Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 75

How Do You Lead a Team?

Both large and small churches or organizations use team concepts. Some of the best teams are the ones that pull the best talent from across multiple disciplines. For instance a cross-functional team that pulls from the best volunteers in worship ministry, student ministry, and kids ministry could bring new ideas to a first impressions team.

Every team will be comprised of members with the following types of influence:

Implied Leader – This is the person in the room that everyone will naturally look to when a decision is being made. Often this person holds the most influence.
Positional Leader – Someone who holds a high ranking title. People primarily listen because of where they fall in the organizational chart.
Proven Leader – A leader that has displayed successful leadership repeatedly over time. They can be seen as an expert. 
Relational Leader – A person who everyone loves and respects. This leader is well liked by the entire team.

The first question you have to answer is which type of influencer are you? If you hold the title of “Positional Leader” you will need to work closely with the ”Implied  Leader” of the group. It will only help you get to your goal faster. Each influencer type will provide different strengths toward accomplishing your goal, so be sure to know your team well. 

You will lead naturally from one type of leadership, but at different stages of the team’s growth you will need to display characteristics of all the influencer types. 

For instance:

As the implied leader, people will look to you when there are differing opinions. 
As the positional leader, assert authority when the team gets off course or when you have to update your leader about bad news. 
As the proven leader, refer to past success to solve a current problem. 
As the relational leader, be the one that unites the team.

Other elements of team leadership include communication and a plan that will fuel the teams purpose. I have blogged about communication here and fuel here. But by and large when leading a team it will come down to how well you can work with influencers toward a common goal. 

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8 Tips for Planning Family Ministry in Another Year of Unknowns

It is January again. It is time for New Year resolutions and meticulous planning. Or at least that is what we used to do. Way back in January 2020, none of us had any idea what the year held. As we begin 2021, how do we make plans for our children’s and student ministries? 

Calendar the best you can with the info you have now. It is tempting to make no plans because everything is so unknown. But God desires for His ministry to keep moving forward. I believe in planning optimistically, while being realistic as well. We are planning on normal summer activities resuming for our kids and students, but we are in a state with few restrictions. Maybe the wise thing for you is to plan for a modified version of “normal.” 
Remain fluid. As we all learned in 2020, just because something is on the calendar, doesn’t mean it is going to happen. Hold onto all plans lightly and perhaps have a “Plan B” in mind. 
Don’t procrastinate. Sometimes I find myself delaying making detailed plans because I’ve grown accustomed to cancelations and shutdowns. Be proactive, even when you aren’t entirely sure what is going to happen.
Be positive. People are tired of all of this. People are very divided among a number of lines. As ministry leaders, one of the most impactful things we can do right now is to shine the light and hope of Jesus brightly. Yes, you may face discouragement too. But you must lead from a place of hope. God works all things for good, even pandemics and an upside down world. 
Don’t resume an event just because it has always been on the calendar. As you evaluate resuming ministries that you couldn’t do this past year, make sure you sincerely ask if they have to be done or do they have to be done the same way. If you have traditionally done a VBS that very few people come to, is there a better way to do it? If your student camp has become very expensive, this may be the time to search for an alternative.
Communicate very clearly with your families. Let them know ASAP which dates to reserve on their calendars, but also be very clear that all plans will be dependent on the circumstances at the time. People are tired of hearing this kind of statement, but unfortunately it is our world right now. 
Be very familiar with cancellation and refund policies. Don’t book a camp or order a curriculum without fully understanding what will happen if circumstances change. Also, determine refund policies for money families may pay for camps, supplies, etc. 
Keep people connected. 2021 may have more seasons of shut down and online services. Make it one of your number one priorities to keep families connected to the church and to each other. Regularly send postcards and make phone calls. Build community through Facebook groups, Instagram, and group chats. 

I am praying for a much less tumultuous year for all of our churches. Even more, I am praying for God to use all of these unusual circumstances to build His kingdom and draw people to Him. Leaders, I am cheering for you as you navigate another year of unknowns. God is bigger and His kids and teenagers still need Him! Let’s see what He does in 2021.

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What to Expect in 2021 with Church Giving Trends

Through the late spring and summer, our team at Church Answers observed a consistent theme. Though some churches experienced a decline in giving, many reported steady giving patterns. A few reported a slight increase in giving.

It will take time to know exactly why giving did not drop off more as the pandemic took hold, but some initial reasons are beginning to emerge.

The quick action by Congress, the Federal Reserve, and the SBA got needed cash to Americans. This excess liquidity enabled people to continue giving to charitable causes, including churches.
At first, many anticipated the pandemic to last a few weeks, not months. People kept giving thinking the storm would be shorter in duration.
The shock factor of not gathering in person prompted members to rally behind their churches. People were willing to endure what they thought were short-term changes, and they kept giving with the hope of returning back to normal soon.
Out of necessity, people shifted to digital methods of giving. Even church members who would never consider this pathway prior to the pandemic were willing to make the leap.

Things changed in the fall. A second round of stimulus checks did not materialize. At some point in the summer, people realized this was a longer-term problem. And the lack of gathering in person caused churches to lose momentum. The one trend that continues to help churches is digital giving, but it’s not enough. 

Currently, we estimate over half of churches are experiencing giving challenges. Far too few churches are preparing for what could be a rocky 2021. While the latest reports about vaccine effectiveness are good signs, the reality is much of the economic damage is already done and will affect churches in the coming year. 

Only 3% of churches currently have worship attendance at or above pre-COVID levels.
Four out of five churches have reopened. Larger churches are reporting worship attendance at about 35% pre-COVID levels. Smaller churches are about 50% pre-COVID levels.
At Church Answers, we are projecting 20% of people that were attending will never return. This figure will be bigger for larger churches.
These lower attendance trends will affect giving in 2021. In short, you cannot bank on things returning to normal at some point next year. Almost every church will be smaller in 2021.

How can you prepare for this shift?

One simple adjustment is to lower your budget by the same percentage of people you anticipate will not return. For example, one in five people nationally are not expected to return to church—a 20% decline. If you estimate a similar figure for your church, then lower the budget by 20% in 2021.

Lowering expenses may be necessary. But you need to pour just as much energy into increasing revenue. Emphasize giving throughout the year. Celebrate new givers. Hand write notes to people who give sacrificially. Send out regular updates to the church on how their giving is positively impacting the mission. 

Even after lowering the budget, your church may need to dip into reserve funds in 2021. Work with whatever group that helps with the finances to determine an amount of reserve funds to be used if necessary. For example, let’s assume you have a 2021 budget of $400,000 and reserve funds of $100,000. You could plan to use $50,000 of reserve funds in the case of a budget shortfall before enacting spending freezes. 

The financial impact of COVID in churches will last into 2021. Now is the time to start preparing.

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Five Principles to Get Church Members Out of the Committee and Into the Community

I continue to be amazed, if not frustrated, at the amount of time church members spend in committee meetings. I often find churches are spending ten times more hours in committee meetings than Great Commission activities.

Committee meetings are not inherently bad, but they have become sad substitutes for ministry in many churches. Just today, I met virtually with six staff members of a church. They were lamenting the time consumption and frequent divisiveness of their committee system. They asked me about guidelines for church committees. As I have with other church leaders, I shared these five principles. 

Committees must have a clear purpose. One pastor shared a list of 14 committees in his church. The church’s average attendance is 140, so there is a committee for every 10 people in attendance. I asked why his church had a flower committee. Couldn’t they just decide about flowers without monthly meetings? His non-response was a clear response.
Committees should not meet just because they are on the schedule. If there are no items to address, don’t meet. The church calendar should not be the tail that wags the dog. Most of our churches are already encumbered with too much non-ministry busy work. 
Some committees should be eliminated. One church I encountered had a hymnal committee. Being the naïve person that I am, I asked what the purpose of a hymnal committee was. Of the seven leaders in the room, no one knew. So I asked what a hymnal committee does when it meets. A staff member shared with us that they spend an hour complaining about the music in the worship services. Now that’s productive.
Some committees should be task forces. A committee should have an ongoing purpose and need. Personnel committees and finance committees are good examples of committees that have ongoing purposes. Many committees should become task forces to lead and complete a given task; they should then disband.
Committees must not be a substitute for ministry. This fifth point brings us back to the original thesis. Churches burdened with too many committees are taking members out of ministry. These activities are often unnecessary. Indeed, many committees are often counter-productive. They become substitutes for ministry.

If your church is having difficulty getting ministry volunteers, it could be that the church members are burning out in committees. And have you ever noticed that some of your most divisive members are often outspoken members of committees? They prefer control over serving.

Many churches need to remove the excess fat of the meaningless activity of too many committees. Subtraction can become ministry addition. 

It’s time to get our members out of the committee and into the community.

 

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7 Ways to Slow Down This Christmas

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States, which typically means the official kickoff to the holiday season. Today, turkeys will be basted, football will be watched, and politics will be gingerly avoided. Tomorrow, alarms will be set, deals will be sought, and Christmas music will be turned on (I will not accept an alternate opinion on this). And from now until December 25th, we will be in an all-out race to hit every socially-distanced party and bake every treat and wrap every gift and check off every box.

This year’s rush is particularly insidious because it comes at the end of a year we’ll never forget. Pandemics and racial unrest and a volatile election and stay-at-home orders have arrested our attention. We’re weary. We’re worn. And we’re in need of a slow-down of our souls.

That’s why it’s important for us to make an agreement with each other. Right now, before you speed past this post and sneak a sampling of your mom’s chocolate chess pie, make the following commitment:

This year, I will take time to wonder.

If you’re like me, you often get to December 26 and wonder exactly where the time went. Instead of wondering after the fact, why not plan for wonder while we’re in the season? Why try to cram in every last thing rather than unplugging, stepping back, and using this as a time to reflect on the beauty of the incarnation and the marvel that God became man and lived among us? Why try to accept every invitation from everyone else, and miss intentional time with your family? Why get caught up in the trappings of a holiday about Jesus, without ever spending time with Jesus?

In his excellent book The Rest of God, Mark Buchanan says this:

The truly purposeful have an ironic secret: they manage time less and pay attention more. The most purposeful people I know rarely over-manage time, and when they do it’s usually because they’re lapsing into drivenness, into a loss of purpose for which they overcompensate with mere busyness. No, the distinguishing mark of the purposeful is not time management.

It’s that they notice. They’re fully awake.

How can you pursue of posture of noticing this Christmas season? How can you become “fully awake” when celebrating the coming of the Christ child? How can you take time to wonder? 

Here are a seven thoughts to help you slow down and savor:

Take time to read… really read …the passages about the incarnation:

Micah 5, Isaiah 9, Luke 1-2, and Matthew 2. Don’t skim, but savor. Read and re-read. Read in several different translations. Read them multiple times over the next few weeks. Listen to those passages on your Bible app.
Sit and stare at the fireplace.

Better yet, go out in the backyard and build a fire pit. There’s something therapeutic about listening to and watching a crackling flame that slows our souls.
Use an Advent devotional guide or read a related book for a fresh perspective.

This year I’ll be reading Come, Let Us Adore Him by Paul Tripp. I also recommend Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller, Waiting Here for You by Louie Giglio, or God Came Near by Max Lucado. 
Take time to look at your Christmas ornaments again.

Pull out the preschool crafts and proudly display the handmade treasures. Remember the stories behind the stuff that you mindlessly hang on your tree.
Read a book (or several!) with your kids or grandkids.

My daughter and I keep this as a tradition, going back to her very first Christmas with us. We add a new book to the rotation every year, and work through all of them leading up to the big day. (Here’s a post from a couple of years ago with most of the titles.)
Write a letter or send an email to a missionary.

Some of them will be spending another year far away from regular traditions and familiarity of the states. Others are still on stateside lockdown, anxiously awaiting for their country to reopen so they can continue the work of the ministry. Thank them for their service for the kingdom and assure them of your prayers in 2021.
Drive around town and look at Christmas lights.

With so many in-person events cancelled or changed this year, grab a thermos of hot chocolate, crank up the Charlie Brown Christmas playlist, and explore your city while you pray for your neighbors.

Here’s the key to the above suggestions: don’t make them one more thing you have to do. Instead, ferociously protect your calendar from filling up so that these are things you get to do.

How will you take time to wonder this season?

 

The above post contains affiliate links.

This post originally appeared on dfranks.com .

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How Even Healthy Churches Can Spiral Quickly into Dysfunction

Churches are more like organisms than they are organizations. Of course, organizational management is important in churches. Financials, staff reviews, and operations are among the many management activities in the church. Ultimately, however, churches are alive. Biblically, the church is a body. As a functioning organism, the church body is always changing. Like our own bodies, the church either becomes healthier or less healthy. Churches grow. Or they start dying. Congregations may plateau for a season. But no church remains static in perpetuity.

Like an organism, when church health declines, it typically does so slowly. But there are cases when an otherwise healthy person experiences a sudden deterioration. Healthy churches can also experience a sharp decline in health. There are cases of healthy churches quickly becoming dysfunctional. Below are five ways I’ve seen churches spiral downward quickly, almost overnight. 

Killer gossip. There is a reason gossip and murder are listed together in Romans 1. Gossip kills. While every church probably has a gossip or two waiting to ambush an unsuspecting soul, killer gossip is a more sinister monster. Killer gossip is more than a Twitter rant or an intentionally misleading question. Killer gossip has as its goal the complete destruction of another person. This kind of gossip destroys families, careers, and churches. It’s viral and can spread so quickly through the church body that it leaves a permanent sickness—one ultimately resulting in death.
A silent majority during a moment of crisis. A small group (it’s usually less than a dozen) can do a lot of damage in any church. Healthy churches can spiral quickly, however, when this small group takes advantage of a crisis in the church to get their way. The crisis magnifies their voice and power. If the silent majority does not speak out against this kind of power play, then a healthy church can become dysfunctional in a short time period.
Moral failure of a pastor. Few disasters affect a healthy body like the moral failure of a key leader. Indeed, even the healthiest of churches will likely struggle through the after-effects of a leader’s moral failure. Unfortunately, there are too many examples of healthy churches becoming dysfunctional following a moral failure in leadership.
Force majeure event. Force majeure is often used as contract language to free both parties from liability or obligation in the event of a major natural disaster, like a hurricane or flood. When these types of events affect entire communities, churches suffer. For example, when a large manufacturing firm left a small town, it meant most of the community was either unemployed or had to move. Every church in the community struggled. Some became dysfunctional quickly.
Ignoring evil. Evil is real. And it’s not a vague concept. People sin. Sin hurts other people. Not every sinner is a snake, of course. On occasion, however, an evil person enters the body. When you have an unwanted snake in your house, you don’t pet it and ask it nicely to leave. You strike it. Don’t play games with evil. Get rid of it or your church could quickly spiral into dysfunction.

 The powers of darkness will attack. In fact, healthy churches should expect evil to oppose an expanding gospel work. Most healthy churches are prepared. But no church should get comfortable. Satan’s goal is to make healthy churches fall . . . quickly. However, God is infinitely greater. Even the most disastrous of situations do not necessarily lead to dysfunction. In fact, it is the body that will determine whether the infection will spread or cause a response that leads to greater health.

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Making Better Decisions

One of the most important qualities of a good leader is the ability to make good decisions.  When a nation elects a President, a corporation hires a CEO, or when a church calls a pastor, each of them must factor in the decision-making ability of the leader.  Some decisions are strategically critical to the life of an organization, nation, or church that when they are executed, they set off a chain reaction like falling dominos. 

Over the past few months, parents, politicians, and pastors have had to formulate plans, chart new directions, and address herculean global problems that few generations have had to face. We have had a crash course in decision making, but we have yet to take the final exam. In this article, I want to offer a few guidelines to assist us in making better decisions. I pray my advice will provide some protection from the highly expensive consequences of making impulsive, reactionary, and emotional assessments that can paralyze a church, family, or nation for years to come.

The Principle of ILLUMINATION (Look to God’s Word to interpret your world).

This may seem like an obvious and expected action for Christian leaders to make, but I have found that this step is frequently ignored. We need God’s perspective to guide, inform, and validate our ideas. There is not a scripture for every issue we face, but there are biblical principles that provide benchmarks, parameters, and instruction for every problem or opportunity. When I am struggling with a particular issue, I consult the Bible for every place that addresses my concern. I ask three questions ‘What was going on with those in the text?’, ‘How did they respond?’, and ‘How should I respond?’.

The Principle of INVESTIGATION (Look to the facts in your face).

Perform your due diligence and discipline yourself to look at current reality. The more critical the decision the more due diligence is required. When I am making a major decision for my church or family, I am most critical and suspicious of my own voice. I have learned that my own emotions and selfishness can blind me from seeing the risks, dangers, and vulnerabilities of a decision. I listen for God’s Word and look at my world by asking questions and doing research. Read books and articles, attend a seminar, and examine the demographic, economic, social, and spiritual conditions that may shape the decision.

The Principle of CALCULATION (Look to the full cost of your decision).

What price are you willing to pay? How much pain are you willing to endure for the decision to succeed? There will be a cost that will be paid, and you must have a spiritual, emotional, financial, and relational expense account set up to draw from. Some decisions will mean that we must invite new people to have greater access to our lives and others will have limited access. Our time, resources, relationships, and energy will have to be redistributed. As you add more to your plate you will be forced to take something or someone else off. One of the overlooked consequences is the effect a decision will have on our family and health. As my children grew, I made a deliberate decision to limit meetings, counseling appointments, denominational demands, and member’s expectations to be there for my wife and children. I gave them veto power over my life. They have always been my first ministry.

The Principle of ANTICIPATION (Look out for and expect problems).

Every decision, no matter how carefully planned, researched, and prayed over, will have unforeseen problems, setbacks, and detours. Anticipate there will be challenges but do not set out to solve all of them before you launch out. The wisdom, grace, energy, and solutions will present themselves as you move out. Too many people become stagnant and will not make a decision because they want to have an answer for every obstacle they may face.  Once you have examined the facts, it will be your faith in Christ that will give you the strength to overcome any fears and move forward.

The Principle of CONSULTATION (Look to the advice of trusted advisors).

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). Talk with people who have experience, wisdom, and are not afraid to tell you the truth. You want to consult with people who will push you to do what is hard and uncomfortable and help you discern your own self-seeking interest. While consulting with others is important, depending on your role in an organization, there may be times you will have to make a decision alone. Jesus asked his disciples to pray with Him in the garden, but when He had to make the most crucial of all decisions, they went to sleep on Him.  

These simple principles are not the exhaustive list of what is required in making tough decisions, but they do provide the beginnings of a framework. Your next series of decisions can determine the health of your family, church, and community. Faith does not exist with the absence of fear, but it is advancing despite the presence of it. Go on and make your next move.

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Five Things Churches Should Do Differently in 2021

As I am writing this article, I was notified that my grandson, Joshua, had broken his ankle. My granddaughter, Collins, broke her arm this year. My son, Sam, broke his leg a month ago. And my wife, Nellie Jo, broke her wrist earlier this year.

That’s four different Rainer families with broken bones in the same year. 

Ugh.

Come quickly 2021!

For certain, there are many of us looking forward to leaving 2020 behind and entering a new year. We anticipate that 2021 will be much better. Indeed, we have every reason to believe it will be a better year. 

As our team works with church leaders, we are often asked what changes or pivots their churches should make as their congregations move to a new year. Though this list is not exhaustive, we find ourselves making these five recommendations consistently. 

Triple the amount of time your church dedicates to outreach to the community. It’s all about the Great Commission. For years, many of our churches have gradually reduced their commitment to reaching their communities. We are incredibly excited that thousands of churches have adopted Pray and Go (see www.PrayAndGoChurch.com) with a new commitment to make a difference where they live.


Have a backup budget. The economic outlook for 2021 is murky, but we do see some troubling signs. Indeed, we are already beginning to hear from church leaders whose churches are showing signs of deteriorating finances. We are encouraging many leaders to have a backup plan if giving does not meet expectations. 


Move from incremental change to substantive change. In the past, I advocated an “eating an elephant” posture toward change in established churches. You eat an elephant one bite at a time, and thus you lead change in a church one small step at a time. I can no longer advocate incremental change. We simply do not have the time to wait on people like we once did. If we wait on some of the more resistant people in our church to change, we may have closed the doors long before they are ready. 


Cut back on the clutter and activities. Many of our churches are simply too busy. We are sacrificing our families and opportunities to develop relationships in the community because of church calendars. COVID has given us a new opportunity to focus on doing a few things well in our churches. The simple church will become the effective church. 


Approach ministry with a church planter mindset. I have called this new opportunity “the blank slate.” Instead of doing things the way we’ve always done them, ruthlessly evaluate everything your church is doing. If your church were starting anew, what would it start doing? What would it stop doing? COVID has given us a new opportunity to rethink church. Don’t let the opportunity pass. 

I am watching the calendar closely. For sure, 2020 has not been a stellar year for many of us. But it has been a season where we can re-evaluate our lives and our ministries. Indeed, it can lead us to 2021 with a new enthusiasm for our churches and the people we lead and love.

 So, come quickly 2021. There are incredible opportunities just around the corner.

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One Verse for Your Church in 2021

I didn’t realize what I had started on the second Sunday of 2019. 

I had heard in passing about a church that read the same verse at the end of their worship service for an entire year. At the time, it sounded like a good idea. The idea that there would be a consistent message throughout the entire year, and maybe, some people might actually memorize it, was appealing to me.

At the time, I prayerfully read through some of the verses that were heavy on my heart. I picked Matthew 9:35-38. Okay, it wasn’t just one verse, but it was one passage. You may recognize verse 36 and 37: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few.’” (NLT)

Our church started reading that passage at the end of every worship service in 2019. And we haven’t stopped. We are closing in on 2 years and we have no plans to stop. 

What I didn’t know was the impact of those few verses. It has slowly shifted our eyes to see the confused and helpless souls around us. Those verses have led us to a new vision for our church. Those verses have shifted our strategy as church.

I didn’t realize what I had started that Sunday in 2019, but God knew. And God’s Word has greatly impacted our church in ways I didn’t see coming.

As you look to 2021, think about the possibility of one verse or one passage for your church. Here are a few ideas to help you think through what that verse may be:

What direction is God leading your church in 2021?
What is one way that your church can impact the community around you?
Is there a verse that is overflowing from your heart right now?
What verse have you seen that has been impactful in your church in the past?

God’s Word is living, breathing, and active. Let the people in your church see the power of letting God’s Word consistently permeate into their collective hearts. God might use it beyond what you can ask or think.

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5 Characteristics of a Successful Communications Minister

I spent most of my childhood in a small church, so I never heard of a “communications minister.” In fact, it wasn’t until I started working with churches that I started to see this role up close. I quickly grasped the vastness and difficulties of the job. Depending on the church, the communications minister can be in charge of public relations, audio/visuals, printing the bulletin, overseeing social media, and updating the website. It can be a big job.

Working with churches, I’ve noticed over time there are some characteristics that are universal amongst successful communications ministers. If a communication minister can master these characteristics, they will not only find that their communications ministry will flourish, but they’ll also have a better handle on the job itself.

1. They are Bought Into the Goals of the Church. 

It’s easy for a communications minister to form their own unique goals for their church’s communications. The goal may be a simplistic messaging approach or one that wants content across as many channels as possible. 

Either way, their goal for communications has to align with the church’s goals. For example, if your church’s goal is to have 10,000 people come to Christ this year, your communications goals have to align with that goal.

If a communications minister doesn’t know what the church’s goals are, they should sit down with their senior leadership and get a firm grasp of where leadership see things going and what they want the future to look like. This will not only help the communications minister align their work with the church, but also give them an idea of what the future of their job looks like.

2. They Have a Clear Idea of What the Church is Communicating as a Brand.

Most communications ministers can tell you what they’re communicating on a Sunday-to-Sunday basis. They may be promoting missions, small groups, etc. However, determining what they’re communicating as an overall brand is something entirely different.

In order to understand what the church is communicating a brand, the communications minister has to know the voice of the church. It’s the tone and the feel. Is the church an upbeat, celebratory church like Hillsong, or are they a more reflective church like The Village Church?

When the communications minister understands the brand of church, they’ll know what communications should look and feel like. They’ll have a keen sense of what social media posts feel like and when they’re “off-brand.”

3. They Have a Keen Sense of Disruptive Technologies.

In 2006, I used a Motorola Q as my daily phone and I felt like I had the future in my hand. I could email, text, and see my calendar all from a single device. Then one year later, the iPhone appeared and everything changed.

When most of us saw the iPhone, we saw a new cell phone with a lot of possibilities, but not all of us were thinking of how the iPhone would impact our church communications (e.g. responsive websites). I think now, we could all say that it’s had a huge impact on how we manage our church’s communications.

It’s not the communications minister’s job to be a futurist and predict what the next thing will be down the road. But, it is their job to be aware of what is developing that could disrupt the way their church communicates.

4. They Use the Phrase “I don’t know.”

If a communications minister wants to be comfortable with the future and their church’s communications, they need to be willing to say “I don’t know” a lot. The future will depend on them trying new communication channels (e.g. TikTok) with the idea that “they don’t know” what the immediate benefit will be.

By admitting that they don’t know, they’re identifying an area that they can research and grow in, which always leads to better outcomes. 

5. They Understand Their Role as a Supporting Player.

For most communications ministers, the average church member will have no clue what work they’ve done. It’s not because church members don’t care about what a communications minister does, it’s the fact that communications is a support mechanism that helps ministry happen on a daily basis and not something that is front and center.

You often hear leadership experts tout the benefits of “servant leadership,” the idea that real leaders serve those around them. A communications minister’s job is servant leadership. It’s their job to serve ministries and the church as a whole.

Sometimes that means that communications ministers will never get credit for the work they do. Nor will people truly understand the difficulty of the job. 

A church communications minister is very different from other ministerial positions, given how special the knowledge is that is required to do the job. However, it’s a growing field that is constantly changing with each piece of technology or social media startup. Either way it’s a blessing to serve and communicate for the church.

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