Is Your Ministry Model Hindering Your Ministry? 2

Wow! It has been over two months since my last post–a record! What have I been doing? Teaching graduate and undergraduate students, writing three books–and developing another two. But, more about that later. . . . Consider this: Is your present ministry model hindering your Kingdom labors?

Sarah and I just replaced our gutters. We did what most people do: call companies and get estimates. Two companies came to our home, looked at the structure, and sent us their estimates. We selected one of these. However, it was company number three that revealed a model which cost them greatly.

Company three came to our house. Rather than looking at our structure and provide an estimate, their representative wanted to give us a gutter presentation. I was preparing dinner; Sarah was working on medical charts; and we were both leaving soon to catch our kids’ band concert. Not a good time. . . but more importantly, we did not want a presentation.

I greeted the man on our doorstep, shared our desires, asked for an estimate. He appeared surprised and asked when he could return to meet. I informed him we did not have the time, knew of their company’s good reputation, asked for any literature, and offered my email for an estimate. He then called his supervisor (while at my door) and told him we did not have time for a consultation and wanted an estimate. His boss said no. As he walked away, he informed me it would be a disservice to me if he did not share his presentation before providing an estimate.

We did not receive an estimate from that company, and they did not receive another meeting with us. Their business model immediately removed them from any possibility of earning our business. Even if their estimate had been $1,000,000, they would have at least had a chance for us to consider them.

While we should not operate our churches and agencies as businesses, I can’t help but wonder if present models are so locked into ecclesiastical culture that we are missing out on what the Spirit may desire to accomplish through us.

You should “know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds” (Prov 27:23). There was a time when your present model was new, dare I say innovative. You changed because of contextual issues then; and the wise Kingdom steward will change again in the future.

However, overtime we often equate cultural preferences with biblical prescriptions. Or, we allow ourselves to continue the accepted model, because that is just the way we do things in our context.

I am not advocating you discard your model. I am asking if your present model is limiting your ministry potential (Could sending 15% of people an emailed estimate, without your presentation, expand your reach?).

This is not about financial profit (or gutters). This is simply Kingdom stewardship. The five billion remain. Know the present reality of flocks and herds, context is always changing.