Overcoming the Obstacles to Change

It has been said that the only constant in life is change.  I have found this to be true of life but I have also found it to be true in ministry.  I have been shocked at how fast the rate of change has accelerated in my fifteen plus years in the pastorate.  Things seem to be in constant flux.  As soon as you think you have caught up, you discover that you are once again behind.  It seems that much of this is influenced by how fast technology advances which impacts cultural changes. 

If you are going to be successful in ministry then you are going to have to accept that change is part of the equation.  The church cannot sit idly by while culture marches forward.  Obviously, the message never changes but the package in which we put it in must change.  Here are six discoveries I have made about change:

1.  Every church faces the need to change on a regular basis.

Actually, the church is not alone in this.  I remember in my home town watching them tear down a perfectly good and profitable McDonalds and wondering how in the world they could have gone out of business.  I was also very curious to see what they were going to build in its place.  To my amazement, they build a brand new…McDonalds.  They tore down the old and replaced it with a much more modern and user friendly version.  We have come to a point in our culture that those who stand by watching will soon be passed by as things continue to advance.

2.  Every change will be met with obstacles.

Sometimes the obstacles that are faced are people.  People hate change even though it is a regular part of our lives.  However, for the most piart, people get it (I’m sure you have one or two in your church that don’t).  Obstacles often present themselves in other ways.  Every major decision seems to include a thousand smaller decisions.  There is a lot of stress that comes with change.  It requires a lot of forethought and a lot of planning.  At times, the obstacles can seem insurmountable.

3.  Those who are successful will properly negotiate the obstacles.

It is very easy to look at churches that have successfully changed their style and approach and wonder how they pulled it off.  It easy to look at the fruit of their labor and wish that things would be so easy at your church.  We look at them as if they received some break, some easy route to success.  You and I both know that this is not true.  These churches are successful because they figured out how to properly negotiate obstacles.

Be careful not to look at the obstacles before you and decide that it is simply too much.  Do not give up because it will be too much work.  The stakes are too high.  In the ministry, we are dealing with the eternal well-being of the souls around us.  We must press forward, carefully, prayerfully, but steadily.

4.  Pray thoroughly.

Make no change without first praying about it.  Too often we see what some other church is doing and we want that in our church.  It is at this point we can let our personal desires get in the way of what God desires.  When you sense the need for a change, pray.  Pray longer than you think you should.  Move slower than you think you should.  Allow God to move in your heart and the hearts of others.  All change should be saturated in prayer.

5.  Proceed carefully.

Once you have decided to pursue change, be careful.  Listen to people.  Take their concerns into consideration.  Help them to see the bigger picture.  Help them to remember God’s heart for people.  Help them remember that God has called us to reach those who have not yet come to know Christ.  Of course, there will be those who never get it because they don’t want to get it.  But, for the most part, I believe people want to be faithful to God.  Most people want their church to fulfill the Great Commission.

6.  Move intentionally.

Have a plan.  Going about the process of change in a haphazard way is dangerous.  If you have taken the time to pray and seriously consider the change that needs made, the take the extra time to develop a plan.  A plan will help everyone see what is taking place.  A plan will bring down the stress level.  A plan will even help to deter some of the opposition you might face.  Be intentional about the changes you make.

So, with that being said, what changes have you been desiring to make?  What dreams are sitting out there unfulfilled?  What areas of your life have you lacked the courage to step up and pursue?  Show courage.  Believe in your ability.  More importantly, believe in God’s ability to see you through.  The only way your church is going to become the one you belief God has called it to be is if you are willing to lead them to that place.