Taking inventory can reveal kinks in the plan as well as clear direction for the next steps. That’s what happened when one church planting team began using FiveTwo coaching and coursework to help develop their strategy.
Initially, Reverend Steven Williamson-Link and his leadership team had too small of a vision for a faith-based venture out of their Cario, New York church. Though the team had plenty of ideas, none of them seemed right. Steven said:
“We felt like it wasn’t big enough for what we want to do,” shares Steven.
Here are the two FiveTwo principles that helped drive their assessment process.
1. Get clear about values and mission.
With the help of their FiveTwo coach, Steven and his team realized they needed to take inventory. They weren’t certain how they’d achieve their vision, but they did know that in order to get clarity, the team needed to take stock of everything they were doing in the community. For Resurrection Lutheran, that meant:
- Preschool
- Food pantry
- Respite care program for memory-impaired seniors and their caregivers
Teams are encouraged to leave no stone unturned and ask whether or not programs are meeting their original purpose, If not, consider what it might take to get it back into purpose-driven mode.
When teams can separate the emotions from the assessment, it can be very powerful and leading. In fact, as the church focuses on these areas of potential improvement, Steven says: “It’s like a reinventing.”
LEAD WITH COMPASSION
One of the FiveTwo components is to lead with compassion, which is a priority for Resurrection Lutheran. When you start with a compassionate perspective, the view of your community will change, and out of that value, your endeavor will proceed with humility and hospitality.
The challenge was going to be focusing only on the ministries that would contribute to the venture’s mission.
2. Get clear about “why.”
The leaders at Resurrection Lutheran want to bridge the gap between committed and casual attendees. Recognizing the unique giftings and value the church brings to the table, Steven says:
“People feel comfortable coming here for [our outreaches]. But they haven’t become part of the church yet, and that’s what we want to fix. We want to bridge that gap.”
Taking inventory led the team to their WHY:
To bridge the gap.
Everything else — vision and strategy — will be directly influenced by the faith-based venture’s WHY. We’ve discovered this is a worthwhile investment in our work with churches, Christian entrepreneurs, and leaders. This way, you’ll have a better idea of how to gather your team, seek funding, establish community partnerships, and create your unique action plan.
Though Steven and his team were in their beginning stages, it’s encouraging to see the FiveTwo principles working for them and, ultimately, their customers in Cairo, New York.
Is it time to take inventory of your community impact? Revisit your mission and get clarity for your faith-based venture with FiveTwo Coaching. Book a free strategy session here.
