A groundbreaking discovery is transforming the world of missions: the lack of management skills is a critical gap that’s hindering the effectiveness of disciple-making and church planting efforts.
“Effective management is a vital component of any successful church planting endeavour,” says Dr. Timothy Tennent, President of Asbury Theological Seminary. “It enables church planters to steward their resources wisely, build strong teams, and achieve their ministry goals.”
Biblical Basis for Management Skills
The Bible teaches us to be good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. In 1 Corinthians 4:2, Paul writes, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” Effective management skills are essential for being faithful stewards of God’s resources.According to a study published in the Journal of Evangelical Missions, “Church planting organisations that prioritise management skills are more likely to experience growth and sustainability.” (1)
What are Management Skills?
Management skills involve planning, organizing, leading, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals. In church planting, management skills include:
- Planning and strategizing
- Budgeting and financial management
- People management
- Project management
- Risk management
“Management skills are not just about getting things done, but about getting the right things done,” says Dr. Ajith Fernando, Director of Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka. “Effective management is essential for fulfilling the Great Commission.”
Challenges Facing Church Planting Organisations
Church planting organisations in South Asia face numerous challenges, including:
- Lack of resources (financial, human, and material)
- Inadequate training and support for church planters
- Insufficient infrastructure and systems for effective management
Statistics highlight the impact of these challenges:
- 60% of church planters in South Asia leave their role within the first two years, citing burnout and lack of support (Church Planting Network).
- 40% of church planting projects in India fail due to poor planning and management (Evangelical Fellowship of India).
- A study published in the International Journal of Frontier Missions found that “church planting organisations that lack effective management systems are more likely to experience conflict and burnout among staff.” (2)
Benefits of Effective Management Skills
Developing effective management skills can bring numerous benefits to church planting organisations, including:
- More Effective Disciple-Making: With improved planning and organisation, church planters can focus on making disciples and multiplying their impact.
- Increased Church Planting Success: Better decision-making and problem-solving enable church planters to navigate challenges and obstacles, leading to more successful church plants.
- Stronger Teams and Partnerships: Improved communication and teamwork facilitate collaboration among church planters, pastors, and other stakeholders, leading to stronger teams and partnerships.
- Greater Accountability and Transparency: Enhanced accountability and transparency ensure that resources are used wisely and that church planting efforts are conducted with integrity, leading to greater trust and confidence among supporters and stakeholders.
By developing effective management skills, church planting organisations can experience these benefits and more, ultimately leading to greater impact and effectiveness in their disciple-making and church planting efforts. “Effective management is not just about achieving efficiency, but about achieving effectiveness,” says Dr. George Verwer, Founder of Operation Mobilisation. “It’s about getting the right things done, not just getting things done.”
Practical Strategies for Developing Management Skills
Here are some practical strategies for developing management skills in church planting organisations:
- Training and Development: Provide regular training and development opportunities for church planters and staff.
- Coaching and Mentoring: Offer coaching and mentoring to church planters and staff to help them develop management skills.
- Systems and Processes: Establish clear systems and processes for management, including budgeting, reporting, and evaluation.
- Accountability and Transparency: Foster a culture of accountability and transparency, with clear lines of communication and decision-making.
Conclusion
The discovery of the critical gap in management skills is a game-changer for church planting organisations. By prioritising the development of these skills, church planting partner organisations can increase their effectiveness in disciple-making and church planting.
At Global Assist, we’re committed to helping church planting partner organisations develop the management skills they need to succeed. Our team of experts provides training, coaching, and consulting services to help our partners:
- Develop a strategic plan for their ministry
- Create a budget and financial management system
- Build and manage a high-performing team
- Measure progress and make data-driven decisions
By partnering with us, church planting organisations can bridge the management skills gap and achieve greater impact in their ministry.
