- Admit there is a need and commit to change.
- Pray for understanding. Continue to bathe the process in prayer.
- Learn from others and from different perspectives.
The Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren
Developing a Vision for Ministry by Aubrey Malphurs (goes broader than purpose but helpful to it)
- Develop or dust off your statement of purpose. While you want to learn from others, be sure your statement is tailored to God's work there.
- Lay the foundation with the leadership team. Make sure they understand it and that there is unity among you. Go through the statement point by point. Keep revisiting it, especially when there is a change in leadership.
- Encourage all staff, paid and volunteer, to align their ministries with the church-wide purpose.
- Build an awareness within the Body as a whole. Consistently communicate your purpose.
- teach on it
- preach on it
- write about it in your church newsletter
- allude to it in the bulletin
- include statements on all printed materials (perhaps a condensed version)
- ask the body to pray about it
- cover it in new membership classes
- Use the statement of purpose to govern the church's decisions and practices.
- evaluate existing ministries by it
- staff according to its fulfillment
- budget according to it
- evaluate the need for new ministries using your statement as a filter
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