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IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT, YOU CAN’T FIX IT

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THE NEED FOR FEEDBACK

FEEDBACK
Card from Al Hughes’ church in Port Orchard, WA.

By Ken Blue

It is obvious that each person has, what is called “a blind spot.” That is an area where we cannot see. Not only is this factual relating to our vision, it is also true in all other areas of life. Others see what we are blind to. We need their help in pointing these areas out, if we are truly interested in improving our ministry and personal lives.

Recently, I was having lunch with a fellow pastor in Vancouver, Washington, and we were discussing this very matter. He reached to the center piece on the table and pulled out a card which asks for our evaluation of the restaurant. The questions ranged from the quality of the food to the cleanliness of the establishment. There was no place for your name. You were simply instructed to leave it for your server.

Pastor Al Hughes, along with a few other wise pastors, have seen the need and value of having as many eyes as possible surveying their church and noting the impression the church makes on them. Brother Hughes has allowed me to post the card and message they are implementing FEEDBACK

Ken Blanchard, the co-author of “The One Minute Manager,” said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” “Feedback” is information about reactions to a product, service, or a person’s performance of a task, used as a basis for improvement. Organizations need feedback from their clientele and constituents to improve how they serve and relate to them.

A local church is no different. People need to communicate feedback to the church leadership so they can evaluate how to better meet the needs of the congregation. Sometimes people leave a church without ever giving a solid reason why. When asked why they are leaving they are very evasive. Consequently, the church can never correct the problem.

Therefore, I am asking you to take a few minutes to complete the “Help Us, Help YOU” feedback card enclosed in this bulletin (more cards are available on the information table in the foyer). You will notice, there is no place to put your name, therefore your feedback will be anonymous. After completing the card please put it in the offering plate or you may mail it to the church. In the future, one of these feedback cards will be included with every welcome letter we mail to first time attenders at BBC.

Hopefully, the information on these cards will help us to help you have a more meaningful worship experience and walk with the Lord at BBC. Thank you in advance for your feedback! God bless you.

THE 80/20 PRINCIPLE

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HOW THE 80/20 PRINCIPLE APPLIES TO THE CHURCH

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By Ken Blue

“The Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule,[1] the law of the vital few, and the principle of factor sparsity) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.[2][3] Business management thinker Joseph M. Juran suggested the principle and named it after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who observed in 1906 that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population.[3] It is a common rule of thumb in business; e.g., “80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients.” Wikipedia Encyclopedia.

This principle is found to be accurate in “many” endeavors. The business world has understood it for years. It is time that pastors consider it, and see if it might apply to their ministry investments and returns.

If a pastor will check the income of the church against the membership, he will discover that approximately 20% of the people are giving 80% of the income. The same rule will follow when it comes to ministry involvement. In addition, the church building will usually maintain about 80% of its seating capacity. These may vary, depending on the size of the church

Another factor that should be considered it that 80% of the financial and manpower investment, in many churches, only produce about a 20% return in souls saved and membership growth. This fact should motivate every pastor to search out which investments produce the greatest returns. Retailers know they only have one shot per year to make it big, and that time is the Christmas season. If they fail here, red ink will be the result.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]You want people in your city to think of your church when they consider attending a church.[/perfectpullquote]

Do pastors know the best seasons for harvest? It there a best place to seek for souls and one method that nets more visitors than another? The answer to the last question is yes. Again, the facts show that 80% of all visitors come to church because a friend or family members invite them! If that is true, then shouldn’t 80% of our outreach efforts be directed getting church members to bring others?

The question is, how can a pastor get his members to bring these visitors? The answer, many have discovered, is to have something going on at the church that members will want to invite their friends and family to attend. Dr. Jack Hyles and Dr. Lee Roberson built their large attendance on the “big day” philosophy. That is, they would have at least three big days each year. They pulled out all the stops and invested a major portion of the 80% to reach the community and get them to church. Some were always gleaned from those who attended.

For many years at Open Door, we invested greatly in Christmas, Easter, and the fourth of July. It was not uncommon to see the attendance increase by two or three hundred on those days. Now, I can hear the sarcasm of the critic; “how many came back?” No one knows the answer to that question, but one thing is for sure; those who came now know who we are and where we are, and seldom did a Sunday go by without visitors, or sinners making professions of faith.

Here is something to think about: It is not uncommon to see the Goodyear Blimp floating above football stadiums during the season. Thousands see it from the bleachers, and many more see it on television. Now, can the Goodyear tire company tell you how many people purchased their tires because of the blimp? They cannot, but evidently they KNOW the return is worth the investment. When people think of tires, they think Goodyear!

The same principle is true with your church. You want people in your city to think of your church when they consider attending a church. You make this happen by getting your name and exposure out before them any way you can and as often as you can.
Preachers must get over the false concept that if the members are busy, good things will happen. Good things will only happen if they are busy working on the things that will produce the 80% results or more.

HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CHURCH SPLIT

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GUARANTEED TO SPLIT YOUR CHURCH

Split

By Ken Blue

One way to ensure a split is to fill your church with transfer members from other churches. These dear people have already been indoctrinated, and they will criticize how you run the church. Open Door had two small splits in its first 10 years. Both were led by older ex-pastors who were unsuccessful in building their own churches. Their attempt to build with my members also failed. So, don’t be too eager to court disgruntled members transferring from another church.

Be sure to major on controversial issues. Fill each Sunday morning sermon with attacks on other Bibles, other churches, political leaders, and fags. Be as negative as you can. Nothing fosters a self-righteous spirit in church members like attacks on everyone else.

Don’t plan any programs where people can fellowship or get to know one another. If you do, they might grow to love each other; and it is difficult to have a church split where people really love each other. Also, they might love someone else more than you!

Don’t let people know when you are going to make changes; spring it on them. Nothing fuels discontentment like being in the dark, or being removed from a ministry.

Don’t allow people freedom or ownership of ministries. Micromanage every aspect of the church and make all decisions. This will guarantee they never feel a part of the church, and it will make it easier for them to exit with like minded friends.

Don’t preach as much about church unity and love as you do about tithing and soul winning. Although the Bible speaks of love and unity more that it does of heaven, hell, tithing, or soul winning; you can’t afford to let this be known, if you want a church split.

Don’t have a membership class or expect new members to sign a membership covenant. They might become too committed to the church and feel guilty when they are tempted to gossip.

Don’t hire staff or place people in leadership who agree with you. Don’t you know these people will be called “yes men?” So, fill vacancies with people who hold different doctrines and standards than those of the church. This works every time.

Lead the church in gossip. Nothing succeeds to split or destroy a church like gossip. So, pastor, if you really want to witness the “Big bang,” be sure that you and your wife lead this little group of terrorists.

Don’t seek to resolve problems with members immediately. Let it fester first. By the time you get to the fire, it will have spread throughout the church and you won’t have a clue which way to aim the hose.

Don’t develop ministries or train people how to do the work of the ministry. One reason people leave churches is they feel unimportant to the body. So, don’t seek for ways to start new ministries or involve others in the work of the church. Nothing works better than feeling unneeded or unimportant to the church.

Preach sound doctrine, but don’t make it relevant to them or life’s problems. When preaching doctrine, don’t include answers to questions like; “Why does this matter, or how does this apply to my daily life?” Go down deep, stay down long and come up dry.

Don’t listen to or seek advice of church members. What do they know? Ignore all complaints or suggestions. Remember, the mouth cannot say to the ear, “I need you.”  or, something like that.

Although volumes could be written on this subject; if you follow these rules, I am sure you will have a very successful church split in time. Don’t be discouraged; just keep working on the above and it will happen.

TARGET EVANGELISM

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ENCOURAGEMENT TO HIT YOUR TARGET

Bulls eyeBy Ken Blue

Target evangelism means that the church decides on whom they will target; then they structure buildings and ministries accordingly to reach that objective. Target evangelism does not mean you ignore or refuse to win others; it mean you select a certain location, ethnic group, or age group your church will continue to focus on.

Scripture teaches it. Scripture records that Jesus trained the Twelve and commanded them to target certain people. “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 10:5-6.

Jesus practiced it. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11. I am aware that Jesus came to die for the sins of the world, but He only came to and ministered to a select people. Another example will show the same truth. “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24. As we said before, this doesn’t mean that Jesus did not minister to others, but Israel was His target.

Paul practiced it. Paul practiced target evangelism throughout his ministry. Note what he says in Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16. We see this strategy throughout Paul’s ministry. The first place Paul preached after his conversion was in a Jewish synagogue. “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” Acts 9:20. We see this same pattern wherever he goes. Those who reject target evangelism must answer the question why Jesus, the disciples, and Paul practiced it.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If you aim at nothing you’ll hit it every time.[/perfectpullquote]

The Holy Ghost practiced it. It mattered to the Holy Ghost to whom Paul and his companions went. “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” Acts 16:6-7. One should ask why God would not allow Paul to go into Asia or Bithynia. Weren’t these souls just as valuable and precious as others? Of course they were, but God wanted Paul in Macedonia. Again, we ask why, if target evangelism in not a valid approach?

The reason the Holy Ghost sent Paul to Corinth was because He knew the people in that city would be more receptive to the gospel message. “For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.” Acts 18:10. In fact, Paul stayed eighteen months winning the lost and teaching them the Word of God. The Spirit had a target people and divine wisdom sent Paul to them.

Missionaries practice it. If missionaries are truly led by the Spirit to certain people and places, then God is targeting these people through His servants.

It is logical. Although the Spirit may not direct us as He did Paul, these examples and common sense dictates that every church should purposely practice target evangelism. Churches must have children and youth programs, but unless young families are brought into the church, most of the children will disappear. Every church should have, as its purpose, to bring families from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. McDonald’s is wiser, in their planning, than most churches!

The wise pastor will target young families for several reasons. They need salvation. They are easier to indoctrinate, and you don’t have to reeducate them. It is easier to mold young people than it is to mend older ones. They have young children to grow up in the church. They have energy and are eager to serve. They are the ones who go to Bible College and the mission fields. They add new blood and excitement to the ministry.

The reason many pastors do not aim at a specific target is their fear of missing? Aim at nothing, and you will hit it every time. Win everyone you can, but follow the example of Jesus, Paul, and the Holy Spirit. Do you have a definitive target yet?

THE BUCK STOPS HERE!

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THE BUCK STOPS HERE!

buckstopsherefrontsmallBy Ken Blue
“The sign “The Buck Stops Here” that was on President Truman’s desk in his White House office was made in the Federal Reformatory at El Reno, Oklahoma. Fred M. Canfil, then United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri and a friend of Mr. Truman, saw a similar sign while visiting the Reformatory and asked the Warden if a sign like it could be made for President Truman. The sign was made and mailed to the President on October 2, 1945.”

The history of the statement is very interesting. Today, it simply means you must stop putting the blame on others, and take responsibility for that which has been passed on to you. That means, if you are the pastor, the buck stops with you.

Many pastors and Christians are living under a “doomsday” cloud. The attitude is that things are worse than they have ever been, sinners are not being saved, and that Christians have no interest in living for God. Well, we know many churches where the opposite is true. Professions of faith take place every Sunday, new believers are baptized and join the church, and many are involved in serving the Lord.

We would be in denial if we failed to see the evil in the world, but there is also something wrong if we can’t see the working of God in many good churches. We cannot blame society and worldly Christians for all our failures. The buck must stop where it belongs. Good and evil have always run on parallel tracks, and they always have, and always will until the end. That means the two are always present.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]We cannot blame society and worldly Christians for all our failures.[/pullquote]

If people will not listen to you where you are, move to a more fertile field. If you can’t get your people to follow you, improve your leadership or move to another church, if necessary. If you have troublemakers in your church, stop fighting with them. Get them out or win enough young families so you have a majority. Then lead the church on to victory. The buck stops with you.

It is not a sign of failure to relocate. I know pastors who were not able to grow a church in their chosen location; they moved to the other end of town or to another city or state and did a great job.

You must shake off this attitude of negative doom and win families to Christ. It can be done; it is being done, and if you don’t think so, contact me and I will hook you up with churches that are. Don’t blame others for your problems. You are the leader, and the buck stops with you.