MondayMorningInsight

Ten Observations from Churches Who “Get It”

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, April 02, 2007
Viewed 57
(60) comments so far

1. Each church has a pastor with a vision. And it’s not just that these pastors have a vision… it’s that they have a gift for communicating that vision to their staff and their entire church. While it might not be a surprise to anyone that churches that ‘get it’ have pastors who ‘get it’, it is a glaring similarity among these churches: their pastors are great leaders with a great vision.

2. Each church hires almost exclusively from within. Most every staff member of these churches was hired from within. When asked if this was intentional, most said that it was. Here’s the deal: most of these churches do a tremendous job of training leaders and empowering people in ministry. When that happens, the cream rises to the top, and that’s how they find their best staff people. Most do not have church staff experience, but rather bring their expertise from another area of business or commerce. And, I have to say, these are some sharp people.

3. Speaking of staff, the staff of these churches ‘get it’ too. The staff in these churches are very loyal to their church and to their leadership. These are people that have a long history with the church; and they are totally sold on the mission, vision and values of their church. They also view their job not only as to serve God, and the church; but also to come along side and support the vision and leadership of the senior pastor. These churches have very loyal staff.

4. A larger percentage of their staff (or staff wives) are pregnant. Just an observation here… but there are a lot of staff pregnancies at these churches. I’ve done no official polling or investigation here… it’s just a trend I’m seeing in these churches that ‘get it’.

5. These churches and pastors don’t have a clue what they’re doing. No really… more than one of the senior pastors told me something to the effect of “I really have no idea what I’m doing.” But, they’re having a great time doing it! Most of these leaders have never led a church larger than what they’re currently pastoring. One pastor said, “I’ve never even attended a church like this one.” They expressed the amount of faith they need to place in God just to lead where they are. In other words, they don’t have it all figured out!

6. Since they don’t have it all figured out, these pastors all shared with me their desire to connect with other leaders who can help mentor them. Each and every leader I’ve spoken to has asked in one way or another, “Who are some people that you think I should talk with?” In other words… who are the people out there that can help mentor me? Another encouraging thing is that these pastors are also excited about mentoring others.

7. These churches are not shy about sharing resources. Each one of these churches that I visited share their stuff with others freely. These aren’t a group of stingy churches… they are sold on their mission; and at the same time want to help other churches and their leaders however they can. Some are becoming ‘teaching churches’ who actively put the ‘helping other churches’ right in their DNA as a part of their identity and mission.

8. Most all of these pastors are bloggers. Not sure what the correlation is here; but four out of the six senior pastors are active bloggers. Some blog more to their church audience; others blog for other church leaders. Many of these churches have multiple church staff blogs. And the influence of their blogs and voice is expanding.

9. These churches are not afraid to make tough calls. If they see a ministry that needs cut, they’ll cut it. A staff member that’s not pulling his/her weight? They’ll reassign them or help ‘free their future’. They are not afraid to make gutsy and/or controversial calls. And best of all, it is their vision and mission that make these decisions, according to them, much easier.

10. Numbers are important to them. Each and every one of them. Because each person represents someone that Jesus died for, they make an effort to count that person because that person matters. While numbers is not the end-all measurement; it does provide insight into the amount of ministry and serves as one stat to how well you are achieving your ministry goals. As I said, each of these churches have counted at least 250 conversions in the past year. That’s something to count and get excited about.

Am I saying that these churches are flawless? Not by any means. And their pastors would tell you the same thing. I am saying that after visiting these churches fairly closely together that these are some of the common threads that I see. Take them for what they are worth, and see how many of these things these churches have in common with your church. It could be an interesting exercise!

About the Author: Todd Rhoades is the Managing Editor and Publisher of MondayMorningInsight.com (MMI as most of us know it). Besides spending a good amount of time maintaining this website, Todd is on the staff of Leadership Network, helping large churches to better connect, innovate, and multiply what they do best. Todd was also the founder of ChurchStaffing.com, until he sold the site in 2005. Todd lives with his wife, Dawn, and four children in Bryan, OH. He can be reached at .

It has been my extreme privilege during the past month or so to visit some great churches… some churches that are really firing on all cylinders. I was thinking about my visits the past few days and decided that there were some similarities in these churches that I really should write down. At least six of these churches have reported over 250 decisions for Christ over the past year. In my opinion, with that many conversions per year, that should place these churches in at least the top 5% of churches who are making a real Kingdom impact in the country today. Here are some serious (and not so serious) observations about these churches:

Comments

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Wendi on Thu, April 05, 2007

Ummm Christopher . . . did you read Todd’s opening paragraph? A church that “gets it” is reaching people with the gospel. Six had at least 250 who’d made a decision to follow Jesus, all had significant conversion growth. The observations were intended to provide us with some information about some commonalities among churches that ARE reaching people with the gospel.

And there is hardly enough information to cause someone (you) to question whether these pastors are “REAL Christians” or whether their churches are full of any “REAL Christians.”

Perhaps the church in America will experience some persecution, but based in the data provided to us by Todd about these particular churches . . . if persecution comes these will probably be exempted from it.

Wendi
Peter Hamm on Thu, April 05, 2007

Christopher,

I am part of a church that I think “gets it”. We have great sound and lights, we have a great presentation, we keep very busy doing our great presentations…

...and people come in the doors and lives are changed and souls are reached by Jesus…

...and those people go out the doors into the community and lives are changed and souls are reached by Jesus…

And by the way… I think there are plenty of people that come every week who aren’t “real Christians”. I hope they keep coming back… until they are…
Gary Sweeten on Thu, April 05, 2007

We always wanted to have at least 1/3 of our Sunday morning attendance as “Visitors” to whom we could share the gospel or get into a discipleship/growth process. We also did many things to reach out to the unchurched, about 50% of whom are not believers and the other half have been hurt or bored by churches. Either way, God’s good news was preached and people were touched.
Leonard on Thu, April 05, 2007

I have a couple thoughts. First, these churches most likely have a commitment to a small set of unmovable core values. They basically stay focused on the key values they possess without getting distracted. These churches also have a radical commitment to expansion. They are committed to getting the word out because they believe what they are saying is necessary for changing lives. Sort of a god to great principle.

My second thought is that to many Christians with a poor understand of church history have a sort of romantic perversion with persecution. While persecution can and does bring about many good things in the church it also causes great harm. Many times the influence of Christianity has been stomped out of a culture by persecution. Often persecution has not come because of complacency but because of a radical commitment to Christ. So when some Christian calls for persecution as an answer to a problem the church faces I get frustrated. I for one do not want to watch my family die, be raped, tortured and harmed because someone hates Jesus.

SO Christopher I not only think your statement “Christianity in America needs to fall under some extreme persecution” is wrong but not even close to the heart of God.
Will on Fri, April 06, 2007

“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” II Timothy 3:12
Todd Rhoades on Fri, April 06, 2007

Ever think that you might be part of our persecution, Will?

II Timothy 3:12

Todd

http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Leonard on Fri, April 06, 2007

Okay, I’ll bite since I don’t really have anything else to do. Not like this weekend is HUGE for churches.

Will, the use of the word “all” there in the Greek language can and often does mean “all types of people” not all as in each and every one. So, while it is true, (from my earlier post “While persecution can and does bring about many good things in the church it also causes great harm.”) Not every person who becomes a Christian will and should suffer. So I personally want to thank you for not reading my post but choosing to quote scripture. That is how many people do evangelism today too.
Peter Hamm on Fri, April 06, 2007

Gary writes “We always wanted to have at least 1/3 of our Sunday morning attendance as “Visitors” to whom we could share the gospel or get into a discipleship/growth process.”

We have the same goal. It’s kinda like the Ed Young explanation of what a healthy church looks like. Not all mature believers, but rather 1/3 mature believers, 1/3 folks who are figuring the whole Christianity thing out, and 1/3 people who are still waiting to make a decision. Obviously, as a church grows numerically and spiritually, some of those people transition into the “next category”, and unfortunately some don’t.

But we’re not heavily persecuted in our community, so I guess we must not be doing it right… http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif
Christopher Fontenot on Fri, April 06, 2007

Wendi,

The word “decision” is and interesting one since the Bible tells us there is none who seek after God. Is that “decision” made after “...every eye is closed and every head is bowed..” or was the invitation prefaced with “You have a God shaped hole in your heart that only Jesus can fill…”? It isn’t a “decision” that God wants from any of us…it is total surrender and that comes after an intimate understanding that we have sinned against God. I would ask you to listen over the next month and notice how many time your pastor preaches on sin, righteousness, holiness and judgment to come. I hope for the sake of your church family that it is often but the embracing of the modern church methods of preaching will be similar to Joel Osteens “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” style.

Peter,

Honestly assess the number of times you were approached in the last 5 years by a stranger who attempted to walk you through the Gospel plan of salvaton. I have been a Christian since April of ‘01 and have only been approached by JW’s, mormons and moonies. I live in a town of over 500,000 people and closer to 750,000 if you count the suburbs and have yet to be witnessed to by a Christian. Call 5 Christian churches in you city and ask them about their street ministry program and see if they have one. Don’t be surprised by your discovery.

Gary,

The church is not to be a source of entertainment. If they are bored then they are not there to praise the God who saved them.

Leonard,

The point I tried to make concerning persecution was to weed out those who are not truly committed to Christianity. But you make an interesting point of not wanting to see your family or loved ones suffer. Question is: “If God chooses for them to do so, will you still worship Him?”

By the way, the Bible tells us that God uses persecution to advance the Gospel not stifle it. If you are truly following the Biblical example of sharing the Gospel with all creation, what makes you think that your results will be any different than John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, Peter, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the rest of those martyred for there passion for the salvation of souls?
Will on Fri, April 06, 2007

Leonard,

Thanks for the lesson in Greek, do your magic with this verse please.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Same Greek word.

The very “bitter” Will.
DanielR (a different Daniel) on Fri, April 06, 2007

Yo, Christopher,

It may be time to cut back on the caffeine. You seem wound pretty tight. Are you feeling persecuted?

Maybe a mission trip to someplace where Christians still experience real persecution would give you some perspective on “persecution”. Or do you do mission trips? And, yes, there are places in the world where just being a Christian is still dangerous, my brother has served as a missionary in several of them and he says it does put a lot of things in perspective.
Phil DiLernia on Fri, April 06, 2007

Sometimes, not all, persecution comes from within the church as we can see here. Most pastors in churches that are attempting to transition have experienced this I assume. In fact, many church leaders who have tried to remove obstacles to faith have been persecuted. Jesus was a prime example here. Remember, Jesus would not have died on the cross if it wasn’t for His people choosing the thief over Him.

When Paul is persecuted from the world it doesn’t seem to faze him. However, when he faces persecution from those in the family of God he truly gets emotionally distraught and downright defensive. It hurts.

What’s going on in some of the hearts and attitudes on this post is hurting the body, is not glorifying or edifying God, and is really shameful.

JMO.
Christopher Fontenot on Fri, April 06, 2007

DanielR,

I have never been on an overseas missionary trip. I am aware of the level of persecution of Christians who put their very lives on the line everyday as they do their part in the Great Commission. Jesus gave His disciples (us included) the regions we were to evangelize. Jerusalem was their local area…their people. Judea was their region and Samaria was the place they didn’t like to go and then finally to the ends of the earth. He mentions our local area first. So I ask you, “Are you doing your part to fulfill the commission given to you by your Savior?”

There are plenty of lost souls around you that you could easily witness to 5 people a day. Hand them a tract or spend 15-20 minutes explaining sin, righteousness, judgment to come and the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Don’t just give them the nice things…tell them the whole counsel of God and you will get some taste of persecution…He guarantees it!
Leonard on Fri, April 06, 2007

Will,

You flatter me, I really cannot work magic with verses. I just try to think of them in context. Try it.

A very (Non bitter) Leonard

Christopher,

A couple thoughts. first, not all the people you mentioned were marytyef for their passion for lost souls. John the baptist, Isaiah, Jeremiah and ezekiel to name a few. Lost sould was more than likely not a concept these guys had at the time of their deaths.

China in the 8th centruy I believe extinguished Christianity through persecution, North Africa had christianity extinguished by Islam, Japan had it extinguished by Samuari and shoguns warriors . Not until missionaries carying the Gospel of Christ returned to these lands did they recieve hope again.

I would ask you where the bible tells us God uses persecution to advance the gospel not stifle it. I see the impact of persecution caused the church to spead out but it was Love that caoused it to advance. The point of persecuiton is the value of christ in our lives not weeding out people.

As for my familiy, I actually work hard to prepare my family not for perscution but for faithfulness to Christ no matter what the cost. I do not want them crushed by persecution nor do I want them seduced by materialism. I want them to know how awesome God is. Our phrase is that he is worth dying for and even more worth living for. Your question if asked to question my faithfulness then it is out of line and drips with pride. If it is asked with humility and is seeking to know how I prepare my family, thanks. I cannot tell with written word the tone of the word.
Christopher Fontenot on Fri, April 06, 2007

Phil,

The conscience is pricked and we feel it. It is my intention to hopefully expose our apathy towards the lost and motivate Christians to step out of their comfort zones and do what Jesus told us to do. Is it easy?...ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Is it necessary?...ABSOLUTELY!! Why should jw’s and mormons and moonies be better at lying than Christians are at sharing the truth?

We are involved in all kinds of “Christian” activities and souls are dying. If you could go back in time to September 10, 2001 and stand in front of the Twin Towers, how much passion would you exert in preaching the salvation message to those who entered the buildings knowing what would happen tomorrow? Death can swallow us up at any time. The person in the office next to you might not make it home tonight. If you knew that for a fact, would you share the Gospel with them? Would you risk them spitting in your face? Would you risk the ridicule for what you believe? Would you risk the rejection? Christ suffered in your place…isn’t He worth it? Show Him how much you love Him and give Him away.