What are our ministries designed to achieve?

In their book, Right Here, Right Now: Everyday Mission for Everyday People, authors Alan Hirsch and Lance Ford make a very thoughtful statement:

"we are perfectly designed to achieve what we are currently achieving."

Interesting statement, isn't it? It begs us to look at what we are currently achieving in our ministries. Whether we're experiencing "success" in our ministries or not, taking this statement seriously might mean rethinking. It might mean "back to the drawing board." This is potentially a very tough question to face because of what it could tell us about our ministries and what we're not doing well.


In the book, the authors make the statement and raise the issue in light of current church decline. Decline in church attendance, in participation, in excitement might just be a result of what churches and ministries are actually designed to achieve. Some churches and ministries are actually set up for poor results--whether in outlook, in strategy, in organization, in vision, in leading, or in theological grounding. This is a possibility that every church ministry must consider. "Success" cannot be assumed. Complacency cannot creep in.

So what is your ministry achieving? How is your ministry designed for the results you're seeing--whether you like the results or not? What might need to change? What might need rethinking? Are you, or is your ministry, willing to make the necessary changes--even if it means "back to the drawing board" after several years of doing something that is not working any longer?

This, of course, raises other important questions: What do you want to achieve in your ministry? Can you name it in a sentence clearly and precisely? (Something like "we want people to grow in faith" is too vague.) What do you need to do to achieve what you want to achieve? 

How do you and your ministry team answer the above questions? What are your thoughts to share with others? Contribute to the discussion!