Something to Talk About

Here’s a question: What do people think about, when they think of you?

And another to go with it: What do people talk about, when they talk about your church?

There’s little doubt they’re thinking – and talking – about something. The only question is, what?

Experience tells me that a church has a tendency to focus on the next negative thing. It could be a staff member who had to be let go for one reason or another, someone who had a small but vocal following. Or building plans that were altered, eliminating several pet projects in the process. Or a change, however insignificant, to the worship service. Even something as simple as redirecting the traffic flow in and out of the parking lot.

As Mark Twain once remarked, “the only person who likes change is a wet baby.” Change – of any kind – is almost always greeted with a negative reaction. It’s the nature of people. After all, it’s much more comfortable to “go with what you know” than to deal with an interruption in your routine, even if you believe the resulting change will eventually be helpful. We all have a tendency to get set in our ways and resist the new and different.

But change is a part of life – and a crucial part of any growing and thriving church. Which is why it’s imperative that, as a leader, you set the tone of the conversation when it comes to what people are talking about.

The greatest danger to your church is not going to come from some mysterious outside force. It’s going to come from within. It’s not the enemy at the gates that we have to worry about – we all know that “the gates of hell” will not prevail against us. Rather, it’s the internal conversation, especially in the midst of change. It’s all the hurt feelings and harm that go hand in hand when those conversations begin to take on a life of their own.

Stop and think about all the changes – big and small – that have taken place in your church during the past year. Then consider this fact: For the vast majority of your people, the “default reaction” to those changes was negative.

Think they’ll just keep those thoughts to themselves? Think they’ll just blindly accept that you and your leadership team must know what’s best, as they line up behind you to embrace yet another round of change?

Think again.

Which is why it becomes absolutely critical that you become “the focus factor.” As the leader, you get to determine the focus of the church. You’re the one who gets to set the pace. You’re the one who determines what the conversation will be about.

So give them something positive to talk about!

In my ministry, I consistently focus on communicating that “the most important person at Rock Creek is the next one we reach.” It’s something I set before the church on a regular basis. I want them to remember that we’re all about meeting the real needs of people, through a wide variety of practical, hands-on ministries. I want them to know that the vision they’re hearing from me, the direction we’re headed, is worthy of their time, energy and commitment. I talk about our successes. I highlight the opportunities. I introduce the volunteer leaders. I make the church aware of the people whose lives have been changed because of the impact of a particular ministry.

Because this I know: Either I’ll be setting the tone of the conversation – or someone else will fill the void. It’s as simple as that.

When it comes to the discourse in your church – make sure you give them something worth talking about.