Have you ever felt like the vision and mission you feel called to just get stuck? You know where you want to go, but somehow your ministry just isn’t moving forward toward that goal like you wish? You may need a set of outside eyes to help point you in the right direction or help nudge back on the tracks – you might consider utilizing an outside consultant.
Now, of course when I say “consultant” eyes roll and deep breaths are taken. But after you take your deep breath, hear me out.
Consultants come in more flavors than Baskin Robbins dares to dream about. There are specialized consultants and there are generalists. For instance, perhaps your largest pain point is volunteer recruitment and management. There are consultants for that. Or maybe you need someone who specializes in member assimilation for your church. There are consultants for that. Perhaps you are not sure what you need and just need help getting moving again. You need a generalist – and those exist too.
But just because the options are many doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider help.
- Consultants (good ones at least) make it their business to understand your business. Specifically, the known complexities of running your church or parachurch in godliness and calling. Consultants can talk and walk with you on your journey, especially when you are a smaller staff and feel isolated.
- A good consultant will give your operations (or specific need) a fresh pair of eyes and will bring to bear their experience for the betterment of your organization. A godly, humble consultant will not tell you what you should do, but help you discover what you should do and how to do it, in ways that most effectively helps you move your ministry forward.
- Church and ministry consultants, for the most part, do not consult full-time. They do so out of a love for the church and her calling. Many times they are ministry practitioners that have stored up knowlege based on years of practical experience in the trenches. To allow that knowledge to dissipate due to our own pride, seems silly at best.
- A good consultant will take into account your financial capacity. If you find you do not have a lot of extra funds, have the discussion anyway. You may find a willing consultant who will make arrangements for your organization satisfactory to you both.
Yes, consultants can be expensive. But they don’t have to be. Remember, using a consultant can help revitalize your ministry in ways you have not considered simply because they are on the outside looking in through a lens of experience and humility.
If you find you may be in need of talking with a certified consultant to help breathe fresh life into your ministry, mail us at [email protected].
We help ministry leaders gain back their time and energy, so they can focus on leading their mission. We can help you too.
