How can a church “change it’s spots”?

• Liturgical churches that have little relevance in connecting with youths and young adults. These communities are gradually losing this age-group because their ministries have not changed over the years.
• Patterns of controlling leaders that bring in pastors for a season, and then step in to take over when things don’t go their way.

On the other hand, I have seen churches that have changed their culture over time:

• Inward-looking churches that make a shift over years to engage the surrounding community, serving and reaching out to them. These churches truly become outward-looking and making the impact beyond the church walls!
• Traditional churches that embrace the move, work and signs of the Holy Spirit, pressing on despite resistance until it becomes a norm for ministry life. Prayers of prophecy, healing and encouragement are practiced regularly for members and newcomers alike.

Reflecting upon these, I recognize that, there are 3 leadership qualities necessary for successful cultural change in churches. They are:

1. A discerning leader
   There is a need to identify the deep issues in value-clash and navigate them. Discernment allows leaders to be sensitive and pastoral in navigation of direction. This can significantly reduce pain in the midst of confrontation.
2. A strategic leader
   Culture is seldom shifted by any single element, but rather through the effect of several elements working in tandem. A strategic leader is like an architect building an echo-chamber that combines different elements, eg. the wall, padding, ceiling, to produce a reverberation through the hall. He discerns which ministry to build first and which to layer next so that different ministries within the church come together to create a “chamber” that sustains the voice of the new culture.
3. A patient and persevering leader
   Most cultural changes take a long time! Similar to a rubber band being stretched, as changes are made, culture threatens to pull-back to its original shape. A leader who feels called by God must persevere for that period and “lean” consistently in the direction of change until the breakthrough comes.

So, can a church “change her spots”?

There is One who believes she can:

Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness (Isaiah 43:19)

If God believes His people can change, then I do too!

May you always hold in your heart the hope for positive change in God’s people — God’s church!