ISS
Sunday, September 05, 2010
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02.16 PUTTING THE OFFENSE BACK IN YOUR LEADERSHIP 02.02 RELIGIOUS DETOX 01.05 WHAT'S YOUR STEWARDSHIP PLAN? 01.05 SEEKERS, SEARCHERS, & STRUGGLERS 10. 26 CIRCLING THE CHURCH WAGONS 10. 26 STRATEGY MATTERS |
Your Plan for Stewardship Success by Tim Avery
In a day when technology advances at warp speed, we are the graced recipients of countless resources that would have been unimaginable just a short time ago. We can sit on the plane, waiting to push back and wrap up the latest book on Kindle, pay bills, change our status on Facebook, re-tweet a cool post, send e-mail, order a gift for Christmas, and download the latest iPhone app, all within minutes. Amazing stuff and easy to take for granted…until we consider the behind-the-scenes tactical planning that makes it all possible.
In recent e-news, we’ve spotlighted Environmental Assessment and Strategy as the first two steps in any winning campaign. Continuing the football vernacular, Environmental Assessment is all about gaining clarity; identifying the players on the team, their strengths, skill set, experience, and health, as well as next week’s opponent. In other words, assessing specifically what it will take to put a winning team on the field. Excellent Strategy leverages the strengths of the team in order to win; i.e., we must establish the run, pressure the passer, or play great pass defense.
Once the strategies are set, the tactical plan is next. How will we pressure the passer? By rushing four linemen? By blitzing linebackers? By sending the safety?
Tactical planning is the process of taking the strategic plan and breaking it down into specific, short term actions and tasks. That’s a diplomatic way of saying that tactical planning is a whole lot of work! It’s easier to come up with a cool strategy, then just try it next week to see how it works. Without specific tactics underlying the strategy, that will be an exercise in futility.
Let’s illustrate it this way - most of us remember Operation Desert Storm, initiated in January 1991. America’s political and military leaders started by assessing the environment and in doing so, defined clear objectives for the offensive. Instead of a general statement of, “I see a future where the Middle East is stabilized, “ our leaders were clear in expressing their desired outcomes:
Having assessed the environment and established clear objectives, military strategy was planned, including the appropriate use of ground and air troops. From strategic planning, the task moved quickly to tactical planning. How we will employ those troops? How many troops will be needed? How will they be sequenced? What resources will be needed, how many of each, when, etc.? In the end, the tactical plan included the use of air strikes in advance of the ground surge. In fact, this was the first major use of the F-17A Nighthawk – a stealth fighter that played a significant role in the effectiveness of the allied troops.
Could the objectives have been achieved without the laborious, painstaking work of tactical planning? Possibly, but at a much higher cost in terms of lives, time, resources, and effectiveness.
Similarly, stewardship campaigns today that experience the greatest success and provide the highest degree of fulfillment, are those that possess an outstanding tactical plan. No two churches are alike. Just this week, I’ve discussed stewardship with multi-site churches, television ministry churches, church-planting churches, internet churches, and churches that want to include missional elements as a part of their campaign plan.
Each church has a unique culture, leadership team, vision, and challenges. Connecting each church family to the heart of God and His intended great work for the church, requires excellence in tactical planning.
At ISS, we are passionate about creating stewardship solutions that fit your ministry environment. If you are ready to take a big swing at moving closer toward God’s preferred future for your church, please contact us! We understand the importance of outstanding tactical planning and have a heart that beats for seeing your dreams become reality!
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02.16 PUTTING THE OFFENSE BACK IN YOUR LEADERSHIP 02.16 RELIGIOUS DETOX 01.05 WHAT'S YOUR STEWARDSHIP PLAN? 01.05 SEEKERS, SEARCHERS, & STRUGGLERS 10. 26 CIRCLING THE CHURCH WAGONS 10. 26 STRATEGY MATTERS 09. 21 KEYS TO THE GAME 09. 23 THE DREAM TEST 09. 23 WHEN THE ECONOMY STINKS
02.26 ChurchPlanters.com Conference was fantastic. Dean Herman, pastor of 5 Point Church shares about our breakout session on Generosity. http://tinyurl.com/y8u5pcs
01.06 2010 STEWARDSHIP CHALLENGE CONFERENCES. ISS announces Stewardship Challenge Conference Dates with John C. Maxwell
01.02 THRIVE CONFERENCE. ISS will be at THE THRIVE Conference, Sacramento, CA, Apr 28-30 as a featured speaker and exhibitor... drop by and say "Hi!"
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