Ministry Management
Managing Change
(By Jim
Harper)
"Changing can be like
potty raining your child, it can get pretty messy at the beginning
but it gets a lot better."
To Change is: "To become or make
different; to alter; to put with another; to use to take the
place of another."
God never changes! But people and the world around
us do. Change is happening at an expediential rate. Changes
like pressures of life, methods, technologies, systems, life
styles and so on. We need to stay with our calling and know
which areas of methods and strategies to be flexible in. Your
situation may be one of stagnation or impeded growth. If this
is the case you definitely need to have change out of your
comfort zone.
Preparing for Change:
- Have your staff give quarterly reports regarding
the changing needs of the people in their departments.
- Make a definite plan and set goals to solve
the problems that change brings.
- Identify the opposing forces to the changes
and prepare accordingly. Many times people need a shift
in their way of thinking to allow change to happen.
- Be in faith and be positive. Look at change
as opportunity and a challenge rather than a threat.
- Reinforce to your people that change is constant.
- Conduct a survey to see your people's ability
to adapt to change.
- There is a natural resistance to change so
don't be surprised when it happens, (we are creatures of
habit.)
- Be sure you have your congregation backing
you. If you have built trust along the way they will accept
the change and go with you into great increase.
How to Implement Change:
- Give your people enough time to accept whatever
change or adjustments you are proposing.
- Explain thoroughly what changes need to be
done and why.
- Conduct a question and answer session regarding
the changes.
- Let them be part of the decision-making regarding
the changes.
- Spread out the responsibilities for change
to as many people as possible. Their involvement will increase
their commitment.
- Need to explain that the people and the vision
of the ministry will benefit from the change.
- Don't condemn or criticize others who resist
change.
- Find ways to influence and motivate people
instead of putting pressure and demands on them.
- Provide your people the needed information,
materials and training at each phase to facilitate the changes
smoothly.
- Provide a reward system for each phase of
the change process.
- Establish a system to measure and analyze
the benefit of the changes you made.
The alternative to gradual change is an 'Immediate
and drastic change." This could be considered a "Calculated
Risk." For example if you were going to change the structure
of your church or radically launch an aggressive program you
may lose some people. With this in mind you need to weigh
out the immediate and overall future benefits to compensate
for any loss. One example of this type of change is when a
country in Europe made a new law that cars would have to drive
on the right side of the street instead of the left. They
planned out the change and made plenty of announcements and
then in the middle of heaviest traffic time everyone changed
lanes. It was total chaos for the rest of the night but the
change was complete and successful.
Change is inevitable and if done by the direction
of the Holy Spirit and in His timing it can carry the seed
of prosperity and success. The Chinese word for crisis is
made up of two characters, one means "danger" and
the other "opportunity." What system do you have
in place to keep up with the changes in the lives of your
congregation? Are you ready to make some quick changes to
meet their changing needs? Are you willing to make a "Reasonable
Risk" to advance your church way ahead? God never changes!
But the Holy Spirit is moving and we need to move with Him!
"But we all, with open face beholding
as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the
same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord." 2 Cor 3:18
By:
Jim Harper
Missionary/Itinerate Minister
Founder of "Radical Church Growth"
Email:
jhm-acc@cfaith.com
Web site:
www.jimharper.org
U.S. Address:
Jim Harper Ministries
303 East 2nd Street #1032
Skiatook, OK 74070
U.S. phone: (619) 757 9453
We pray that these "Ministry Management Tips" have been a blessing to you and will help you grow your church or ministry.
You may forward these to anyone who may benefit from them.
Your feedback and comments
are welcomed. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
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