It’s that time of the year again, when we stand on the precipice of a new year and look forward to what is in store for us in 2015. Last year, I wrote 14 Things the Church Needs to Do in 2014, and many of them are still true for 2015. However, given the events of 2014, the church now also has a monumental opportunity to provide healing, justice, care and compassion in new and exciting ways—ways I believe are important for the church in the upcoming year.
1. Review what happened in 2014. What worked? What didn’t? Where did we spend our money? How did we touch people’s lives? What one word would describe 2014? Take some time and objectively look at what transpired in 2014.
2. Honestly answer the question, “Why in the world would anyone want to come to this church?” I believe this is the biggest question that every church must ask itself. How one answers this question affects the ministry, outlook and mission of the church. If you answer this question honestly, the answer might surprise you and scare you at the same time.
3. Answer, “If we closed our doors tomorrow, who would miss us?” Is the church a place to go on Sunday morning or an impactful piece of the community? Is the church a place that is finding areas of ministry that are outside the four walls of the church? Is the church a place of community building, fellowship and service, or is it just merely existing? If the church closed tomorrow would there be a gap, a hole, a void left in the community or even a particular community?
4. Then ask the even harder question—”If no one would miss us, then what are we doing here?”
5. Speak up for the voiceless in our own backyard. Too often churches have an understanding of changing the world. Don’t get me wrong—the message of Christ has that ability. But instead of constantly looking at overseas mission trip destinations, are we looking in our own backyard? Are there areas that we are missing because we think someone else is handling the problem? There are needs in any sized community—the church is called to speak up for those who cannot and be the voice they are longing to have. If the church cannot and does not speak to community, state and national issues then we are missing a big piece of the gospel.
