Breaking Up the Systems
Even a good ministry system will eventually limit what God wants to do if the system doesn’t evolve or totally change.
(By system, I mean any program, structure, philosophy, or culture that shapes and helps produce a desired outcome.)
Once people operate within a system long enough, they often start to do ministry out of “muscle memory.” They tend to do the same things and work with the same people, but the results often start to slowly (or quickly) diminish.
Because this is what “we’ve always done,” people might think we just need to do what we did—better. In reality, God might want you to de-construct some ministry philosophy or system so you can hear His new direction.
For example, years ago we were doing everything you could think of at LifeChurch.tv. God directed us into a season of focusing on only five things. This philosophy served us well for about four years. It allowed us to focus on our core ministries without being distracted by lots of less-than-our-best efforts.
After a few years, it became obvious this season was coming to a close. What used to seem freeing started to become limiting. After prayer, we intentionally broke the established system to learn something new.
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I am currently deconstructing some of the systems and creating new systems. It is going to be difficult and slow because of the systems have been in place for 40 plus year. I know that it will be worth it because God is leading through it.
I am trying to make sure that the people know that what is being put in place is only there for a season and not a permenate thing.
Thanks for these posts - I am enjoying them.
Good stuff.
Jim, praying for you this morning as you deconstruct 40 year old systems. God’s best to your ministry.
Richly deep!
In the group I’m leading, last night God led the leaders and I to deconstruct the issues we were facing and get to the core.
We did this because we found we were at a stalemate…and I hated it. Same people were showing up and not changing.
So, we deconstructed the problem and found that it’s not the group yet that needs new structure, but us, the leaders.
We were trying to lead others, but weren’t effectively leading ourselves in the direction God was leading us. (that’s a lot of “leads” right there - sorry!)
We needed to restructure our personal lives. We have accountability set-up and I’m excited and anxious to see the next few weeks/months!
Jim - I just read your post. Props to you for stepping up to God’s leading!!
I can only imagine the mental stress of it, but continue to trust in and rely on God’s strength! He is using you to stop traditions and reignite true worship (which is why we need changing structures)!!
God bless you! And I too will be praying for you today!
Great phrase: muscle memory. I love it! I used to lift weights pretty heavily at one time (like you do Craig) and you know that after a certain while the muscle no longer responds to the exercise it has always been doing. So they tell you to shake it up. Change the order. Change the weight, reps, etc. Great thoughts today Craig (and I really like that phrase!)
Jim: Way to go my friend!
Thank you for your prayers!
The interesting thing is that people are on board now in theory while we are talking about it, but I know that when we begin to put things into practice that things will be more contentious. God is large and in charge so all will be good as long as He is leading the way.
Thanks again for prayers.
I guess the key would be to know “when” God is leading you to deconstruct some systems.
Great series of posts. I seldom comment, but I always read them.
Thanks
I can speak for me Travis - I came several months ago to a church that about 90 years old in a rural community. They have never had any wirtten vision or mission that I can find anywhere. The do however have many unwritten systems in place that make it difficult if you come into the church to be involved which then makes it difficult to grow because people come but do not want to stay. I have sensed that God was leading me on day one to show this particular church body a new perspective when it comes to misitry and reaching people and how difficult their systems made it for people to be involved. Then has lead me to deconstruct the systems that are in place and put new ones there for a time being. Hope this helps.
Great Blog! I am currently leading a church through such a process. It is amazing how rigid we can become in thinking. You see it in not only the church world but also in business. If a company gets complacent in the success of today, and doesn’t plan for the opportunities of tomorrow, they will fail. Just because it worked before, does not mean that the conditions are right today. We must constantly look at the fields that we are planting our seeds into. What is different this time than last planting season? Even Walmart understands that their competition is not Kmart anymore, so they are adjusting to meet what the expectations are of their target audience. Why would the church be any different?
It’s kind of like a doctor and medicine…You would not want or trust the physician of the early 1900’s to heal your ailment today…Healing has always been the goal of medicine but the “HOW” has evolved as the generations have passed.
The message of THE WORD has never changed but “how” people respond to the message continually evolves! We have to change with the tide.
I think the key is to be in tune to what God is saying… that is the only way you’re going to know what needs to be deconstructed and what needs to stay. I’m thankful we have leadership at LC that seek God for all decisions like that!
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Just this morning in our staff meeting we discussed Isaiah 43:19,21..It’s the new thing we struggle with most. Even as a worship Pastor I’m tempted to stick with what I feel best with, God is always in control, thanks for reminding us of that, he wants fresh, new and inspiring things for us daily.
It is so easy to love what we think will always work rather than allow God to rework what we are doing. We are two year and half year old church that’s asking questions about what’s next and what needs to go.
Such a good word. It is just that thinking that my church (The Well) has come to embrace since selling our building in 2005. At first glance, having to sell the burden was a sign that we were on the edge of collapse, but God had something different in mind.
We began to realize that losing our building was like having shackles taken off our feet. We’re free to do so much more!
I wonder how many churches today are operating in bodies of concrete and steel because that’s the way its always been done. Might be time to move to flesh and blood bodies, friends.
Who keeps moving the target?
I’m not currently leading a ministry as I wait for God’s direction for the next phase of my and my familiy’s lives. Having been a pastor and ministry leader previously I have seen the benefits first hand for breaking up systems.
I’d like to encourage you that it’s not only for ministry, God is challenging me to break systems in my personal life as well! Ways of thinking and doing things that I’ve been holding onto, God is challenging me to deconstruct and look at why I do them and if they are the best thing for me.
It’s really challenging and much more in your face than trying to change church systems. I would say it’s vital to begin with ourselves if we hope to then work with changing systems in churches/ministries.
For the past 2 and a half years, I would characterize what I’ve been doing as breaking more than deconstructing.
Some systems were so set in concrete that we couldn’t just take them apart block by block, a little at a time. They had to be ground down to powder and reset in a new mold.
When I look back at what God is now able to accomplish through the team we have morphed into, I can see so clearly how important it was to rethink EVERYTHING, even things that seemed successful and stable at the time.
Processes, procedures, inter-team relationships, leadership models, staffing structure, volunteer philosophies, video styles, software, communication systems, even the purpose and value of individual print pieces were all up for grabs.
What do you do when “deconstructing” becomes a system that people depend on for momentum…
I have seen this ideology actually lead to the results it is trying to prevent…
I have observed that some things God will never lead anyone to change … nevertheless some following a deconstruction model will depend on it and try…
Have you observed that also?
Thank you Craig. We area going through this now. We had an exceptional one day consulting time with Tony Morgan. He gave us some of these very things we need to work through. I’ve copied your post so I can share it with staff tomorrow in our meeting.
Blessings,
Dave
This is very good and so true especially this part:
“They tend to do the same things and work with the same people, but the results often start to slowly (or quickly) diminish.”
I am seeing this is my campus in the children’s ministry. We need to get new and fresh ideas and branch out from clinging to the same crowd or same copy cat types of people to work with or perhaps get new leadership in some areas. I think maybe things have become “muscle memory” for many and we aren’t seeking out new and fresh ideas from the Lord to capture our children’s hearts and attention. After all God should be leading not man. Maybe God has a new way of doing things and all we have to do is ask him to reveal that to us. This is very good!
Being a young church I am surprised and grateful how God has spoken to me recently about not falling into the trap of “well, we’ve just always done it that way”. I also believe God has placed personal friends and leaders in my life who are helping me see and look for that new or next direction or change. Its always pointing to Jesus but getting there and how we get there changes. My prayer is I see the need to change and charge after it and effectivley share that vision with our team and church.
Craig, You are right on, our man made system has worn us out. I am in a 20 year old system and I see the Holy Spirit, deconstruction and laying out his people for the reconstruction, as a builder would lay out material for the new building.
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