In many cases, the success of an endeavor is measured by whether it accomplishes the intended outcomes. And if the outcomes are something under your control, that’s a perfectly fine measurement to use. Yet I’ve found that in ministry, we often tie our success to...
There are many, many good things we could do. So many, in fact, that it can actually cause a problem in one of two ways. One is that we could overcommit and not do anything well. The other is that sometimes when we are faced with too many options, we paradoxically...
What is your definition of success? Many would define it simply: the one who dies with most toys wins. Money, power, longevity. Others would define it more relationally: success is having a good marriage, raising good children, providing for family. Others...
What happens when – instead of playing to win – you play not to lose? You lose. You abandon the strategies that earned your success in the first place and you become too cautious. You don’t take a sufficient amount of risk… and it costs you. I haven’t read...
My wife, a very wise woman, keeps in mind three important strategies for maintaining long-term success in ministry. These apply no matter what kind of ministry you’re involved in, whether you’re leading a network of churches, organizing a small group service project,...
In yesterday’s blog entry, I outlined some of the advantages of pilot projects—starting small to test a ministry idea. Let’s say you do that. How do you know if it’s working? Here are a few ways to evaluate the success of your pilot project. Goal achievement. That...
Recently I watched a baby of about one year old who was trying to learn to speak. As conversations were carried on around him, he mimicked the sounds and actions he was observing. When people were talking, he would make word-like sounds in their direction as if we...
Whatever you want to end up with, you must start with in seed form. Always ask yourself the question, “What if it works?” If this new ministry takes off and grows, how will you handle the growth? What unit will you need to multiply? Group leaders? Meeting space?...
With my bum leg putting me on crutches, I am reading the parable of the talents (Matt 25:14-30) in a whole new light. Because I have less energy and ability than I used to, I have needed to recognize that I’m just not going to be able to do all I was before, at least...
