3. Establish several quick wins.
Quick wins may be connected to your larger, big-picture plan, or they may be separate. Either way, the key is to create momentum that helps your congregation believe that achieving vision is possible.
For example, let’s say you have 90 people attending your church on a regular basis, and evangelism is the core idea of your big picture “get un-stuck” plan. A quick win could be to create a plan for a special Sunday that would gather 10 visitors, maybe more, and you celebrate having over 100 people. Very doable!
You would not use that same kind of plan for your longer-term, more in-depth strategy, but it’s great for a one Sunday “quick win.” It’s a great morale boost for your people, who will begin to believe it’s possible to grow.
For a slightly different approach, let’s say we keep the same big-picture strategy that in some way relates to evangelism, but rather than a quick win that is outreach oriented, do something connected to local compassion ministry. For example, you could do a food drive for a local food co-op. You could easily gather several hundred canned goods and other food supplies to feed the hungry and your congregation feels encouraged for pleasing God, helping people and being successful. All in one weekend!
Do one or two of these things each month as your bigger plan catches traction.
4. Never lose sight of God’s Kingdom plan.
Your big picture plan for change doesn’t need to be elaborate. In fact, it should be simple. You should be able to describe it with crystal clear clarity in a few sentences to anyone who asks.
Even more importantly, your strategy (plan) must always be easily and obviously connected to the Great Commission—God’s plan—found in Matthew 28:18-20. When these two (your plan and God’s plan) remain in sync, real power is found and it will come alive.
Now what?
Work the plan.
Nearly every failure that occurs in the local church is because the leaders gave up and quit working the plan, rather than the plan itself being flawed.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:9-10)
Dan Reiland is the executive pastor at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. This article was originally published on Reiland’s blog, Developing Church Leaders.