Mission Action Plan Season (2)

One of the most common complaints I hear about the MAP is that churches are 'forced' to do them and this, it seems, makes the MAP a chore rather than a blessing. As a result some of those I come across a solo efforts intended merely to tick the box (which is actually worse than useless)!

Others are seen as an invitation to 'dream dreams'. One of these saw what was a declining and critically failing church reversing the trends and growing to a thriving community of hundreds. When I looked at the ageing congregation and experienced the desperate 'we're declining and doomed' atmosphere my first question was to ask how they (the church) thought they were going to reach their goals. The answer was a bit of a surprise: "We're expecting God to send them in!" The same answer was given as to the workers they would need, the skill sets and any other resource.*

Now, I am often troubled by those with whom I engage in that one of the critical factors in creating a MAP, having a vision and engaging with it, is the often perceived lack of prayer. Obviously this wasn't the case for this church, they had prayed and had faith a plenty - but the goal and expectations weren't realistic. This caused me great problems because I had found myself in the role of doubting what they believed God could do, and of course He could, couldn't He?

As conversations with both of the two examples here progressed it was obvious that timescales and performance indicators (i.e. did it happen?) were the missing, and much needed, elements here.

One of the common problems with the MAP is that like the one-armed fisherman, there is no way of understanding just how big the result of their efforts was! ("It was this big," they cry, "Holding out one arm!").

A PLEA

When you set about writing your MAP (we'll revisit the process some time soon) PLEASE:

1. Set timescales for the things (goals or objectives) you are planning/hoping/praying to see.

2. Review them at regular (predetermined) periods (6/12/18/24 months?)

3. Be realistic. If you have expected to see 50% growth and the result is different, review the goal and the means by which you were hoping to achieve it and modify (or even 'bin') the goal and/or process.

4. Keep the congregation informed and 'on side'. A congregation that owns and works towards the goals is one that is engaged and 'doing' rather than 'done to'.

5. Pray. In small groups, in services, in special events and anywhere and everywhere (ouch! Do I do enough of this? Probably not, but I can resolve that now!).

I hope this provides some stimulation for those who are struggling with MAPs. If you have problems, contact you local missioner (or mail me and I'll help if and where I can).

Happy Friday

* The goals for the 'church of hundreds had been in place for two years during which there had been rather rapid decline and the MAP hadn't been visited since it was written. If we don't understand where we are how can we hope to move towards our intended/hoped for destination?