Deep Change or Slow Death

In his book "Deep Change" Robert Quinn coined the phrase slow death or deep change. Every day individuals and congregation make choices that lead in one of these two directions. Deep change is hell! It's frighening and messy - yet it is key to any kind of transformation. It takes great faith to journey into deep change. Why do so many who claim to be people of faith, have so little when it comes to this important aspect in life?

If you come up with an answer please let me know because currently I'm left scratching my head.

Missional Renaissance

I just finished reading Missional Renaissance by Reggie McNeal. I think it's a great book. Every church attender and church leader in America needs to read this book. I think he captures and describes clearly the future of the church. I hope you will check it out.

The Missional Church Seminar

What are your hopes?
Would you like your congregation to be less self focused?
Would you like to have a strategy that is more than a passing fad?
Would you like your congregation to make a bigger difference in the community?
Would you like your congregation to be more focused on the “kingdom” agenda of God for the world?

What can you expect?
This one day seminar will provide an overview of the “Missional Church” paradigm. Participants will learn the difference between four kinds of churches. You will learn the Biblical teachings that show us the heart of God and His kingdom agenda. Seven aptitudes of Missional Churches and Twelve indicators of a Missional Church will be discussed. The Seminar will conclude with a five step process for developing a missional mindset in you church.

When & Where?

March 11, 2008
10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Union Baptist Association
2916 West T.C. Jester
Houston, Texas 77027

The seminar is free! Lunch is $6.00.

Missional Church Seminar Offered

Practical Stuff On The Missional Church

What Are Your Hopes?
Would you like your congregation to make a bigger difference in your community?
Would you like to have a strategy that’s more than a passing fad?
Would you like the members of your congregation to be less selfish and more passionate about God?
Would you like to be encouraged and have real hope for the future, without moving or quitting?
Would you like realistic advice from a seasoned practitioner?

What Can You Expect?
This one day seminar will provide an overview of the “Missional Church” paradigm. Participants will learn the differences between four kinds of churches: the classic/ attractional church, the mission-minded church, the externally focused church and the incarnational/missional church. You will learn the basics of how to become more externally focused & how to turn members into missionaries. In addition, you will hear Ken’s story of personal transformation. This seminar will give you hope!

Why Ken Shuman?
Ken is a seasoned practitioner, living missionally, & leading a missional congregation.
Ken is a learner, having done extensive research on the missional church.
Ken is a clear communicator with the ability to translate complex ideas into practical language.
Ken is a storyteller who shares real life examples not just concepts or theories.

When & Where?
October 2, 2007 - 10 a.m.— 3 p.m.
Union Baptist Association - 2916 West T.C. Jester - Houston, Texas 77027

The seminar is free!

To register email Ken at kwshuman@gmail.com or call 713-569-1934.

Four Kinds of Churches

I've come to believe that all churches can be placed in one of four categories or described as one of four "kinds" of churches. I would quess that about 95% of all churches in America would fall in the classical/attractional category. The classical/attraction model is the one most ministers have been trained in, and most people are familiar with. I believe every church can make progress no matter their location, by adjusting to become the next kind of church. The classical/attractional can become mission minded. The mission minded church can become more externally focused. The externally focused church can become more incarnational/missional. Here is a brief description of the four kinds of churches. I would be interested in your thoughts.

The Classic/Attractional Church
• Extracts people from the world by attracting them to the ministries of the church.
• Has buildings, organization, and programs.
• Keeps members busy attending church services and activities.
• Measures success by attendance at the weekend worship services. Monitors budgets, buildings, and baptisms.
• 0% to 5% of the churches resources are focused externally.

The Mission Minded Church
• Has all the characteristics of the C/A church.
• Supports both local & global missions.
• Missions is one expression of the church’s larger ministry.
• Missions is primarily done ”somewhere else by someone else.”
• Measures success by the amount of money given to missions in addition to attendance.
• 5% to 20% of the churches resources are focused externally.

The Externally Focused Church
• Has all the characteristics of the M/M church.
• Identifies needs in their community and starts ministries to address the needs.
• Empowers and equips members to serve in the community.
• Values impact & influence in the community as much as attendance.
• Measures success by the spiritual and societal effects they are having on their community.
• 25% to 45% of the churches resources are focused externally.

The Missional Church
• Studies and knows their community.
• Equips and releases people as incarnational missionaries.
• Looks for and goes to unreached people groups both locally and globally. New congregations emerge from within an unreached group of people.
• Lives among the unreached, learns from them, loves them, starts where they are, and builds on what they have.
• Measures success by the number of people living as incarnational missionaries among groups of unreached people.
• 50% to 70% of the churches resources are focused externally.

Are We Doing Good…Well?

At this year’s Willowcreek Leadership Summit Dr. Michael Porter a Harvard business professor challenged us to ask the question, “are we doing good, well”. His contention is that most congregations that are trying to do good – aren’t doing it very well. He said that at best we are ineffective and at worst we could be doing harm. He suggested that we change our mindset from charity & giving to that of delivering a service to a customer. He recommended that we ask “how can we add value to this particular customer.” For Porter results are the key. He recommends a strategic approach that asks four questions: 1. Do we have clearly defined goals about what our objective is? 2. Where will we serve? 3. How will we serve? What specific needs will we address? More is not better. 4. How will we create alignment? Porter advocates for a sustainable solution model. There was much more to his presentation and I recommend you check it out at www.willowcreek.com/leadership2007.
I was really challenged by Porter’s presentation. I believe that getting Christians to “do good” is valuable to them, to the person being served, and to the Kingdom. However, I was challenged to move beyond just the act of service. I was challenged to think more strategically – to see that providing sustainable solutions is what the Kingdom is all about. I will think differently about what my congregation ought to be doing and how I will help other congregations in the future. What do you think?

More from the Externally Focused Church conference

At the “externally focused church” conference that I attended recently, Eric Swanson discussed Micah 6:8 - “And what does the Lord require of you - To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” I thought his comments were really good. I’d be interested in knowing what you think.
· To walk humbly with God addresses the spiritual lives of those who come to church. This is about helping those inside the church become devoted followers of Christ. This is internally focused.
· To love mercy addresses individual symptoms outside the church. This is about giving people fish. It involves acts of kindness and giving people shelter, food, clothing and medical care. This is externally focused.
· To act justly addresses systems that create symptoms. This is about teaching people to fish and to own the pond. It involves things like tutoring, job training, business creation, livable wages, and home ownership. This is externally focused.
Swanson said that you usually get commended for doing acts of mercy and that you usually get crucified for dealing with systemic systems.
I think it’s interesting that two thirds of this verse deal with external things.