Are you more focused on expanding ministry or expanding mission?
When I read this question, it hit me right between the eyes. Like many church leaders, I find I fall into the trap of trying to grow (expand) the ministries I serve.
Leading is much more abstract then expanding the organization. We are called to expand its mission.
It takes great clarity and understanding of your personal or organizational mission to expand it with purpose and intention.
Expanding ministry leads to frustration. We focus on programs and imitate the models of other successful churches to grow ours. After spending time to initiate the programs, we are normally dissatisfied with the return on our investment.
Expanding ministry is about adding….expanding mission is about multiplying.
When you expand mission, you invest in relationships and focus on people. The things we do as a church are for the clear purpose of helping others understand our mission.
Let's look at SpringWell Church as an example. Our mission is to:
Create environments that lead people to love God, love each other, and love the world.
Everything we do as a church must be about expanding this mission. We do not need to expand our programs or calendars. However, the health of our church is absolutely dependent upon expanding our mission.
As we dream and strategize, we must always be asking ourselves, will this cause people to love God, love each other, and love the world.
How about you?
Are you focused on expanding ministry or expanding mission?
Do you have clarity regarding your personal and organization mission?
If you are tempted to focus more on ministry then mission, what are you going to do about it?
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