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THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES
 Now available on a 60 minute DVD (VHS on request)
For details see the SCHOOL OF MINISTRY page. |
To try and help you develop a more successful program that will last, have great impact
and bear fruit, we have identified seven of the most common mistakes made. This
series is a work in progress, so please revisit this section from time to time.
The mistakes are:
- Inadequate Thinking
- Inadequate Planning
- Inadequate Preparation
- Inadequate Expectations
- Inadequate Commitment
- Inadequate Follow-Up
- Inadequate Execution
1. INADEQUATE THINKING
? Concepts
? Communication
? Identification
? Relevance
Romans 12 tells us to be transformed by the renewal, not the removal of our minds. By
far the single most common mistake anyone makes in starting or doing this type of
ministry, is that of wrong, or inadequate thinking. What do we means? This program is an
outreach program to the unsaved. To be able to reach them we have to be able to
communicate to them, to communicate we have to be able to relate and to relate we have to
identify with them. Identification comes from recognizing, understanding and taking
advantage of what is happening in their lives. To this end, we need to stop thinking like
Christians and start thinking like those we are trying reach. We do not act like them, but
we have to think as they do – enter their world so that we can show them the way out.
The transplanting of what we do in church is not going to work! Praise & worship
music is fine for inside the church but doesn’t do anything for those outside. Using
religious language and phrases is just as useless. The thing to remember is that we are
not there to focus on us, what we like or things that means something to us, but to focus
on “them” – what is it that will get their attention?
2. INADEQUATE PLANNING
? Location
? Timing
? Impact
& Results
 Even with the right thinking and approach, it is possible to fail
because the right planning was not done. Let me give you an example: a team was asked to
do an outreach with Women’s Aglow. The location was a large park on a Saturday
morning. They were going to hand out hot-dogs and drinks. All the ingredients were there
except for one thing: the park was full of kids (and the their parents) playing soccer.
First, the focus of the hundreds of people there was on the soccer being played. Second,
once the games were over the parents took their kids home, there was no time in their
already busy schedule for this. Third, the sound generated by the program interrupted (and
annoyed) their activity. The bottom line is that we would have been better staying home
and probably ended up doing more harm than good.
3. INADEQUATE PREPARATION
Preparation is a wide field to cover. Let’s look at a few areas that need
special attention. (Please read the FIRST THINGS FIRST page):
- EQUIPMENT. What works indoors will not necessarily work outdoors. Sound systems and
their components need to have sufficient output power, they should be robust and able to
take abuse.
- SUPPLIES. Make sure that you have
everything you will need, you should always have plenty in reserve as well as standby
items, backups and alternatives. You need to have a “Plan B”
- PROGRAM. Who does what, what goes where. Make sure everyone knows their role and have
everything ready.
- SITE PREPARATION.
Do the kids know you are coming? What promotion have you done? Just turning up cold
doesn’t work. Have you got the best location at the best time for the greatest
impact?
- VALUE. Trying to get by with the
second-best. This program requires an investment in equipment, supplies, resources and
time. While costs not to be managed, doing things “on the cheap” will result in
a program that is second-best, discouraging and which will fail.
4. INADEQUATE
EXPECTATIONS.
Results
in terms of attendance
Results in terms of popularity
Performance; self and others.
Support of others.
Participation.
Amount of involvement and work
involved.
5. INADEQUATE COMMITMENT
Staff
Kids
Supporters
6. INADEQUATE FOLLOW-UP
Visitation
Relationship building
7. INADEQUATE EXECUTION
Roles &
responsibilities
Level of excitement
Professionalism
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