Characteristics of a healthy church - Part 8

Administration can be a difficult word for Christians to wrap their mind around. Yet good administration can keep a church from unneeded conflict.

A healthy church utilizes their facilities, equipment and methods of serving to give maximum support for the growth and development of ministries.

Part of good administration is setting vision. Creating a vision statement. A vision statement can be described as "what your yes see your ears hear."

It is a specific view of what the future holds, given by the Holy Spirit. It's being led by God's Spirit as to what He desires us to be and do.

Let me ask you this question: Where do you see Stone Church in 5 years spiritually, physically and in ministry?

Vision is not an option. If you don't know where you are going - it's hard to get there. No one goes to the airport and buys and ticket to just "anywhere." (no mentally healthy person) Each person has a destination.

Vision is to be God directed, God inspired and for the glory and purpose of the Father.

Our role is to implement it the best we can.

What are our goals to reach that vision? How can we go about actually and specifically implementing that which God has given us to do?

Again, good administration helps.

To know where you are going - it helps to know where you and are where you have been. Ongoing assessment and evaluation is needed.

What are we doing well and what can we do better?

Again, let me know what you think.

What have been and what are the major accomplishment of our church in the past 5 years?

Finally, good administration brings about healthy change. Change is hard and difficult for everyone. Minor change is when it's on you - major change is when it's on me.] I love this joke: "How many people does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Four. One to change the bulb and three to reminisce about how good the old light bulb was."

Change means traveling in uncharted waters, and this causes our insecurities to rise. Therefore, many people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions.

They are like the congregation that desperately needed a new building but were afraid to venture out. During a service some plaster fell from the ceiling and hit the chairman of the board. Immediately a meeting was called and the following decisions were made.

One: We will build a new church.

Two: We will build a new church on the same site as the old one.

Three: We will use the materials of the old church to build the new one.

Four: We will worship in the old church until the new church is built.

Some people are open to change as long as it doesn't inconvenience them or cost anything.