Archive for November 29th, 2007
My Megachurch Confessions [7/8]
Jack Of All Trades
Everybody knows that by juggling too many axes, you will end up losing an arm, or more, some time or another!
My realisation in the megachurch environment is that wider application to a broad spectrum of people groups and their interests, leads to a lack of focus in the church, as a general rule.
You end up catering to all kinds of people with all kinds of demands, creating a hundred or more different ministry departments and/or programs. Normally these ministries don’t necessarily tie in with, or compliment, each other, and they usually end up doing just the opposite: competing with each other for resources such as time, money, volunteers, marketing opportunities and venues, to effectively run their programs.
The harsh truth is that if you want to say yes, and really mean it, to a certain vision, focus or direction, this implies that you have to say no to a bunch of other stuff! This other stuff may even be great opportunities, good plans or well-intended volunteers or ministry leaders.
- Whatever God’s dream about man may be, it seems certain it cannot come true unless man cooperates.
- Stella Terrill Mann
I guess the problem is just that it is so difficult for a leader to say no to somebody who has a genuine good idea, even if that idea has got totally nothing to do with God’s vision for that specific organisation. We try so hard to be everything to everyone, but ironically, we end up being nothing to nobody, really.
Focus brings strength, momentum, vision and constant forward motion. Without saying no once in a while, it is near impossible to say yes!
What say ye?
