Developing a Ministry Plan
Advent Lutheran Church
Chapel Hill, NC
February 6 & 7, 2004
Let’s Pray
Opening Devotion
Agenda
(with breaks as needed and snacks)
Opening devotion – Friday 6:00 PM
 Rationale for the Process
 Assessing and claiming Core Values
 Congregational and Community Analysis
 Revisiting the Mission Statement
 Closing – Friday 9:00 PM (or sooner)
 Opening – Saturday 9:00 AM
 Visioning
 Desired Outcomes
 Reaching our Goals
 Accountability, Evaluation, and Follow-up
 Closing – 12:30 PM (or sooner)
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Process
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Our Goal - to develop a ministry plan
 Purpose - what do we need to do?
 Plan - how will we do it?
 Resources - what do we need to do it?
 Evaluation - how will we know when we
have done it?
Rationale
Where
there is no vision, the
people perish – Proverbs 29:18
Lack of planning results in lack
of action.
Without purpose there is
confusion, chaos and conflict.
Some Foundational
Assumptions

Empty Hands
 The Holy Spirit
 It’s Not about You – It’s All about You
 The House of Decisions
 The Circle of Faith
Empty Hands
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Personal Agendas
– Everyone has one!
– No one can set theirs aside on their own
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The more experienced you are, the
more convinced you become that you
know what’s best!
 Is this God’s way for us?
 Our need for prayer and the Holy
Spirit
The Holy Spirit
According to Martin Luther’s explanation of the 3rd Article of the Apostles’
Creed, it is the Holy Spirit who “calls, gathers, enlightens, and
sanctifies” us.
Calls
Through the Gospel
To our salvation in and through
Jesus Christ
Gathers
Collects His children into communities
For His purposes
Enlightens
With His gifts
The Gospel
Our calling in the Kingdom
Sanctifies
Sets us apart from the secular
It’s not about you!
It’s all about you!

His Call is all about you!
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

His calling (work) is not about you!
– God’s work is the same . . . regardless of who
is in the pews, regardless of who is on the
Boards, regardless of who is in the pulpit!
– His agenda will get done!
“The House of Decisions”
2nd Floor
Decisions
Land
Facilities
Programs
Staffing
Money
These decisions
should be based
on
Ministry Priorities
1st Floor
Decisions
Foundation for
all decisions
these choices,
God’s Calling
God’s Word
grounded in this
understanding!
The Circle of Faith
Faith
Peace
Openness
Trust
Equipping
God
Calling
Strength
His will
Gifts
His work
Resources
Surrender & Submit
His time
What is our preferred future?
What is God calling us to do?
Jesus’ Commands

Love one another
 Do good to all people – especially to those
of the household of faith
 Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the
imprisoned, give drink to the thirsty
 Welcome the stranger
 We have a mandate – Matthew 28:18-20
“Great Commission Outreach is o.k. . . .”
“as long as they don’t sit in my pew!”
“as long as we stay small!”
“as long as we can all worship together!”
“as long as we worship the way I like it!”
“as long as we keep doing things the way we’re doing
them!”
•
Alan Klaas, “Outreach Vision for a New Century”, LCMS National District Staff Conference, San
Antonio, TX, January 1998
“Great message on the church’s need to change with the times. For a
minute there, I thought you were talking about our church!”
The LCMS
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82% of LCMS congregations gain one or less adults by confirmation
or baptism.
Since 1968, the number of annual adult confirmations have remained
the same, approximately 30,000.
Statistically, it requires the effort of 115 members of the LCMS to
result in one adult confirmation per year!
Since 1970, LCMS membership has declined from 2.8 to 2.6 million.
In the last 30 years, Sunday School enrollment has dropped from
850,000 to under 500,000.
Worship attendance has declined 15% in the same period.
Almost 50% of the children confirmed in our congregations are not
active in them at the age of 21.
Since 1988, the Synod has lost approximately 1,750 more ordained
ministers and 3,000 more commissioned ministers than we have
gained.
• President Kieschnick, Installation Address, 2001
***
Core Values
Why we do what we do
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Constant, passionate Biblical beliefs
Determine distinctive ministry
Dictate personal involvement
Communicate what is important
Embrace good change
Influence overall behavior
Inspire people to action
Enhance credible leadership
Contribute to ministry success
Influence mission and vision
We pray for Values
Core Values Audit
(Handout)
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Values are historic and aspirational
Rate each value 1 to 5 (1 lowest, 5 highest)
Work quickly, using first impressions
Try to give as few 5’s as possible
Circle all values with a 4 or 5
Rank these as most important to least important.
List the top 12 at the bottom of the page
Our Core Values
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God’s grace
Bible-centered
preaching & teaching
Sacraments
Biblical foundation
Lordship of Christ
Prayer
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Great Commission
Christian Education
Caring Fellowship
Lutheran Confessions
Outreach
Godly Leadership
Inspiring Worship
The Congregation - History
– Formed in 1988 as a mission to the Chapel Hill
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area
Moved into first building in 1996
Montessori school founded in 1998
Became self-supporting in 1999
Launched Hispanic ministry in 1999
Rev. Daniel Brammeier called as second pastor
in 2003 (first called pastor)
2004?
The Congregation- Analysis
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One service on Sunday
 Sunday school & adult
Bible class
 Vacation Bible school
 Montessori preschool
 Service
–
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–
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World missions
Adopt-a-Highway
Campus ministry
Local service projects
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Fellowship
– Women’s fellowship
– Potlucks
– Kids’ nights
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Excellent visitors’ folder
Excellent newsletter
Liturgy printed
Mission statement printed
on Sunday bulletins
No prayer list
Regional congregation
The Congregation - II
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196 baptized members
 148 communicant
members
 104 average
attendance
 Previous attendance
– 90 five years ago
– 86 seven years ago
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20 enrolled in Sunday
school
15 in adult Bible class
2003 income $144,787.84
2003 expenses $107,636.25
1/3 65+; 1/3 30-64; 1/3 029 (more under 12)
The Congregation - Groups
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Women of Advent
Men’s Ministry
Church Council
ALMP Board
Tuesday AM Bible
Study
Tuesday PM Bible
Study
Youth Group
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Choir
Children’s Bell Choir
Adult Bell Choir
Spanish Class
NAMI
Constitution
Committee
Witness & Service
Committee
The Congregation - Outreach
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Chapel Hill Rehab
 Debtors’ Anonymous
 Neighborhood Civic
Associations
 Lord’s Literacy Grant
 Giving Tree
 Project 5000
 Ronald MacDonald House
Dinners
 Pancake Breakfast
 Rummage Sale
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Pregnancy Support
Services
 Heifer Project
 Crop walk
 Vacation Bible School
 ALMS
 Youth Project (in process)
 Book Sale
 Mr. Bill’s Bike Ministry
 Advent Attic
The Community
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83% professionals
Many students
Caucasian 73%; Asian
11%; Black 10%;
Hispanic 4%
Almost everyone’s home
is $100,000+
Median family income is
$80,000+
Movers & Shakers
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Population (1,3,5 miles)
6978, 37052, 106,615
Projection by 2007 –
7689, 40678, 117,218
11.5% 65+; 53% 30-64;
35.5% 0-29
Average age 36
85% college educated
Average travel time to
work 17.45 minutes
Denominations
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25 Baptist
22 Methodist
9 Presbyterian
6 Church of God
5 United Church of Christ
3 Bahai
3 Catholic
3 Episcopal
2 Assembly of God
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2 Church of Christ
 2 Unitarian
 2 Wesleyan
 1 ELCA
 1 LCMS
1 Buddhist
 1 Hindu
 1 Muslim
 6 Other
Advent
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Advent 2
Copyright © 1988-2001 Microsoft Corp. and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved. http://www.microsoft.com/mappoint © Copyright 2000 by Geographic Data Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. ©
2000 Navigation Technologies. All rights reserved. This data includes information taken with permission from Canadian authorities © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada © Copyright 2000 by
Compusearch Micromarketing Data and Systems Ltd.
Pushpins
Advent members
Questions

What are the unique gifts and resources of
our congregation?
 How does our congregation mirror the
community in which we live?
– Racially and ethnically
– Socially and economically
– Educationally and in terms of employment
The Mission Statement

What is your current mission?
 What commands did Jesus give us?
 The “Great Commission”
 “God so loved the world…”
 Maintenance ministry versus mission
The importance of the Mission
Statement
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Dictates the ministry’s direction
Focuses on the ministry’s function
Presents its preferred future
Provides a template for decision making
Inspires ministry unity
Shapes its strategy
Embraces positive change
Enhances ministry’s effectiveness
Facilitates evaluation
We pray for Mission
Examples of Mission
Statements
GE – Progress is our most important
product
 Burger King – Have it your way
 Maxwell House – Good to the last drop
 Durham Life – We protect the family
 Morton Salt – When it rains it pours

Developing the Mission
Statement - I
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What are we supposed to be doing?
– What kind of ministry are you involved in?
– Whom are you trying to serve?
– How will your ministry serve these people?
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Articulate your mission in written form
– What words communicate best?
– What is the simplest, most powerful way to say it?
– Does your format convey your mission well?
Developing the Mission
Statement - II
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Is your mission statement broad but clear?
– Is it broad enough?
– Is it clear?
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Is the statement brief and simple?
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Is there information overload?
Does it pass the t-shirt test?
Can you express it in one sentence?
Is it memorable?
Present Mission Statement
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Advent is a Community of Christians
gathered around the Word and the
Sacraments inviting all people to prepare
for and receive the Light of the World, Jesus
Christ.
Proposed Mission
statement/”motto”
“Serving
as Jesus
serves us”
A Vision for Your Ministry
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A vision is clear
Challenging
A picture others can
see
Shows the preferred
future
Describes what can be
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Describes what must
occur
Biblically based
Future focused
Direction oriented
Goal directed
We pray for Vision
Developing the Vision - I
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Conception of the Vision
– With what are you dissatisfied?
– What are the untapped opportunities?
– What could be?
– What are some viable alternatives?
Developing the Vision - II
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Clarifying the vision
– Envisioning prayer
– Thinking big
– Written brainstorming
– Determining the contents
– Questioning the dream
– Demonstrating patience
Developing the vision - III
Expand the vision statement – what do I
see?
 Study other vision statements
 Dream big dreams
 Continue to refine
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Items for Vision Statement - I
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0 – new sanctuary
0 – multiple services
2 – additional staff
0 – bilingual
2 – take-out ministry
1 – T.V. ministry
9 – nursery school
2 – expanded music
ministry
7 – Christian care &
concern
2 Stephen Ministry
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0 – adequate classrooms
10 – youth ministry
0 – regional high school
1 – plant sister
congregation
0 – sponsor foreign
missionary
18 – more Christian
fellowship opportunities
4 – service to college
students
2- Christ care
Items for Vision Statement - II
3 – more and varied Bible
studies
 0 – young adult ministry
 0 – singles ministry
 1 – retreats for all interests
 0 – camping ministry
 0 – cultural and Christian
education opportunities
for community
 0 – counseling ministry
 0 – nursing home
 0 – multigrade Lutheran
school
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2 – Interfaith Council
work
 0 – hospital ministry
 0 – after school program
 0 – recreation
 0 marriage & engagement
encounters
 3 – evangelism training
 0 – stronger Sunday
school
 0 –improved web site
 5 – visitor follow-up
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Proposed Vision Statement - I
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We see Advent Lutheran Church as a caring community,
founded on the Bible and Lutheran confessions, seeking to
care for and build up one another in the faith to live our
lives in obedience to Christ’s command to love one another
and to make disciples of all nations. We will do this
through the utilization of our time, talents and gifts to
reach the people of our community, especially the students
on our college and university campuses, those who have
special needs, and ethnic people in our community. We will
do this through a number of educational, fellowship, and
outreach programs that are congruent with the needs and
the culture of the people of our community.
Proposed Vision Statement - II
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These programs may include, but are not limited to:
 Christian fellowship
 Youth ministry
 Early childhood education (nursery school)
 Christian care and concern
 Visitor follow-up
 Evangelism training
 Additional Bible study opportunities
 Stephen Ministry
 Christ Care
 Interfaith Council ministry
 An expanded music ministry
 Take-out ministry
Proposed Vision Statement III

In order to fulfill this vision it may be
necessary for us to add additional staff such
as a second pastor who is bilingual, a DCE,
music minister, youth worker, or a vicar. It
may become necessary for us to add a
second service, to add additional classroom
space or to build a new sanctuary.
Desired Outcomes (Goals)

What is the one thing you want most to
happen in this congregation?
 What will it take to make it happen?
 What are the obstacles to accomplishing
this one thing?
Goal Requirements
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Must be specific
 Must be attainable
 Must be measurable
 Must be time-defined
We pray for our Goals
Goals
In the next three years, what one method of
achieving our vision brings the most glory to
God, has the highest potential for connecting
others with Christ, and could only be
accomplished by Him working through us?
Our Goals:

By March, 2004 we will initiate a monthly
friendship/family evening.
 By Fall, 2004 we will have in place a youth
ministry for 10th – 12th graders that is led by
one of our adult members.
 We have a goal of a new nursery school –
we will work to develop this goal when we
resolve our present preschool issues.
Objectives – Strategies

A way of accomplishing the Goal.
 There’s always more than one way to
consider!
 A strategy affects the entire
organization – it cannot be done by
only a few people.
“There’s more than one way to skin a
cat!”
How many Presbyterians does
it take to change a light bulb?
None . . .
God has predestined when
the lights will be off and on!
How many Episcopalians
does it take to change a light
bulb?
Eight . . .
One to call the electrician,
seven to say how much they
liked the old one better!
How many Mormons does it
take to change a light bulb?
Five . . .
One man to change the bulb
and four wives to tell him how
to do it!
How many Lutherans does it
take to change a light bulb?
Change?
Change

The changes required will be both
personal and corporate.
 We cannot make changes by our own hard
work alone.
 Only God can change us, personally and
corporately, according to His Plan.
***
Resources
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Land
 Building(s)
 Staff
 Programs
 Financial Resources
Land and Facility Usage

How can we best use the available land and
facilities to accomplish our vision as stated
in our goals and objectives?
 What modifications or changes need to be
made to do this most efficiently and
economically?
Staffing

What is the best deployment of present staff to
accomplish our vision as stated in the goals and
objectives?
 Do we need more, less, or different staff in order
to best accomplish our mission?
 Do we have the best system of governance for our
needs?
 Are we identifying and training leaders to grow
our ministry?
Program

What programs are currently part of the ministry
of this congregation?
 How does each fit into the vision as stated in the
goals and strategies that have been identified?
 What programs need to be terminated, modified or
begun in order to best accomplish the mission of
this congregation?
Finances

What will it cost to carry out this ministry
plan?
 Do we need to reallocate our financial
resources?
 If more resources are needed, from what
sources and how can they be obtained?
 Will it be necessary to modify our ministry
because of limited resources?
Actions
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What do we need to do to accomplish our
goals?
 Who will be responsible?
 How will we know when we have reached
our goals?
 When will we begin?
 When do we plan to complete?
Accountability

List what we want to do
 Specify who is responsible - An individual who is
responsible for each action item.
 Who will have oversight? An individual who has
responsibility for overseeing process – that each
person meets his or her deadlines
 Periodic evaluation and modification of the plan
– How will we know if progress is not being made?
– What will we do to jump start a stalled action?
We Pray for our Strategies
Our Strategies
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Monthly Friendship/Family Night
– March 20th is kickoff date
– Lois and her board are in charge
– Publicity?
– Program once each month
– Will be evaluated after 6 months
Evaluation

What plan do we have to evaluate?
– Nine marks of a Mission focused congregation
– Twelve Keys to an effective church
– Healthy Churches
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When will we evaluate?
 What will we do with our evaluation?
Evaluation – Core Values
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Shared vision
Vital Spirituality
Healthy Relationships
Celebrative Worship
Relational Outreach
Life-changing Small Groups
Empowered Leadership
Gift-oriented Ministry
Enabling Structures
The Vital Signs
Worship Attendance
Guests in Worship
Volunteers in Ministry
Adult Baptisms/Confirmations
Tithes and Offerings
Trends, not quantity or percentages
Unhealthy Congregations
Doing church as refuge.
“Hunker down and wait for the storm to blow over.”
Practice denial.
Try to hang onto or even recreate the past.
Insulate themselves against the world around them, which they
view as hostile and threatening to their survival.
The future is viewed with fear.
Outreach consists of trying to keep the children in the faith or
welcoming the newcomer in the community who already has the
faith.
Mission limited to the capacity of the pastor and staff for ministry.
“Come and get it” evangelism
Members hope the church survives long enough for their own
Memorial Service.
Healthy Congregations
Doing church as mission.
Turned outward in their thinking and agenda.
Seek cultural relevance and involvement.
Risk involvement in the world and strategize for it.
Measure their effectiveness by the number of transformed
lives in their community.
Face the future with confidence and hope because it believes
God is calling to His people from the better future He has
already prepared for them.
Missional vitality powered by the priesthood of all believers.
“Go and get ‘em” evangelism
Preparing the church to be vibrant and alive for their greatgrandchildren’s weddings!
This is NOT the END
…But the Beginning of
New Growth!