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How to Avoid the INSANITY of Ministry

Written by Brian Zehr

Perhaps you have heard the old definition of insanity; you know, the one about doing the same stuff over and over, expecting different results? Well, that seems to be how many churches approach the concept of being a reproducing church. We talk about reproducing ministries and we try to budget for reproducing ministries; we may even try to staff our churches with reproduction in mind, but we don’t necessarily do anything different. What should we be doing to create reproduction of ministry?

Within NewThing we value reproduction at all levels. Here are three key behaviors that are consistently present within reproducing churches.

1. Relationships > Function

In reproducing churches, the priority of spending one-on-one time with those that are up and coming leaders is more important than placing these new leaders into ministry roles. The reproducing principle is that replication happens when people are prioritized and cared for while they are being trained.

When a church wants to become a reproducing church the important question to ask is: Am I spending consistent time with those whose leadership I am developing?

2. One size fits all

I don’t know who said it first, but simplicity is on the other side of complexity. One of the biggest barriers to becoming a reproducing church is designing a simple leadership structure that allows every ministry to develop leaders; ONE system that is simple and organically, relationally driven. Within NewThing we prioritize an apprentice model where every leader in every ministry is expected to be calling out and developing an apprentice.

When a church wants to become a reproducing church, the important question to ask is: Do we have one simple system for all of our leaders to use

3. Measure what matters

In any leadership position that I have ever had I have subtly (or not so subtly) looked for what success looks like. How do I know if I am winning? One of the key behavioral patterns that reproducing churches implement is to set reproductive goals and measure the results. Within NewThing we have a Dashboard that is put in front of us on a monthly basis. This measuring tool examines apprentice leaders, actual ministry leaders, as well as coaches who are caring for and developing leaders. These leadership measurements all fit within the context of a specific goal to reproduce. The reproducing principle is that without tangible accountability reproduction becomes wishful thinking.

When a church wants to become a reproducing church the important question to ask is: Do our leaders know how we define victory? Do we measure the development of people?

Some people think that being a reproducing church is a little crazy. It may be… I guess it depends on what you do and what you expect.

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