Usually a church will wait until some kind of crisis surfaces before it decides to ask for guidance in dealing with its current situation. We have found that churches having no vision, mission or core values are churches that lose their edge in ministry to the people where God has placed them. They are not sure where they are headed, what they are doing or why they are doing it. Too often, what they perceive they need is a “quick fix”—someone to come in and tell them what needs to be done in three easy sessions.

Transforming a congregation takes time, leadership, commitment, prayer and vision. Without any one of these, it is almost impossible to assist a church in taking a new direction into its preferred future. I am currently working with churches around the conference to assist them in developing a new vision for the future. It is exciting to see churches begin to catch a glimpse of what God can do and the vision God has for that congregation. One can see energy building, hope resurfacing, mission taking a new priority in the life of the church and care for the downtrodden becoming a new value.

We are talking about developing healthy congregations. “There strangers become friends, the wounded feel safe, circles have openings, life’s agonies are handled with respect and care, the blessed serve quietly, pastors dare to be themselves, musicians smile, talk is about real life and God. This talk includes sadness and joy, death and life, little things and big issues, but seldom doctrine, factious beliefs or religious arguments. Health has nothing to do with the denomination, size or location of the church. It has to do with the people’s mindset, heart and sense of community.” (E*Notes, Oct. 17, 2001)