I travel for work. I’m on the road 2-3 days a week sometimes. I average 28,000 miles a year. I travel. A lot. In my travels, there is this gas station I stop at a lot. It’s the only “good” gas station on a 60 mile stretch of interstate here in Louisiana. Technically, you could call it a truck stop, because it offers multiple diesel pumps and the inside is fantastic. Sit-down food options, plenty of caffeinated beverages, and all the other things you might want. But it is a horrible GAS station. There are 6 normal car pumps and rarely are all working. It’s also a tight spot so maneuvering to get into one of those pumps can be interesting. Since it is fuel stop around, it stays busy. Cars are sometimes woven all around the parking area waiting for a pump. If the material necessity for a gas station is to provide gas, it might be meeting its goal 3/10. So Chad, if it’s so frustrating, why is it there? Because it has to be there. Remember, it’s the best option on a highly traveled interstate. It’s one of three gas stations on the road between two major cities. This gas station can get away with a lot of ill-functioning because it has to be there. The location almost guarantees profitability. Many of our churches end up doing the same thing. Why is the church in the neighborhood? Because it has always been in the neighborhood. For those who are used to it, it seems perfectly fine. But for those who are in the community and need to experience Jesus through the life of the local church, it can be frustrating. This is the easy side of vitality.
I know this list seems basic, but I’ve been through enough places to tell you it isn’t. A gas station might think they don't need to worry because customers will always come. Similarly, a church that assumes it will always exist without focusing on its mission and outreach is in a risky situation. Churches often struggle because they assume they don’t need to focus on their core mission. This mission is to reach new people with Christ's love. Chad
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I steward Productive Pastor, a podcast and community of ministry leaders focused on how productivity and strategic ministry in the average church. I write about practical approaches to ministry productivity. I also write emails about church stability/development and my own theological musics in our current social moment.
Let me share a recap of a workshop session I led this spring. I was in Louisiana and teaching a session on engaging new visitors to the church. A good friend was bringing several people from his church and warned me to be ready. About halfway through the table conversation, one of his leaders said: “It’s all good and fun to talk about reaching new people, but what about the seniors who have been at our church for decades?” Honestly, it wasn’t the first time I'd heard this comment, but this...
A few years ago, I was in prayer, thanking God for taking me through a challenging season of life. While doing this, I realized that in times of significant personal turmoil, it isn’t odd for the same time to be spiritually enriching. I’ve been reflecting on that idea since then. One day, I made a big map of all the high times and low times in life, and then started mapping spiritual seasons on top of it. I discovered that in several instances, a difficult patch of life had been preceded by a...
After 20 years of working at a church, I have seen countless approaches to my own ministry productivity. Now, I am in an admin role and boots on the ground since I work within the denominational system. I've been thinking through some shifts over the past month, and I realize these are applicable to a broader spectrum. Especially if you are stepping into a staff-sized church of a few hundred people. I am low-key curious about how this would have affected my last full-time ministry gig when I...