Pastors and lay persons seem to be sensing both the reality that their churches’ ministries are not working as they ought and that help is available through Natural Church Development (NCD). They are asking for help, and although NCD is not the answer in all situations, it has broad applicability to many ministry settings.

Here are some beginning steps in transformation, true almost without exception.

• The pastor has a clear commitment to the need for and process of transformation.
   
• Significant lay persons, "influencers," also share this conviction.
   
• Pastor and lay leaders know "transformation" is not a program, but fundamental congregational life process change, lengthy and difficult.
   
• The church prays together for discernment: "With whom [outside current members and attendees] is God calling us to be in ministry and in what ways?"
   
• The church has a clearly held vision centering on the Great Commandment [Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength!] and the Great Commission [Go… make disciples!]. The vision shapes how the church deploys its members in ministry and how financial resources are spent. It is brief enough to be kept consciously in mind and focused enough to guide in what ministries to undertake or not to undertake. Vision guides the necessary choosing among alternatives.

We are discovering our way forward as we go. The world changes so rapidly we have no road maps that reliably show the way. Maybe that is God’s way of insuring we depend on God and not ourselves. Isn’t this called faith?

Feel free to call on me at any stage of the process. Begin to think, study and plan. There are many good resources for study and growing one’s ability to lead. Consult the conference Web site at http://www.flumc.org/OCT/index.htm  for suggestions.