Ministry Planning

I found it fascinating to learn that leaders whom are planning oriented tend to plan 2 years at a time. Two years! Who could possibly know what is going to happen two years from now? Those of us whom are not planning oriented only do 1 year at a time and that is only because that is what is required of us. Amen to that! I do like to have a plan on quite a few things (see I’m not as free spirited as some of you think, I have a nerd inside of me, too), it’s just that I prefer to plan a week, maybe a month at a time. Shoot, when you live the life of a nomad it is often hard to see past a month. I do have to admit that there is comfort in planning, though. I do also understand the responsibility of stewardship and learned this even more through my last ministry/job. It is especially important for me to demonstrate credibility to those whom support me.
It seems as if ministry planning combines the previous classes. As in research, it is important learn about the community in which I am doing missions, to discover the missionaries whom are already impacting their community and to draw on what they know. It is also important to learn what the acceptable outreaches are, so that I don’t interfere with my communities values and ways of being able to minister to them. It also draws on my strengths and making sure that I am ministering within at least 60% of them, this way I won’t get burned out or bored. It is also important to draw on areas that aren’t necessarily strengths and may be uncomfortable, but will stretch and grow me, possibly teaching me a new skill or bring out a hidden talent. I do have to acknowledge that though I plan in many areas, there is still a lot of room for growth.