January 20, 1999

Church transition requires vision & purpose
___By Ken Camp &
___Dan Martin
___Texas Baptist Communications
___FORT WORTH--A stagnant, unfocused church can become a congregation committed to the purpose of reaching spiritually lost people, but it takes vision to make the transition, according to Dan Southerland.
___Southerland, pastor of Flamingo Road Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., described the steps in

Dan Southerland

transitioning to a "purpose-driven church" during the Innovative Church Ministries Conference, held in conjunction with the Texas Baptist Evangelism Conference last week.
___When Southerland came to Flamingo Road nine years ago, it was a traditional church of 300 whose growth was 90 percent due to transfers from other churches. Today, it is an innovative, purpose-driven congregation of 2,100 where 60 percent of the new members previously were unchurched.
___Defining vision as "a picture of what God wants to do," Southerland said a leader must prepare for vision by gathering information, feeling a God-given dissatisfaction with the way things are and then praying, fasting and waiting.
___Then the leader must define the vision, discovering the church's purpose and target before settling on a strategy, he said. "Aim at nothing, you hit nothing every time. Aim at everything, you hit nothing most of the time. Aim at everyone, you reach no one most of the time."
___Finally, the leader must plant and share the vision, securing the support of a vision team, church leaders and finally the entire congregation before the church can implement it, Southerland explained.
___"Most churches spend far too little time in preparation and move far too quickly into making changes," he said.
___He recommended implementing the vision in a strategic order, focusing on purpose changes first, target changes second, strategy changes last.
___He offered two words of advice when making any trasition: Go slow, and expect opposition. Different people in any church are at different stages of readiness in accepting change, he noted.
___In making transitions, leaders should be sensitive to opportunities for making course corrections and dealing with those who feel neglected.
___"The angrier you are about a complaint, the more sensitive you need to be in your response," Southerland said. "Don't shoot your wounded just because they are complaining. It's normal for wounded people to cry out."
___The leader must intentionally and strategically "wage peace" between the "old guard leaders who are resisting the changes and the new guard leaders who are on board," he said.
___A pastor in a purpose-driven church needs to make a concerted effort to "stay among the people" he is trying to reach and those to whom he is trying to minister, Southerland said. He offered four suggestions:
___ Don't use titles. Clerical titles and listings of academic degrees set ministers apart from the people they want to reach.
___ Dress appropriately. Pastors should dress in the same manner as the people they are trying to reach. That could mean a business suit, a sports shirt and slacks or boots and jeans.
___ Speak normally. Avoid archaic language and church-related jargon. Use a conversational tone in sermons. "The only two places in America where a baby boomer gets yelled at are in traffic and at church," Southerland said.
___ Be real. Demonstrate vulnerability and transparency.
___Evidences the vision is working include seeing God's work, emergence of new leaders, a renewed commitment to worship and obedience, and willingness to make further changes.

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