ReformationUCC.org

Note: In the previous installments in this series of articles, here and here, Pastor David Runnion-Bareford discussed how to begin when there are only a few. In a follow up interview, he discussed more of the spiritual dynamics involved in this non-confrontational approach to moving historic churches forward. Some may read these suggestions though and wonder if there is an opportunity “under their nose”? This article suggests some resources for identifying possible opportunities.

The process of identifying possible ministries is made easier once we recognize exactly what we’re trying to accomplish.  Basically we are attempting to stop being ingrown and become externally focused.

An entire network of churches large and small exist to go on the journey of becoming externally focused and – appropriately – they’re titled The Externally Focused Network.  Registration is free and the network provides a variety of resources to help churches brainstorm potential ministries.

One such resources is a 17 page downloadble article from Alexandra McNabb titled “99 Innovations“. It’s a fast paced tour of ideas and strategies that individual network members have used to reach out.

Here are some suggestions for reading and using that article:

1.  Read it for the encouragement! It’s always thrilling to see Jesus Christ using real people whom we can identify with to reach their communities with the Good News through their Good Works. This article contains 99 “doses” of encouragement that should leave your heart singing with joy at God’s work being done in these places. It should also leave you encouraged to see that these things (or similar ones) are quite possible right where you are.

2. Read it to brainstorm! Do you particularly identify with one of the people? one of the stories? one of the problems? Does one of the communities or churches mentioned sound like yours? As you “connect” and empathize with these people, it’s possible that “connection” is a “calling” in your own situation.

In this regard it’s important to ask – what has God done through your church in the past? Depending on the gifts, experience, and personality of your group – one particular ministry may stand out as a viable option and be what God has been preparing you to do.

3. Read it for Resources! Many entries list a website so you can do follow up research. Or they will suggest a topic that allows for more research just be searching on the internet. Contact a ministry by email if it’s of interest to you and pick their brain briefly. Most are more than happy to share their experiences, though many are already short of time and resources, so please be courteous.

One of the potentially “overwhelming” things though when starting a new ministry is to feel you have to “reinvent the wheel”. Usually there are resources you can use “out of the box” or adapt readily to whatever you want to do.

4. Read with Discernment. As good as any idea is in one setting, it may have to be adapted to your particular setting and calling.  Don’t slavishly try to mimic someone else. Take ideas from multiple sources if necessary to address your particular situation. Also, while these are all valid ideas in their own right, it doesn’t mean your church needs to do ALL of them – or any of them necessarily. So how do you know?

5. Read Prayerfully. You are inquiring about doing God’s work. You are in a process of being the steward who allocates God’s resources – the time, talents, and money of His people. A shepherd cannot afford to tire, frustrate, and alienate the sheep by sending them on either too many missions – or too futile ones.  This requires discernment to know what opportunities best match the resources God has given you.

6. Don’t Just Read It. At some point, reading must give way to action. Otherwise our reading and thinking is in vain. That doesn’t mean you should read this one article and know what to do right away… it may take quite some time to find your niche. Just recognize you must be making progress or your time is wasted.

Here are also some considerations as the church moves towards an external focus.

- It doesn’t have to be “the pastor’s idea” (or the deacons or the elders, etc.) for it to be the right idea at the right time.

- It’s easy to confuse activity with productivity. The strong point of the small church is community and the relationships they offer. It’s more true than ever that people “Don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”.  So spending time, money, and human energy on a flurry of activity that doesn’t allow for the creation of relationships with people may be fine for some, but may leave the small church frustrated because it produces no new members or no real lasting results. Ideally your outreach will allow for relationships to be built that convey the Good News as you do your Good Works.