The DNA Update for United Methodists
Dr. Don Nations for September 2015
In This Issue:
A Success Story
Just a Little Bit
A Success Story
I recently received an email from a pastor with whom I had worked a number of years ago. Below is a portion of what he sent.
Hey Don, just wanted to give you an update on our progress at Pirtle UMC since we last visited.
Our average attendance since January of his year is about 82 (up from about 12 when you first visited). Recently, we have had Sundays with attendance around and even over 100. We have a choir, even performing a Christmas cantata last Christmas. And we are currently working on this year's music.
We have a Praise Team, with 10 singers, 3 guitars and drums, that begin each service with just 2 or 3 songs. Our service then turns traditional, so it becomes a blended service.
We have "Junior Church" for about 18 children under 12 yrs. of age. They leave our service after the offertory. We've had 19 people join our church membership so far this year. We have lost 2 to death.
Of course, we still have our major outreach events: Gumbo Cook-Off, Couchon de Lait (Pig Roast), BBQ & Crawfish Boil, and Flea Market TRADE DAYS. These functions continue to produce large crowds who become familiar with our facilities and our congregation. We've seen great results.
Just wanted to let you know we have used several of your ideas over the years and have seen God's blessings flow. Thanks for what you do.
I asked him “What do you think have been the most important reasons for the church growing when so many of our smaller membership churches are heading in the other direction?”
His response: You know what it takes. Our driving force was the conscious, determined decision to be willing to change and to be intentional in growing. We didn't want to compete with other churches, but rather be something different and unique. We believe we've found a niche that we can fill. Being true to those guiding principles has been the reason for our blessings. We can't be everything for every person, but we could be a lot more than we were. Of course, having Prayer Warriors lift our church in prayer every day has been our anchor within the veil.
Want more success stories at your church? Allow us to provide a helping hand – don@dnacoaching.com.
Just a Little Bit
Many people play a sport in high school but fewer play one at the collegiate level and an incredibly small percentage play at the professional level. I played basketball on my school team when I was in 7th grade so why did I not become a professional basketball player? At every increase in level I discovered the competition was a little bit faster, a little bit taller, a little bit stronger, a little bit more focused, put forth a little bit more effort and benefitted from a little bit better coaching. Eventually I could not compete with them so I focused on what I did best and became a happy spectator.
There are a few lessons in this reflection. First, no one is outstanding at everything. Find what you are best at and focus your efforts there. Second, you cannot be someone else. I might admire a particular athlete or well-known personality but it makes no sense to try to become exactly like them. I may emulate a particular quality but there is only one of them and there is only one of me. Third, better performance by me likely requires more effort from me. If I am not happy with how things are then I need to do something about it. And fourth, a better coach may be able to help me perform at a higher level. If I want to do better than I am right now then I may need someone else to speak into my life to help me adjust my focus and see the things I am missing.
Which lessons speaks most to you today? What are you prepared to do about it?
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