In the previous post on this book from Andy Stanley and his team at North Point Community Church (Part 4; see also, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), I unpacked our "win" for the remainder of 2006. In short our win is summarized in "Focus on 5" (see here or there).
Using these 7 anchor points as a guide, the next challenge is Practice 2: Think Steps, Not Programs. Regardless the age of your church, "traditions" form quickly. I'm not talking about hymnal use vs. choruses on the big screen. I'm talking about simple things like, middle school ministry meets on Wednesday nights; women meet on Tuesday mornings; the underwater basket-weaving group meets on Saturdays at 2.
These traditions represent programs. Programs that someone dreamed about, prayed about, planned and birthed. And here's what tends to happen: when the church menu gets full - and it grows over time - everyone can look at the church calendar and celebrate the number of programs, the opportunities the church has for its people to engage. All the bases covered. Everybody sigh - we've arrived.
This is the risk when we think programs. We can look at what's established, what's running without weekly oiling and call it good. However, efficiency is not synonymous with effective. Effectiveness of ministry is the objective.
So, pull out the church calendar. List all the programs on the board. Are they steps to help people get to the "win" we've identified? Or as Andy and his team boldly challenge, if you were starting over today with only two points - where your people are now and where you want them to be at the "win" - what doable, manageable steps would you place between the two points, allowing people to realistically get there?
That's a scary question. No sacred cows. None.
What steps would you create? What would get questioned? What would you stop doing?
Think steps, not programs.
