We've found out what's happening in our patch and we know the needs of the community and have prayed about them, the church and the ways that Church and Needs can come together such that the Church 'Becomes Christ' to those we are called to serve.
We have realised that William Temple was right when he said, "Church is the only organisation that exists primarily for the benefit of non-members." and we have taken on board the wonderful words of St. Francis of Assisi in that, We must go out and preach the Gospel, using words if necessary!" and so we are ready to draw up our plan.
We need to decide on what we are seeking to achieve. This is that horribly off-putting part as we ask that awful question:
"What are our goals?" What makes it worse is that these goals need to be realistic and achievable by good old fashioned hard work and endeavour. Too often the goals are set on the assumption that God will merely send a new housing estate to the local park and everyone who moves in will be hungry for God, working and full of initiative and enthusiasm. Others set the goals and leave God to bring them about. Warning Will Smith (sorry, used to love 'Lost in Space') "It just ain't going to happen! (well not in my experience it isn't. Having done this we need to ask another question, another tough one:
"How do we achieve these goals? Another tough question is the usual response here, but of course it isn't. Let's us putting on a Kid's Club as an example of one of the goals. You have decided that there is a need in the community and you want to meet this. So, how do you achieve this?
1. You need to have a venue - common sense isn't it? If you don't have a place to hold the thing you aren't going to have one!
2. You need to establish the age group you are catering for. Under eights have special rules and regulations applying and need Ofsted to be involved and to approve. Over eights are exempt from Ofsted regulations, as long as the sessions are two hours or less. You will still need to get a letter from Ofsted proving you are exempt though (and you should display this).
3. You need to ensure that the right equipment is in place. No point bringing in kids aged eight to fifteen and giving them stuff for younger kids. Little point buying Wiis, PS3 and X-Box consoles for three year olds. What is on offer should challenge, satisfy and attract the target audience.
4. Refreshments need to be considered. what are you offering and what do you do with the allergies (and they will come!)?
5. They will need changing facilities and toilets. Do you have them? If not, can you build them in the venue you have?
6. Who is going to run the provision? Are you paying for sessional workers or do you have people in the church who can offer their services? What will you do when they get tired and leave it to you alone (there are requirements as to the numbers of helpers to kids after all)? Whoever you get, they might need training and will certainly need to be CRB checked. There's insurance - is you premises covered and are you safe from litigation should the unforeseeable happen?
7. How will you manage the provision and how will you decide what the outcomes are? What will make it a success? One kid, twenty, two hundred and fifty? (Be realistic here)
8. How will you attract the kids? What will you be offering that gets them out of the houses and away from TV or is attractive enough for them to leave the park?
9. How will this lead to them discovering God? Direct proselytising is worthless and to merely put something on to 'win souls' is cheap and rarely works. What will the strategy be for those you come into relationship with and wish to lead into something a little deeper? Is there scope, planning or potential for a 'Fresh Expression' (Don't worry, we're going to do this shortly)?
I've given you a very simple (and rather rushed) outline of the Planning stage. We need to go deeper into this but consider the work in the nine steps above and ask yourself how realistic the seven goals you and the PCC have decided on really are.
Revision, Revision, Revision. Once you've set the plans up they need to be constantly revisited and revised as things, people, opportunities change. To set goals in concrete is to be assured of frustration and potential failure. Keep looking at what you're doing and get everyone (involved or not) to a place where they are informed and praying. Those who fail to pray plan to fail - have a think about that and look at your plans!!
There we are - Mission - Action - Planning. Never claimed it would be simple or easy now, did I? Strange thing is that it is!
But of course there's more to it than just this - having got here the real work starts.
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