Now we're cooking! 'Action' is my middle name, just get and 'do' something, anything. This is what Church is all about isn't it, the doing? This is the performance bit of church growth. The bit where we all rush a bout like mad things and make church grow, get people to notice us and pay off the Parish Share.
Actually, a large part of the 'Action' looks very much like 'inaction' to a great many people. When I discuss this element with people I get the feeling that I'm being a bit of a pain because those listening 'want to do something' and I'm advocating something else as they see it! Actually, I advocate doing an awful lot, but its not high profile, it's on minimally visible and it's not exciting. But persevere and the exciting bits do come, and when they do - boy, they're really exciting (I promise you - if not you get a full refund).
Action is:
Finding out what is happening in the place where God has placed you. This means walking around and looking at the needs, the housing, the work patterns (or lack of them), understanding the needs of the community in terms of crime, education, health patterns, age and other demographics and forming a picture of what sort of people you are serving. This involves talking to people and finding out what needs are not being met. It means talking to the local beat officers and the PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) and visiting head teachers and using that relationship you already have (you do have relationships with the local schools don't you?) to find out the community needs from their perspective. Get hold of the IMD (Index of Multiple Deprivation) statistics for your area and see how it fares in key areas of education housing, health, crime, employment and the like. (If you're not sure ask me how and I'll help)
Now this is extremely boring and as you do this stuff many people will be found discussing and voicing concern (outside of church this is called 'moaning') about the fact that, "We're not doing anything!" This is the invisible bit and there is a great temptation to put this spinach and broccoli element of the meal that is mission to one side and rush off to Jelly and Custard land. Resist the temptation because if you leave this and move on you will have an undernourished mission plan later.
Talking to people and asking them what they need for their community. You can do social audits, an excellent way of putting your finger in the air and discovering which way the wind is blowing. You might think that you need to start a 'Mums and Tots' group and find out you need a place for the community to come and drink tea and engage in being community instead. So many people I talk to assume that by putting a few toys in the middle of a room and offering a cup of tea that they will fill their church building on a Sunday. Sadly not the case, studies have shown that in terms of bringing them in, this isn't the bestest way open to us. BUT, if there is a need - put one on, engage and develop relationships and even if they don't come to church on a Sunday, you are making relationships and sowing seeds for a different time (and there's always 'Fresh Expressions' - but more about that another day).
Praying! I am amazed how spiritual I can look at times, fortunately no one knows how within my size nine Clark's shoes lurks feet of clay. When I suggest prayer as part of the action plan those listening always nod and agree as if this was of course what they were going to do anyway. After all, five minutes out of the meeting isn't a great burden, is it? The problem is that what I mean to say is PRAY! We need to come to God with the needs of the community and the areas which trouble them and seek God's advice. We need to lay before Him everything we've been finding out about the community and be honest about the congregation as we seek His plans, His spark of inspiration for the way forward. Prayer takes a great deal of time and needs to be done by everyone in the church family. You need awaydays, prayer evening, briefing documents to help people pray intelligently. Biblical passages which keep cropping up need to shared and the people, ALL THE PEOPLE, need to be praying. Praying before you start finding out, praying as you find out, praying before to talk to people, while you talk to people, after you've talked to people and . . . I'm sure you get the idea!
A sad example. I was told by a Vicar that he and his PCC had set their MAP and all was well. The focus of the activity was to be the setting up of a computer repair shop (To protect the church identity I have changed the actual goal). Everyone has computers and to have people who can repair the machines for free (or at cost) and can go into homes and meet with the people and establish contact and develop a relationship is a brainwave and an inspiration. What an excellent idea - a twenty-first century missional act indeed. Problem was that no one in congregation was computer-literate and no one had any technical skills either!
Not a problem says our worthy Dog-Collar, we'll pray in new members with the skills. Meanwhile, just up the road the post office was closing and the tea shop was being converted to flats. Get the idea? Being spiritual is also being practical!
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