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    Look Back, Leap Forward: Building Your Church on the Values of the Past
    Look Back, Leap Forward: Building Your Church on the Values of the Past
    Look Back, Leap Forward: Building Your Church on the Values of the Past
    Ebook112 pages1 hour

    Look Back, Leap Forward: Building Your Church on the Values of the Past

    By Gary L. McIntosh

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    About this ebook

    The rapid changes all around us in the new millennium may cause one of two errors: wishing to return to an idealized past or refusing to look back at all. Both patterns of thinking lead to ineffective churches and communities. Look Back, Leap Forward challenges Christian leaders to balance the two extremes: look back to find the core values that give meaning to ministry and then use them to build the future and take hold of new opportunities.

    This book's unique focus presents a holistic picture of how lay leadership, not just clergy, can turn a church around. It is packed with practical examples that may be put to immediate use. McIntosh, a church growth specialist, provides step-by-step guidance to help pastors and lay leaders:
    •recognize and defeat enemies of the twenty-first century church
    •heal past wounds
    •look back to discover purpose, values, and vision for the future
    •accomplish more by doing less
    •control finances while leaping forward
    •develop a long-range plan for effective ministry
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateSep 1, 2001
    ISBN9781441243829
    Look Back, Leap Forward: Building Your Church on the Values of the Past
    Author

    Gary L. McIntosh

    Dr. Gary L. McIntosh teaches at Talbot School of Theology, is a professor of Christian ministry and leadership, leads 20-25 national seminars a year, serves as a church consultant, was president of the American Society of Church Growth in 1995-1996, and has written over 95 articles and 10 books, including Finding Them, The Issachar Factor, Three Generations, One Size Doesn’t Fit All, Overcoming the Dark Side, and Staffing Your Church for Growth. He has over 15 years of experience as a pastor and Christian education director. He is a graduate of Colorado Christian University, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, and Fuller Theological Seminary. He is editor of the Church Growth Network newsletter and the Journal of the American Society for Church Growth.

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      Book preview

      Look Back, Leap Forward - Gary L. McIntosh

      Author

      INTRODUCTION

      SOMEONE ONCE REMARKED that the only constant in life is change. While all of us appreciate many of the changes taking place—especially those that bring comfort to our lives—many dislike the apparent loss of beloved programs and values in our churches. Like an anonymous person once remarked, I like progress; it is change I cannot stand. If you are someone who is frustrated with the changes going on around and in your church, Look Back, Leap Forward will provide insights on how to build the future of your church on the values of its past.

      It is the story of one person who learned that when you are not sure where you are going, you need to look to where you have been. My purpose in telling Wendy’s story is to pass along to you what she learned in the hope that it will help you build a better future for your church.

      The story is actually a compilation of the experiences of several different churches and how they established new vision for the future by building on traditional, biblical values. Any similarities between the characters and examples in the story and those of any person or church are purely coincidental.

      1

      THE BEST FUTURE

      IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS when I just could not keep my mind on the road. As I turned into the church parking lot, it suddenly dawned on me that I had driven the last few blocks in a daze. The truth is I did not even remember driving the last few blocks! I guess my subconscious mind kept me moving along safely. Or perhaps it was my guardian angel.

      I had been mentally scolding myself for accepting the position of chairperson of my church’s vision planning team. What was I thinking? Who was I to assume I could lead this team to develop a plan to renew our church’s direction? What insights could I bring to the discussion that would be helpful? Why had I agreed to it?

      Yes, my thoughts had distracted me and I was unable to concentrate on my driving. As I looked at it, my qualifications seemed pretty slim: first grade teacher for five years, loving wife, and mother of three children. From my point of view, these were not strong qualifications for leading the team assigned to design a new vision and plan for the future of my church.

      That is why I had asked for an appointment with my pastor. I was sure he had made a mistake in asking me to be the team leader. I would remind him of my limited experience and qualifications, and I was sure he would agree to let me step down from this leadership position.

      Mary, the pastor’s secretary, greeted me as I entered the office complex of my church. We chatted for a couple of minutes and then she motioned to Pastor Steve’s open door. Go right in, Wendy.

      As I entered Pastor Steve’s office, I was surprised by the nervousness I felt. We had been friends for years and I usually found him easy to talk with. Never before, though, had I turned down a job he asked me to do. We didn’t get right into that, though. We spent nearly half an hour talking about our families. This is one of the things I like about my pastor. He always seems to be concerned about my family.

      Finally I said, Pastor. I cleared my throat and went on, I really think I agreed too quickly to accept the position of chairperson for our vision planning team.

      Oh! Why is that? Pastor Steve asked frowning.

      Well, I have been thinking about this a lot lately and I really don’t think I am qualified for the job.

      I see, Steve mumbled. Tell me more.

      I just do not see what I have to offer the vision planning team or the church, I blurted. I don’t have any great ideas about how to turn our church around, and my experience is pretty much with young children. Also, I don’t have the answers to our church’s current plateauing concern. I realize we need some new direction, but I’m not sure I’m the one to provide the answers.

      Yes, I can see how you might feel unqualified, Steve nodded. But I didn’t ask you to be the team leader because you have all the answers.

      Really? I asked, a bit surprised. Then why did you ask me to be the chairperson?

      Frankly, Steve continued, I was looking for someone who could lead a team. Do you remember the last couple of years how you led the children’s department to set new goals?

      Yes, but the children’s department is made up of children, I gently reminded him.

      That’s true, Pastor Steve agreed, but the team you worked with were adult leaders, not children, and you did an outstanding job of leading them. I am certain you are the right person to lead our planning team. You have the ability to build unity, and that’s what we need. Besides, Pastor Steve continued, I want someone to lead this team who has no axe to grind.

      No axe to grind? I echoed.

      Yes, no axe to grind. I am convinced our church is in need of a new vision. Many people in our church will admit that. However, some think we need to go back to doing ministry the way we used to thirty, forty, or even fifty years ago. They think we have abandoned our traditional values, and we need to restore old programs to remain faithful to the Bible. Then others in our church are demanding that we abandon our past and use new forms of ministry that are working better in other churches today. Some want us to change our name and even target our Sunday services totally to the unchurched in our community.

      I have heard people talking about these ideas myself, I said, confirming Pastor Steve’s observations.

      The debate over whether we revive old ministries or adopt new ones could be dangerous, Pastor Steve confessed. I read once that Winston Churchill said: ‘If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find we have lost the future.’ Wendy, I’m a little afraid that if we don’t develop a new vision for the future of our church, we may find our church in a major quarrel that will destroy our future. One of the reasons I asked you to lead our vision planning team is that you seem to appreciate our church’s past while looking forward to our future.

      Okay, Pastor Steve, I can see your point. It’s important that our church come to an agreement on the future. It’s also true that I see value in our past as well as hope for our future as a church but I still fail to see how I can help.

      What I’m saying, Pastor Steve raised his voice as he stood up from his desk, is I need a team leader who can help us look back and leap forward.

      I hesitated, trying to grasp what he had said. "I’m not sure what you mean by ‘look back and leap

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