Outcomes
by John Kimball, CCCC Director of Church Development
It has been rightly said that if one plans to accomplish nothing, he will surely meet his goal. I have learned that, in both the development of existing churches and in the establishing of a new one, planned ministry is critical to the kingdom success of a congregation. While some churches are struggling for survival and others have lulled themselves into ministry on autopilot (doing the same things year after year while the world around them is changing), those congregations that identify specific kingdom-oriented outcomes and create workable plans to make those outcomes a reality (usually within a time period) will continue to flourish.
I’ve had this conversation with many pastors over the last few months, and I am surprised at how many say they’ve never really thought about ministry in this way. Outcomes give very clear targets for our time, resources and effort. They help us refine ministry so that it is both culturally appropriate and fruitful. They help us define what ministry success looks like from a kingdom standpoint. And they keep us focused over time so that we are less likely to drift from that which the church is called to accomplish.
In nearly every case, the pastor or church leaders will ask me to give them an example of what I mean by an “outcome.” Perhaps that would also be helpful here. Let’s say that a fictitious congregation, “First Church,” is situated in a community with many families with young children. They get to know their town’s population through personal contact and some demographic tools and find out that 80% of those families with children are completely unaffiliated with any church. They also have learned that the majority of people who come to Christ, do so before the age of 13 (see Barna’s website at https://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/196-evangelism-is-most-effective-among-kids#.U7tdR9q9KSM). As they pray about the community in which God has placed them, the leadership feels a strong conviction that they are to focus much of their ministry effort over the next year on reaching children through age 13. They will be a church for everyone, but for this season they will concentrate their time, resources and effort on ministry and evangelism that directly impacts children.
Now, what kind of outcome might “First Church” articulate to guide their ministry over the next year? One example might be to see 50 children under the age of 13 to receive Christ by Christmas. For most local churches, such an outcome would require a huge step of faith. That’s as it should be! Now the church has to pray and strategize to make that outcome reality. They might be led to completely revamp their Vacation Bible School this year to reach a much larger audience. They may decide to move it outside of their church building to a place where more people already congregate (e.g., a city park, the YMCA, a large community center with a pool…). They may decide to work around already existing community schedules (i.e., summer sports, festivals, etc.) so that their ministry either does not compete with something already planned, or is purposefully designed to supplement those community activities to bless their town and increase their own connection with the non-churched. They may decide to partner with Child Evangelism Fellowship and start several backyard Bible clubs. They may sponsor regular Parents’ Nights Out so that they can build good relationships with the young families in their community. They may decide to shift budgetary funds from less critical areas to Children’s Ministry so that they have the needed resources. You get the idea. The outcome(s) become the rallying cry for their ministry for that season, and the whole congregation adjusts to help make the outcome a reality. And by December 25, the church will be able to measure the kingdom results.
Planned ministry with outcomes nearly always produces more and better kingdom fruit than falling back on routines or ministering out of the need to survive.
Would you like help developing some key outcomes for your church? Would your church benefit from the focus and energy that such outcomes provide? Contact your Church Development Team for more information! You can reach us through the Conference office at (651) 739-1474.
