Here's a harsh reality: your ministry won't always experience growth.
Your attendance won't always be substantial.
Your team won't always break growth barriers.
Your strategy won't always be effective.
What do you do when a challenging night, event, or semester turns into a difficult season?
I can promise you, if you've been in ministry for more than a year, you know that a storm is on the horizon.
Jesus Agrees With Me
Jesus said in Matthew 7:24–27:
[24] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (ESV)
He is warning the disciples that the storm will come. But there is a way to prepare yourself for the storm.
The same holds true for your ministry.
A storm is on the horizon.
I don't say this to be negative, but people may choose to attend another church. Some of your key volunteers may lose sight of the vision. Attendance may decline. You may personally go through a dark night of the soul.
The ministry storms are inevitable.
But Jesus says you can "build your house on the rock."
The Difference Between Unhealthy & Healthy Leaders in a Tough Season
Unhealthy leaders believe a tough season is avoidable.
Healthy leaders work diligently to prepare for a tough season.
Unhealthy leaders manipulate calendars, budgets, and their schedules to avoid tough seasons.
Healthy leaders create systems to prepare for tough seasons.
Unhealthy leaders live for the highs.
Healthy leaders embrace the lows.
Here's my point: healthy leaders remain resilient in tough seasons because they've put in the hard work to prepare. They've built their foundation on the rock.
And when the storm comes, their souls won't be crushed.
In other words, strategic leaders prepare themselves and their teams for tough seasons.
Strategic Plan of Action
1 - Create time in the work schedule for your team to be with Jesus.
Many in our coaching community have young children. Some families have a special anointing from the Holy Spirit, and their kids wake up at 8 AM. Others (like mine) are up at 5 AM. My point is, it's okay to skip the 4:30 AM quiet time for a season. You probably need the extra rest.
But don't skip your quiet time.
For a season, I established a team rhythm: from 9 AM to 10 AM, there would be no meetings, no strategy sessions, and no tasks. We would only spend time in the word, worshiping, or reading books to nourish our souls.
Your team's strength in Jesus is only as strong as their time with Jesus.
For some reason, we've compartmentalized ministry, thinking that personal time with the Lord should be reserved for home, while 9 AM to 5 PM is for weightier matters.
That's a recipe for disaster. Bless your soul and your team's soul by considering institutionalizing a routine of quiet time during regular office hours.
2 - Concentrate on trends, not just victories.
From a data perspective, if you only focus on short-term victories (e.g., attendance highs), you'll ultimately be demoralized by the lows. And remember, the low season is on its way.
Instead, I coach teams to place greater emphasis on long-term data trends rather than immediate wins. What does the data reveal from year to year? Are we heading in the right direction?
Most people measure their ministry's success based on last night's attendance.
If a successful night can make you feel like a winner, an unsuccessful one will make you feel like a loser. You are not a loser. You are God’s son or daughter.
So, take a step back, examine the bigger picture, and
3 - Get yourself (and your team) a coach.
I currently have a…
Ministry coach
Church planting coach
Marriage & family counselor
Spiritual director
A coach assists you in navigating the highs and lows of ministry, helping you gain a clearer understanding of what God is doing. They will also help you ground your identity in something deeper than mere metrics.
Remember, healthy leaders create healthy systems for their team. And if you lead any team at all, it’s your responsibility to create the system.
A Storm Could Be Closer Than We Think
We are living in turbulent times. There is war in Ukraine & Israel. A recession is projected. The 2024 election cycle is looming.
And the world isn’t getting any less crazy.
My hope is that for our coaching community, we would spend time now building systems on the rock that sustain our souls in the upcoming storms.
In the meantime, we are here if you need anything at all!
Cheering you on!
Landon Reynolds 👊
