Ask the Right Question

I had the privilege of serving at Barefoot Church in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where we averaged about 300 baptisms each year.  The church grew to over 2000 people in a little over five years.  Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation area for pastors (hear golf) and I had opportunity to talk to a lot of pastors who visited our church because they wanted to see their church reaching more people. 

                  They all had a similar question: “What are you doing that is reaching all these people?” My response was always, “You are asking the wrong question.”  If most churches did what we did it where they live it would be really weird.  The right question would be, “Why do you do what you do?”  We do what we do because we want to reach people who avoid the church or the gospel because they have had a bad experience in church or have heard negative stuff about the gospel. 

                  Because of this strong “why,” our "what" becomes creative and intentional.  We will do anything short of sin to get the gospel to people and people to the gospel.  We don’t do stuff to be cool or because “everyone is doing it”.  We do what we do because it produces the outcome of why we exist.  Too many churches are counting nickels and numbers and trying to find gimmicks to increase both.  It’s impossible to keep up with that kind of strategy.

                  The question is: “Why does your church exist?”  The next question is: “What can you do to accomplish why you exist?”  The focus is on the vision (why).  The measurement is the outcome (saved lives).  The ever-changing, creative, intentional methodology functions between these two realities.  If what you are doing is not producing why you exist . . . you must change what you are doing.  No exceptions.

                  Don’t worry about what others are doing.  Focus on what you are doing.  Why are you doing it?  What is the outcome?  Keep doing what you are doing and you will keep getting the same outcome.  Own the outcome . . . go back to the “WHY” . . . and prayerfully, creatively figure out the "what".   Then . . . surround yourself with a team and figure out how you are going to do what you have to do to accomplish the unique mission God has given your church.

                  Ready to begin?  Contact us at: www.refocusedministry.com