Being a church leader is one of the most challenging jobs/ministries/positions a person can ever have. Being a pastor of the church or another church leader is unlike working for a *normal* business. In the corporate setting, P&L statements are important. In the church, souls are at stake!
Whether you’re a pastor focused on internal ministries (intended to support sanctification and discipleship), or you are brainstorming an external ministry for outreach and evangelism, it is important to pray, plan, and pursue.
Here are five things to consider when creating ministry expectations for a current ministry already in place, or getting ready to launch a new ministry sometime in the next year. These five things are centered around being S.MA.R.T.
SIZABLE (“S”)
God is a big God and everything He does is good and right. He is able. Able to do more. Able to do more than you could ever imagine or even ask to think. So, if you are fully convinced that God wants you to move forward with a ministry, expect God to be fully present, for the Holy Spirit to be working in the minds and hearts of those you’re serving (as well as those who ARE serving), and be ready to reap an abundant crop. Again, God is more than able so anticipate God to do more than you will plan to achieve.
MEASURABLE (“M”)
Dreams and wishes don’t have start/finish lines. In order to set acceptable standards and track growth, there needs to be measurements performed where we can determine if we are succeeding or failing. Without measurements, everything is a win (or a loss). Things that are tracked are things that can be measured and tweaked when needed. When establishing ministry criteria, we need to ask what are the metrics, and are we able to measure the effectiveness of our efforts. If the answers to those is no, then go back to the drawing board.
ACTIONABLE (“A”)
When setting goals for ministry, there has to be something to begin with. There needs to be a starting point. Step 1 should be followed by step 2, then step 3, then step 4, then … If there are no objective and/or actionable steps to be taken, the ministry in question is a nice thought — a great idea — but just not repeatable. People in your church are always asking the question, “What do we need to do next?”
REACHABLE (“R”)
Even though we serve a big God, we should not presume too much, based upon Him using our human weaknesses. We are frail and God uses frail people to do His will. Whatever the goal, it needs to be “reachable” so as not to discourage the servants. (EXAMPLE: “Get every person in Nashville to attend our Sunday service each week” is not a reachable goal.) We need to be able to define and see victory in the future ahead. People won’t want to keep showing up if they feel they’ll never be enough to amount to enough. Goals should stretch us, but also be reachable in the stretch.
TIME-SENSITIVE (“T”)
Again, goals need to be achievable and we need to be able to evaluate success or failure. The last thing any church wants is a “sacred cow ministry” that has been in existence for years, but no one can tell you why they’re still doing it. You can always set a goal (for example, one year from start to finish), and then extend the ministry to another year if it is achieving the goals you intend. However, doing so also gives you the opportunity to stop, pause, or pivot any ministry that is no longer reaping the fruit it once did.
SUMMARY: S.M.A.R.T. goals are big, measurable, actionable, reachable and have a specified time period.
