Discovery & Reflection: Too many congregations feel pressured to try to be “all things to all people” when in actuality, this is utterly impossible for any church. Churches often have wonderful ideas for ministering to others. But how are those ideas related to one another? What are the church’s spiritual priorities and ministry goals for the next year? The next two or three years? The next five years? This input must come from a combination of the grass roots membership and the leadership of the church. The leaders must decide TOGETHER the future priorities and ministry directions of the congregation. Therefore, it becomes critically important for the leaders of the congregation to work together to prayerfully discern and decide what the spiritual and ministry priorities of the church will be for the next year, two years and five years. This creates a “ministry roadmap” that the entire congregation has communicated throughout the church. Leaders then decide on a definite course of action in ministry and spiritual development for the church. Each of the major areas that the leaders choose as a priority can then be fully developed in this plan. Through Discovery & Reflection, PEM will interview the Staff, each major leadership committee of the congregation, and other members who will share their thoughts on the identity of the church. Various areas and spiritual aspects of the church will be covered in the hours of discussion. PEM processes all this input, conducts a Town Hall meeting for the entire congregation to share in this report The end result of this process: The church’s strengths, struggles, dreams, hopes and visions for future ministry growth will be revealed. |