Turning Your Mission Statement Into A Strategic Ministry
Most churches have a mission statement. Along with the mission statement is the critical need to put a strategic ministry plan in place to accomplish the mission. One of the most important and enjoyable ventures a church leadership team and family can pursue is developing a strategic ministry plan to effectively fulfill their mission statement. But how does a church leadership team develop a strategic ministry plan that turns a mission statement into a thriving ministry? What does this strategic plan look like when it is developed around the church's mission statement?
In this blog, I will share with you some key elements involved in developing a ministry plan centered around your mission statement. Prayerfully, you will find this information encouraging and enriching in the development of your own strategic ministry plan as you seek to fulfill your church's mission statement.
IDENTIFY your purpose and mission statement.
GracePoint Church Purpose Statement
GracePoint Church exists to make a difference in the earthly decisions and eternal destinies of people by fulfilling the mission initially given by the ascended Jesus to Paul in Acts 20:23-24, Galatians 1:11-12, and Ephesians 3:2-3, which is reaching unbelievers with grace and teaching believers about grace, and so to say with Paul according to 2 Corinthians 4:15, “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
GracePoint Church Mission Statement
To fulfill the purpose of our church, by: seeking those who are searching for a church home or for meaning and purpose to life; sharing the unconditional love and grace of God found in Jesus Christ; studying God’s word rightly divided between law and grace, the old and new covenants/testaments, the prophecies given to Israel and the mystery of the church; strengthening relationships among members of the GracePoint family; singing songs to God as a church family; sending members into their sphere of influence and on mission trips as instruments of God’s love and grace to others; starting new grace-based churches as did the apostle Paul in the book of Acts; serving in the ministries of our church as we take ownership of and provide leadership in the ministries our church; stewardship, which is giving financially to enable our church to continue to make a difference in the lives of people through our ministries, and maintaining the church facilities and grounds with excellence.
CAST vision to your staff and church family about fulfilling the mission of the church. Cast vision at meetings, during conversations, over lunch, and at weekend services.
APPOINT someone from your ministry team or church family to lead one part of the mission statement. Have that leader gather a team who shares his or her passion to develop goals, plans, and ministries for that specific part of the mission statement.
BUILD teams of people within your church family who are passionate about one specific part of the mission statement and one target group. For example, if several people within the church share a common passion to see people recover from addictions, have them form a team and begin the process of developing a recovery ministry.
EXPAND the vision of the teams. Have each team see what God is doing through ministries in other churches similar to what the team desires to develop.
IMAGINE what each part of the mission statement would look like if it were effectively being fulfilled.
BRAINSTORM ministries that would help accomplish each specific part of the mission statement.
CREATE a list of each part of the mission statement with the ministries that support the fulfillment of that part of the mission statement.
SET specific goals your team would like to see reached. For example, how many guests do we want to see enter the doors of our church? How many people do we want to see come to know Jesus personally? How many new members do we want to become a part of our church? How many people do we want participating in small groups or bible classes? How many men, women, or teenagers do we want to see go to a conference? How many people do we want to take through our Financial Peace class? How many people do we want serving in the ministries of our church? How many people do we want to see go on a mission trip? How many new churches do we want to start? How many people do we want attending our Easter and Christmas services? How many churches do we want to start this year? With each part of the mission statement, have that mission statement ministry team set goals to fulfill that part of the mission statement.
DEVELOP a plan to reach your goals. We have heard the phrase a plan without a goal is only a wish. It is very important to list each specific goal with a detailed plan of how each goal will be reached. Assign people to certain areas of the plan. In developing this plan, ask key questions such as: How can we reach more unchurched children, teenagers, adults, and singles? How can we assimilate more people into small groups? What do we want our facilities both outside and in to look like? How can we improve our facilities? How can we increase our giving? Should we have special giving days emphasizing a specific part of our mission statement? Is this the year we should begin preparing to launch a new church? Where will we launch this church? Do we need to send mailers into the community highlighting a new series at our church? Asking questions will help you develop your plan.
BUDGET around your strategic ministry plan. The ministry plan should be in effect for the fiscal year. By developing your budget around your mission statement ministry plan, you give your budget a target which helps evaluate and determine budget decisions. In addition, each area of the ministry receives the financial support needed to fulfill its goals and plans. Every line-item in the budget should fit into the ministry plan. Line items that do not support the mission of the church and ministry plan, should be eliminated. New line-items will need to be added.
DRIVE the mission statement and ministry plan through each area of the church. The adult, older adult, single adult, young adult, men, women, college, youth, and children's ministries should all come together to fulfill the mission of the church. The ministry goals and plans of each ministry may be different. But overall, everyone will be on the same page heading in the same direction. This gives great unity to the church as a whole.
PRESENT the strategic plan to your church family to invite them to come together to serve in key positions in areas of their interests. Let them be a part of the process by participating in the plan. This will help boost the amount of people serving in ministries in the church as well as boost the momentum in your church. By giving church members the opportunity to participate in the ministry plan, begging for people to serve in the ministry will be eliminated. Sharing the vision of the ministry plan is much more appealing to members. People want to be a part of something great. They want to make a difference with their lives. Provide as many different ways for people to be a part of the plan. Through announcements, they can attend the initial team development and leadership meetings or sign up to participate on a team. Give them various ways to sign up such as the website, emailing the team leader, and yes the old fashion way...signing up immediately after the church service by visiting the booth of the ministry they are interested in.
EVALUATE each area of the ministry plan consistently throughout the year in light of your goals and plan. Evaluations should consist of accomplishments to be celebrated and changes that need to be made. Some of the changes needing to be made will be easy and others difficult. Proceed cautiously and wisely with difficult changes because we know how change can negatively effect the unity of a church. Do not ignore the changes that need to be made, but together as a team talk about how to make changes in a way that has the least negative affect on the church family. In addition, allow church members the freedom to switch ministry areas if they discover the ministry area they are in is not a fit for them.
TRACK statistics within each area of the mission statement ministry plan. Tracking statistics will tell the church leadership, ministry leaders, and ministry teams where they are strong and weak. This will help the church as a whole focus on what areas need to be improved or changed.
COMMUNICATE to team members areas that can be celebrated. Involve them in areas that may need to be changed or improved. Nothing builds momentum like progress in reaching goals!
PRAY from the beginning to the end of your ministry plan. Have each ministry team pray together on a regular basis. Send prayer request to each member of the team. Have a prayer team dedicated to praying specifically for God's will and wisdom for the development and implementation of the plan. Weekly, provide prayer needs to that team from each ministry area. Have small groups pray for the fulfillment of the plan. Pray for the plan when you are together at certain large group meetings. This will get your entire church family praying together in unity.
By developing and implementing a mission statement ministry plan, your church will begin to see more and more people come to know Jesus personally, grow in their relationship with him, and go out to reach others who are need of knowing Jesus.
To read my book on church planting, click below:
Strategic Church: Reaching the World with Grace
