GOING FORWARD

THE ACTIVITY TRAP

Christian Leaders are usually caught up in a flurry of activity. There seems to be an endless list of duties and responsibilities that come under the job description of the full time Christian worker. Sermons, weddings, funerals, lessons, board meetings, committee meetings, retreats, conferences, counseling, visitation, correspondence, writing, reading, training, budgeting, organizing, traveling. etc...
Often, in his quieter moments, the pastor or the missionary wonders where all the activity is leading. Is all the busyness and activity taking all the ministry forward? If there is an overriding strategy, the ministry may get bogged down in an organizational "Activity Trap” . Our congregation may become frustrated and disenchanted as they sense the ministry is going nowhere because it is trapped in activity.

One basic feature characterizes every organizational activity trap: lack of a sense of direction. Those in charge are unable to provide the” big picture, “the sense of thrust, the grand design which the members need in order to make sense of their day to day activities.

Ministries that are activity traps often drift along uneventfully or jump from one crisis to another. Problem solving and putting out fires consume all the Christian leader’s time and energy.

The ministry however is more than just doing your job. "being busy" or fighting the tyranny of the urgent. It is more than solving the problems that are an inevitable part of the day to day operations of any ministry. It is more than sermons, counseling visitation, ceremoines, and meeting. The ministry also invloves setting future directions,developing plans,enlisting people, building momentum, and developing a sense of urgency in people to reach others for Christ. Strategic leadership is needed to avoid the ACTIVITY TRAP!

# posted by mom eden @ 1:30 PM