Clutter and Clarification

Isn’t it hard to throw out old stuff?  In the process of moving, I went from twenty boxes of books to five.  At first I went through each book.  I remembered the first time I read the book.  I recalled the reason for its purchase.  Four hours later and only a dozen books down, I knew I needed to step-up the pace. I hit my moment of clarification. I quickly scanned boxes.  Yes, I finally resorted to giving away whole boxes with little inspection.  It had to be done.

Many congregations are faced with declining membership and declining resources for a variety of reasons. When this happens, the natural tendency is to focus on survival issues, and the Great Commission suffers. Our Mission Revitalization Process helps congregations to turn this inward focus outward. Congregational consultations, learning communities and evangelistic outreach initiatives, all work together to renew the outreach focus of the local church.

Creating Movement

Last month I shared the importance of clarity in ministry. Did you begin the process of eliminating the clutter? In the church, as in other areas of life, less is often more.

Movement is another transformation principle. Ministries that are effective in mission are ministries that create and sustain movement. Movement is created and sustained by having clear sequential steps that move a person to a greater level of commitment.

Congregations may be very effective at reaching the unchurched in the community, yet not get those people involved in the life of the church because they lack movement. Congregations may have a calendar full of events and activities, yet fail to produce engaged members because they do not have sustained movement. The lack of movement often results in frustrated leaders and unproductive events. The process of planning for movement is called mapping. Mapping movement is the process of planning peaks and managing valleys.

The term “peak” describes an activity or program that engages members and reaches the lost. While the number of peaks involved in movement vary, they begin with the unchurched and end with service opportunities. For example, many congregations are using net fishing events as their first peak. They have identified net fishing events as most likely the first programmed event that connects the unchurched with their congregation. There’s more information on the website describing net fishing events. Some congregations have their school or preschool as their first peak. The next peak would often be the Sunday morning worship service. This peak calls for a greater level of commitment from the prospective member. Adult instruction, baptism, and Bible study involvement may continue the movement map.

Peaks are just one part of the map. Valleys are as important in movement as the peaks. The term “valley” is used to describe the transitions from one peak to the next. Congregations that fail to plan for the transitions don’t experience gains as a result of their peaks or programs. For example, how will non-churched families in your school get from the school into the worship service? Without answering that question, the school likely will not fulfill its mission potential. Issues of transition need to be addressed with planning and preparation as you consider each peak on your mission map.

Planning often results in a great deal of action with few results. However, planning for movement will result in action that, by God’s grace, will bear fruit and create an energizing sense of movement in the congregation.

Grace Celebration in Cordova Tennessee has done a fantastic job of mapping movement in their ministry. Like many congregations, Grace Celebration planned a Trunk or Treat event. They designed the event to be attractive to unchurched families. Their planning was rewarded with 150 unchurched people participating. They planned transitions to move their unchurched guest to greater commitment. First, by getting the names and contact information for the guests, so they can continue to reach them with invitations to future events. Second, during the trunk or treat the guests were invited to a follow-up event, a family movie night. Seven unchurched families participated in that event and by doing so, have experienced stronger relationships with the members of the congregation.

If your congregation would like more assistance in strategic planning, give me a call, (866)373-1343, or send me an email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , I’d love the opportunity to partner with you.

In Christ,
Rev. Todd Jones

Mission Stories

We’d love to hear your mission stories. Let us know how you are reaching your community with the Gospel. Your successes are amplified when they help other congregations in their mission efforts. You can send your stories and photos to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Three Components of Transformation

• An intervention designed to lead systemic change

• Catalyze hope and courage to tackle major dysfunctions or impediments to help

• Consultants are experts with the skills and training to lead congregations through the change process