cash set aside for at least 6 months of reserves for the ministry to run.  Most lenders I talk to today want to see a reserve fund that will sustain a church during a downturn in the economy.  Many church plants and young churches are spending every dollar on ministry and are stretching to make ends meet.  As these churches grow, many seek to add staff to handle the growth.  There is great wisdom in keeping expenses low and setting aside money as early as you can to prepare to house the new growth.

This discussion can be a daunting one for many churches.  I encourage every church I work with to get a clear understanding of their financial picture.  If you need an advisor to meet with you and help you get a financial plan together, contact me and I will assist you in getting with the right person for your ministry.  It may be a CPA in your church or a CPA that serves churches everyday.  Either way, it is critical to your ministry that the finances are in order and that the ministry plan has a corresponding financial plan to meet the needs of the ministry.

    By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
                                                                                                  II Timothy 1:14

This verse above will apply to each post on stewardship in this series.  This is a strong word to those who are leading a church.  As a Pastor, there is a great responsibility given to guard the gifts given by the people and to best use what is brought to the storehouse to the Glory of God and to accomplish the mission that we have been given.  Seek wisdom and counsel so that each and every financial decision is missionally directed and ministry driven.

Stewardship

Over the next week or so I will be posting a series of posts on Stewardship.  In my discussions with Pastors we often focus on finances and raising funds to accomplish projects.  We will discuss, money but we will also discuss, how we use our time and gifts for His Glory.  These posts are for all of us, whether new to ministry or veterans.  We all should take inventory of how we are stewarding what God has given us.

Are you being a good steward of what God has given you today?  On the heels of an awesome Easter are you pushing to continue last weeks impact into your ministry today?

Stay Tuned!

Churches Facing Foreclosure

We are hearing this more and more each day.  One of our representatives did an interview for a news station this week concerning churches being foreclosed on.  The following article came out last week: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/09/us-usa-housing-churches-idUSBRE82803120120309

We have worked with 30+ churches that have either been foreclosed on or are facing foreclosure in the last couple years.  In the situations where we have been able to work with the church in time we have been able to help them deal with the issue and find a way to continue or rebirth their ministry while reducing the debt burden.

If you or your church obtained a bank loan in 2007 - 2009 you will want to get counsel regarding your situation.  Even if you have made every payment on time there is a chance that you may need to prepare to get a new loan with a different lender.  Calling your lender is NOT the first step.  You may not be on their radar today but once you call you will be.

We can help you address your current situation.  Call me at 469.446.5131 or email me at johnm@thechurchconsultants.com.

The Circle Maker - Must Read!

Are you ready? Ready for revival?  I was asked by a family member recently; "How can we get America to pray for our nation?"  Well it starts with you and me.  Christians who profess Christ as our Risen Savior and God as our Creator must humble themselves, get on our knees, and pray.  That is easy to say and for many Christians it is sadly hard to do.  So how do we start a Prayer revival?

Well for me, The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson has been the spark that has lit a wildfire in both my prayer time and my reading of God's Holy Word.  This book has the potential to help Christians around the world realize the power of scripture and show them how to pray on the Promises of God while faithfully waiting on Him.  Watch the following video for a sneak peak from Pastor Mark as he introduces you to the book.

I encourage you to read this book and find the resources available at www.thecirclemaker.com
The 4 week  Bible study is structured to take your church and bible studies through.  The Resources are there for you and I truly believe this book can make a difference in our world.  This book will teach you to seek God, Pray Boldly, Pray through the Scripture, and learn how our Prayers benefit future generations.

Do not miss this great blessing.  I pray for Mark Batterson and National Community Church.  I have not met them, do not know them but I know God is using this story for His Glory!

Note: This is not a paid advertisement. Just the thoughts of a reader who wants you to enjoy this book.

Buying Land - Quick Hits

How much land do we need to buy for our Church?  Churches ponder this question.  I have heard Pastors say they need 25 acres and others say 1 acre will do.  So, what are the rules of thumb to use to determine how much land your church needs.

First we will define your ministry needs.  Call today and we can discuss the facilities needed for your ministry.  We have access to great tools to help estimate the facilities and land you need.

General Rule of Thumb - 1 acre per 100 seats in your sanctuary.  This is a start but there are additional parking and access discussions to explore based on your church schedule.

Parking - 100 parking spaces per acre.

If you are considering land, please contact me today for a free consultation regarding your ministry and your property and facility needs.  Call me at 469-446-5131

Current Facilities - Every Member a Minister

As I meet with churches, I want to hear about their mission and vision.  I saw a great tweet yesterday from @acts29 that said:


The church is not the mission, it is the mission sending agency.


As we discuss the mission and vision of the church we end up talking about the ministries of the church.  It is the ministries of the church that enables the church to accomplish the mission of the church.  We were given the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 and it is from the great commission that churches can develop the ministries to reach people and serve the body of Christ.


For use here, let me further define the word ministry.  The dictionary defines ministry as the act of serving, or One that serves as a means; instrumentality.  I would like to propose that an effective ministry of the church is one that serves people and reaches people with the focused and direct intent to accomplish the mission and vision of the church, reaching people for Christ.  The church that is on mission has ministries that take the Gospel to the world, whether it is your neighborhood or to another nation.  Lastly it is the ministries of the church that provide a place for every member to be a minister.


One of my first questions about the ministries of a church is how does each ministry fit with the mission and vision and with the resources that have been entrusted to the church.  It is important to realize that the effectiveness of a ministry can be limited or maximized by the facilities in which the ministry is housed.  For example, if the average age of Church X is 27, and there are many young married couples, this church will need to have strong nursery facilities.  Ministries that will reach this group and their friends will likely center around a Mother's Day out or other activities for young families.  If Church X has limited nursery space and no room to expand there is a cost to be counted here as it will be less likely that additional families will be added if there is not sufficient space for the children.  The concept of the sanctuary being 80% full and the need to add a service applies in the nursery as well.  I have observed that many families will attend Church Y based on the facilities and comfort with the children's area environment despite the parents preference of the preaching at Church X.


I believe church growth is most dynamic when a church enables and encourages every member to be a minister.  When the "Jones" family is active and engaged in the mission of the church they take the mission to their neighborhood, office, and school.  They will invite the people they meet and bring them to church.  The cost to be counted today is what is the lost opportunity cost when your facilities do not meet the needs of your members and the people that they may bring.  Whether you rent a temporary space or if you are a mega-church the question remains, do our facilities allow us to effectively "Do" ministry?  If the ministry is just serving existing members and not growing and reaching people is it really a ministry?  If the ministry is not reaching people I would call it a program and not a ministry.


As  your staff team evaluates your ministries, ask your team how your facilities allow the ministry to be effective.  You may discern you need to add another service to have more classroom space.  Maybe you need a midweek youth service.  If you realize that your current facility needs to be expanded or you need to consider alternate facilities then it may be time to count the cost to expand or relocate.  These discussions among your team will enable you to evaluate your ministries and in turn change those ministries to maximize their effectiveness and bear fruit.  


The professionals at The Church Consultants assist churches as they consider these questions.  If you would like a free consultation please contact John Muzyka at John@TheChurchConsultants.com.