Strengthen Your Spiritual Foundation
The transformational journey must begin by strengthening the congregation’s spiritual foundation: their faith, hope and love. Where faith is lukewarm, hope is faint and love is lacking, God will not bless a congregation’s ministry with fruitfulness.

Strengthening faith: Congregational transformation begins with personal spiritual transformation. In John 15, Jesus makes it clear that only as we remain connected to him can we bear fruit in ministry. We remain connected to him by following him willingly and obediently. Discipleship is a committed choice to become like Christ in every area of our lives. There are many ways to help warm up people’s faith, to breathe energy and zest back into the spiritual life of a congregation, and to reconnect followers with the life-giving presence, purpose and power of God. All these ways involve people receptively opening up to the gracious life of Christ in their midst. This won’t be accomplished functionally or automatically by doing this or that program. God can work in the lives of congregational leaders through any variety of spiritual formation or discipling programs. The point, however, is not “doing the program,” but reconnecting with Christ in life-changing ways. A foundational prerequisite for persons wanting to lead their congregation in fulfilling Christ’s hope for their ministry is themselves having a faith in Christ that is vital and central to who they are and what they do.

Strengthening hope: Do the people of your congregation feel that the best days of their ministry are behind them? Do they despair that they can be useful instruments in Christ’s Kingdom ministry in the future? Our hope is in what the God who joyfully raised Christ from the dead can do in us – not in our own strength, abilities, and resources. Small congregations, congregations of predominately older persons, and congregations with few financial resources can be vital congregations discipling persons and impacting their community for good. Indeed, there are congregations like that in every district! How can you refocus people’s attention from their lack to God’s generosity, from what they haven’t been able to do, to what God is now doing, from how far they have to go, to how far they have already come with Christ? How can you help renew their hope in what Christ can still do in and through them?

Strengthening love: Jesus said, “They will know that you are my disciples by the love you have one for another” (John 13:34, 35). Love is the distinguishing hallmark of Christian community. Often however, congregations can be cliquish places of criticism, gossip, grudges and conflict. Persons came to worship and leave feeling overlooked, disconnected and unwelcomed. To be a community that shares Christ we have to be a community where people experience hospitality, forgiveness, acceptance, and respect. Only then will we have credibility when we speak about the good news of God’s love.