When was the last time you experienced a dynamic 2-day offsite retreat that refreshed and refocused your team? This week is a great time to calendar, block, and schedule a retreat with your key leaders.
But some leaders might wonder, "Things are going so well, do we really need to go through the trouble of extra vision and planning days?" It's a great question. I fundamentally believe that much greater progress can come with actionable reflection. Yet, I thought I would explore the connection between taking time to envision the future and increasing attendance in your church.
Here are five reasons why pausing to plan will result in more people being attracted to your church.
Reason #1: Communicating the retreat that you schedule this week indirectly sets a tone of expectation for ministry results in the coming year. This kind of leadership move has a domino effect on the team and your leaders will be more likely to decide and act in ways that link to more people coming. For example, your student ministry director might think ahead on student events so that they are done faster and better. After all, the retreat is coming and his or her ministry will be discussed.
Reason #2: Creating harmony and flow among the leaders who implement ministry makes ministry environments more attractive. Years ago I learned that a perfectly executed worship service with frustrated or burned out leaders isn't really as much of a "win" as I thought. "Who we are" as we do the ministry is just as important as "what we do" and people attending are adept as sensing the atmosphere. Taking time to listen, relax and focus on the future will refresh a sense of community that others seeing that community from a distance can feel.
Reason #3: Focusing attention and resources on one area of impact will positively effect the whole system. The idea here is that your church needs one big goal at a time. Even if that goal is not directly aimed to increase attendance, it will likely have a positive impact. The church as the "body of Christ" is a set of systems. Strengthening one part, helps the whole.
Reason #4: Making room to diagnose problems and consider alternative perspectives will create new ideas. Every organization gets stuck in ruts in how they operate. There are always ruts. The only question is, how are you identifying and tackling them? The best idea for increasing attendance at your church may never come if you don't create the time and space to birth it.
Reason #5: Resetting the vision is essential for inspiring greatness and creating energy. It's easy to forget how monotonous ministry is on the front line. What are we ultimately supposed to be doing? Why do we do what we do? Where are we headed as a church? Your leaders ARE asking these questions whether you are aware of it or not. Why not involve them in helping see the future again? Increasing clarity creates energy to get more done and lifts the spirits of the people as they work. Do you think that increasing the energy and enthusiasm of your top 20 leaders will lead to increased attendance this year? You bet it will.
Sometimes having a facilitator for a 2-day retreat makes a huge difference. Our team at Auxano is ready to help you this year. We have a strong retreat agenda developed based on my latest book, God Dreams. Why not invite us in to help you? Learn more.
