Church Working Right
Church Working Right
Over the last decade of my personal and professional life, I have become a student of something I never knew was important – Systems.
Over the last decade of my personal and professional life, I have become a student of something I never knew was important – Systems.
AS GOD HAS CREATED OUR PHYSICAL BODIES TO FUNCTION WITH IMPORTANT SYSTEMS (DIGESTIVE, REPRODUCTIVE, RESPIRATORY, ETC.), SO A LOCAL BODY OF CHRIST NEEDS VITAL SYSTEMS TO FUNCTION WELL.
Churches that are healthy and growing have simply developed and nourished multiple systems to help the body go and grow. Conversely, churches that are declining tend to neglect or not change the very systems that are making them toxic and sick.
AS GOD HAS CREATED OUR PHYSICAL BODIES TO FUNCTION WITH IMPORTANT SYSTEMS (DIGESTIVE, REPRODUCTIVE, RESPIRATORY, ETC.), SO A LOCAL BODY OF CHRIST NEEDS VITAL SYSTEMS TO FUNCTION WELL.
The success of any church is largely dependent on the spiritual and emotional health of its staff, yet many ministers are isolated, overworked, under-resourced, and lack access to effective support systems. While pastoral work has always been difficult, a notable decrease in the number of individuals entering ministry as a first career, a lack of adequate training for many second-career pastors, and the growing pressures of reaching an increasingly post-Christian culture create special challenges for those serving today. These challenges place added demands on the spouses and families of church staff, a reality that can threaten a minister’s home life. No-one should be expected to sacrifice their marriage and children to serve a church.
GOD HAS ALWAYS FUNCTIONED THIS WAY. PAUL WRITES IN I CORINTHIANS THAT GOD IS NOT A GOD OF DISORDER, BUT OF PEACE. AS SUCH, HE DEVELOPED SYSTEMS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES.
- LGod gave Noah a system for building the ark in Genesis 6.
- LJethro gave Moses a system for problem solving in Exodus 18.
- LJoseph developed a system to prepare for the famine in Genesis 41.
- LNehemiah had a system for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 4.
- LJesus had a system when he sent out the 12 apostles and additional disciples in Matthew 10 and Luke 10.
- LAnd Paul’s direction in Titus 1 was to appoint an eldership system in every town.
GOD HAS ALWAYS FUNCTIONED THIS WAY. PAUL WRITES IN I CORINTHIANS THAT GOD IS NOT A GOD OF DISORDER, BUT OF PEACE. AS SUCH, HE DEVELOPED SYSTEMS TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES.
- LGod gave Noah a system for building the ark in Genesis 6.
- LJethro gave Moses a system for problem solving in Exodus 18.
- LJoseph developed a system to prepare for the famine in Genesis 41.
- LNehemiah had a system for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 4.
- LJesus had a system when he sent out the 12 apostles and additional disciples in Matthew 10 and Luke 10.
- LAnd Paul’s direction in Titus 1 was to appoint an eldership system in every town.
Why is this important?
Because as a church (and Pastor) grows, you must constantly examine and strengthen the systems you used in the past to ensure that they are healthy and able to properly sustain a body that is stronger and larger for the future. Is it hard work? You bet it is!
JUST LIKE GOING TO THE DOCTOR ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION TO PROBE, TEST, MONITOR AND EVALUATE – BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT FOR LONG-TERM HEALTH.
Why is this important?
Because as a church (and Pastor) grows, you must constantly examine and strengthen the systems you used in the past to ensure that they are healthy and able to properly sustain a body that is stronger and larger for the future. Is it hard work? You bet it is!
JUST LIKE GOING TO THE DOCTOR ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR MEDICAL EVALUATION TO PROBE, TEST, MONITOR AND EVALUATE – BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT FOR LONG-TERM HEALTH.
Here is an important equation I have learned:
Great Vision + Great Systems + Great Execution
= Great Results!
- THE SKELETON SYSTEM - WHICH IS THE ELDERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP OF A CHURCH THAT SUPPORTS AND PROTECTS THE BODY. GOOD LEADERSHIP PROVIDES THE STRUCTURE THAT ENABLES GROWTH.
- THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM - WHICH IS FEEDING ON THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER IN ORDER TO BE WELL FED AND WELL LED.
- THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM - WHICH HAS TO DO WITH HEART AND SOUL CARE. PAYING ATTENTION TO THE CHURCHES, AS WELL AS THE LEADER’S HEART IS CRITICAL.
- THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM - WHICH IS WORSHIP. REGULARLY, PERSONALLY, AND COLLECTIVELY FILLING YOUR LUNGS WITH THE AIR OF THE SPIRIT, TO BE SURE THAT ‘EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH, PRAISES THE LORD.’
- THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM - WHICH IS VOLUNTEERING AND SERVING. EXERCISING AND BUILDING THOSE SPIRITUAL MUSCLES NEEDED TO MOVE THE BODY FORWARD.
- THE NERVOUS SYSTEM - WHICH FOCUSES ON CONNECTING THE BODY THROUGH A SERIES OF NERVES SO THAT IT RECOGNIZES THE PAIN, BUT ALSO CELEBRATES THE PLEASURE OF A CHURCH WORKING RIGHT.
- THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM - WHICH IS EVANGELISM AND MAKING MORE DISCIPLES. THE CHURCH IS NOT TRULY HEALTHY UNTIL IT MAKES DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES ALONG A HEALTHY, MULTIPLICATION PATHWAY.
Free Resource
Having a healthy body means having regular physicals and exams with medical specialists. Having a healthy church body means that we do the same thing as its leaders. We think this idea of evaluating systems is so important, we want to give you a free Church Body Check-up.
Programs and Services
individual coaching
A comprehensive, structured renewal program for individual churches focused on assessment of strengths and weaknesses, clarification of vision and mission, clear definition of outcomes, inventory of resources, realistic planning, and guided implementation.
first response
An intensive on-site coaching and consulting program for churches in distress during the critical first days following an unexpected crisis.
leadership transitions
Succession for the Rest of Us provides assessment, planning, and consultation to help churches navigate successions and transitions in senior leadership.
Every church should have a coach and every pastor should have a cohort.
In partnership with the Christian Church Leadership Network, we are happy to provide the following programs and services:
Leading Together Webinars. These free monthly webinars feature some of the most effective preaching and church leadership practitioners in the country. Click here for information about upcoming Leading Together Webinars.
Regional Networking Gatherings. These are free regional social gatherings for networking and learning. Previous events have been hosted at TopGolf. Pastors and ministry staff have some fun and also get to hear a fantastic talk from John Hampton on Secrets to a Healthy Soul and a Healthy Church. Click here to see if we are hosting a Regional Networking Gathering near you.
Leading Together Virtual Roundtables. Join fellow leaders who attended at a Webinar or Regional Networking Gathering for no-cost monthly online roundtable groups with some of the leading voices in ministry on the primary issues, challenges, and practices for leading a healthy local church. Get additional coaching and insight for creating and maintaining a healthy church that is working right!
Soul-strengthening National Cohorts. The first of these elite and complete Cohorts of 7 Ministers and Spouses starts in January of 2024. These Cohorts engage in a rigorous, but rewarding 12-month process of leading the most difficult, but important person a pastor leads – themself. Cohorts are a combination of two in-person retreats and personalized online coaching sessions with premier ministry leaders and specialists. Because of the quality of this program, there is a $250 monthly fee for participation in this Cohort. (Some scholarships are available.) Email David Vaughan for the date and details of joining the next Cohort.
The Church Working Right Congregational Renewal Coaching. This resource is for any church of any size that desires to get healthier, unstuck, or renewed – especially if the church is in a season where they are struggling. D Vaughan Consulting’s Church Health Assessment is used to discover areas needing attention. An experienced ministry coach is assigned to guide and advise the church and her leaders for 10-12 weeks, using the church’s strengths to focus on key areas of concern. Short-term and long-term “next steps” are developed. There is a fee for the church for this personalized coaching. Email David Vaughan for a complimentary initial consultation to discuss cost and details.
There truly is nothing like the church when the church is working right!
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If you are interested in starting a conversation about coaching or other services, schedule a free 30-minute consultation!