[B]leading Change

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Sometimes change can be painful.

And if change can sometimes be painful, then leading change has the potential to be down right excruciating!

Have you ever been there???

That place where you were SO certain that God was leading you to start something new, or make some significant change to your current ministry efforts or programming, but once you got into the change a ways you weren’t seeing the kind of “results” or fruit you had anticipated…

It’s where I find myself today.

We’ve got, what I believe, to be a great new ministry initiative that just doesn’t seem to be taking root with our students.  And while we all know that attendance is only one indicator of how “well” something is going — or how “quality” it is — we also know that it can be a very LOUD indicator.

So my question is: how do YOU know when to cut your proverbial losses and refocus your efforts into other areas of ministry that are bearing fruit — and when do you push through the present struggles, believing that God will grow and bless the new initiatives and efforts in God’s own time.

Leading change can be both painful and lonely… but it also has the potential to be incredibly rewarding and gratifying… in time. If you’ve been there, you know that of which I speak.

SO, what advice do you have for those of us presently struggling through change?

Do you have stories from your own efforts to lead change?

Thanks, in advance, for sharing!

 

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About the Author

Guy Chmieleski

Guy is the Founder of FaithONCampus.com. He is also the University Minister, at Belmont University, located in Nashville, TN. FaithONCampus.com is designed with campus and college ministers in mind, and is here to serve as: a resource, catalyst for conversations and encouragement for our shared work with today’s college students.

  • http://ashleylinne.wordpress.com/ Ashley

    Wow, I am really struggling with this myself right now! I had these grandiose visions of what could be, and it isn’t quite materializing. I thought about cutting my losses and trying to think of something else to do. But not long after I decided that, I had two people approach me on two separate occasions and ask, “Hey, can I lead/help in this way?” I was pretty shocked! That was a huge sign for me that we’re still on the right track and that I really did hear God before and not just my own silliness. :) Still not seeing the “numbers” jump but I am focusing on building into the ones who are regularly participating rather than beating my head against a wall trying to figure out how to get “more people” there. We’ll see how it goes!

  • http://www.ournewchapter.com Ian Clark

    You’re asking a great question. It’s especially difficult when you’re emotionally invested in the project/ ministry/ program. In this case I think the answer is dependent on the specific objective of the ministry. Why was the new ministry started? I assume there were a lot of good reason. By the way, you don’t have to answer that question.
    I totally agree with you about attendance being a loud indicator of success. Another question you don’t have to answer is, why do you think students aren’t showing up?

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