Tools to Gain Perspective

In the afternoon session we talked about using a handful of tools that would help us gain perspective when planning strategy for our churches.

Here are 3 of them:

1. Turning Points

• The leaders shoot out the God moments
• Tell the story of the church or ministry
• Put it up on a big stick it note and see it as a timeline
• Don’t rush it, let it take time
• What you’re doing is gaining perspective and where you’ve been together
• This lasts about 2 hours

2. Four Helpful Lists

• Four Questions to See Where We Think We Are
• What’s Right?
• What’s Wrong?
• What’s Confusing?
• What’s Missing?
• You’re attracted to the What’s Wrong first, but don’t go there
• Don’t try and fix or defend. We’re just dreaming
• The beauty of all of this is that everyone sees it together
• Do this for kids vols meeting

3. Opportunity Mapping

• Allows us to celebrate the present and dream about the future
• Four Questions
  • Sensing: What do we sense God is calling us to do?
  • Seizing: What opportunities are begging to take?
  • Building: Which opportunities are normal part of our church?
  • Reaping: Which opportunities are gaining wins?
• Churches that are plateaued or declining don’t have much in the sensing