We’ve yet to meet the church that does not long to be outwardly focused, having a true and lasting impact on its community. Most every church at least pays lip service to the danger of an inward focus, with energy given only to internal concerns of maintenance, facilities, and cherished programs and ministries. Churches are made up of good people who long to see God’s love and light brought to the places where they live, work, go to school, and play.
So why are so many churches focused inward, failing to grow, falling short in impacting their communities? One reason is that they don’t have an accurate scorecard for measuring outward focus. Here are five questions – a “check-up” if you will – to see how your church is doing in terms of an outward focus:
- Would the neighbors around your church say ‘We’re glad this church is here’ even if they don’t attend?
- If your church relocated, would anyone care?
- Are your members actively reaching out to their friends, neighbors, and coworkers?
- Do your members show genuine concern for those who don’t know Christ?
- Do your outreach efforts generate a personal investment that goes beyond a financial contribution?
If your answers aren’t a strong “Yes!” you may have work to do in becoming an outwardly focused church. The good news is that you can become a true, valued asset in your community – it’s simply a matter of leading in such a way that you leverage the desire of your members to make a difference.
We’ve helped hundreds of churches move from an inward to an outward focus. One way we can serve you is by helping your church decide on a clear, compelling, outward focused vision that will breathe life into everything you do. Here’s more information and a fast-paced video:
The Visioning Process for Churches from TAG Consulting on Vimeo.