10 Advantages of Doing Ministry Without a Ministry Strategy

May 31, 2005 in Leadership with 16 Comments

So I’m reading Robert Scoble’s blog the other day (doesn’t everybody?), and I read his post about Google’s lack of strategy being a strategy. It reminded me of my visit to Nothing, Arizona earlier this year. You’ve probably not heard of Nothing, Arizona because it’s essentially…nothing. Here’s the sign that hangs in the center of the town:

nothing, arizona

As you can see, the people of Nothing had a vision for Nothing that involved nothing. There’s really not much to the town of Nothing. There’s a gas station, called the “All Mart” and a couple of trailers. Nothing was their vision, and it resulted in nothing.

Well, these thoughts about lack of vision, or a vision of nothing, got me in a particularly fiesty mood and I began to list some of the advantages of doing ministry without a ministry strategy. Since my last Top 10 list was so well-received, let’s see how this one does. Here are:

10 Advantages of Doing Ministry Without a Ministry Strategy

  1. You give the loudest person the opportunity to decide what happens at your church.
  2. Sharp leaders who are accustomed to serving in organizations with clearly defined plans for future growth won’t stick around your church. That means more ministry for you!
  3. You’ll get to hone your debating skills as people argue about what to do next.
  4. More meetings! Where there’s no strategy, the meetings flourish.
  5. Some people call them church splits. We like to call them church plants. More mother churches!
  6. You don’t have to worry about celebrating success, because no one even knows what success looks like. It’s just better to keep that a secret.
  7. Rather than trying to discern God’s will for your ministry, you can just rely on dumb luck.
  8. You don’t have to pray as much, because there’s nothing to pray for. As an added bonus, that means you don’t have to develop as much faith either—whatever happens…happens.
  9. You can count your offerings a lot faster, because people will save their financial gifts for organizations that actually have a plan for the money they receive.
  10. Your lack of ministry strategy, which is a ministry strategy, will do just fine in Nothing, Arizona.

I probably shouldn’t post on my blog when I’m in a fiesty mood, should I? Regardless of how you answer that question, I still recommend that you don’t vacation in Nothing, Arizona and don’t do ministry without a ministry strategy.

Thank you Robert Scoble…and thanks for Nothing.

16 Responses to “10 Advantages of Doing Ministry Without a Ministry Strategy”

  1. Art June 1, 2005 at 11:18 am #

    Hope you don’t mind. I included this on my blog. Gave you credit and linke to your blog, of course. Great, GREAT stuff!!!

  2. KC June 9, 2005 at 1:21 pm #

    Good stuff!

  3. Bud Brown June 23, 2005 at 6:57 pm #

    11. No overtime.

  4. Jim Cowart July 10, 2009 at 12:27 pm #

    Great post Tony. Really, this can applied to your life as well. We truly do perish where there is no vision.

  5. Dan S. July 10, 2009 at 1:28 pm #

    7b. or simply rely on what the Hot Church is doing/what you heard at the last conference.

    Keep in Mind, Nothing got the results they planed for (or maybe they are just waiting on a “fleece” to show them what to do.

  6. Scott Meyer July 10, 2009 at 2:35 pm #

    Tony,
    This post is brilliant. I have served in the local church for 15 years and have witnessed each item on your list. I reposted it on my blog and linked back to you (of course I gave you credit).

    Grace & Peace

  7. Anthony Harden July 10, 2009 at 3:56 pm #

    This is classic and so very true. Oddly enough I am going to a planning meeting today, we are getting our church’s strategy in order. Great timing! I’ll definitely be sharing these insights. :)

  8. Marc Millan July 11, 2009 at 11:35 am #

    The approach to the “no approach” from the guy who wrote Killing Cockroaches, LOVE IT!!
    Simply brilliant, Tony.

  9. linda v July 11, 2009 at 1:53 pm #

    No ministry strategy is hurting us — is there a systematic approach to developing a strategy???

  10. Graham July 15, 2009 at 9:25 am #

    Tony… that made me laugh. Thanks for that :) And I love that sign posted in ‘Nothing’… hilarious! I’m glad people still have a sense of humor!

  11. Annette July 17, 2009 at 10:58 am #

    Those 10 points about nothing, certainly made you think about something.

  12. Andrew "Eddy" Edwards July 28, 2009 at 7:47 pm #

    Great post! Its so true and I was really encouraged to find another who thinks the same way! I also read your 4 posts on leadership and I couldnt agree with you more! I live in Australia and it’s quite hard to find Christian Leaders who think this way let alone put it into action!

    I’ve posted the list on my blog giving you credit of course. Would love to chat more about leadership!

    Cheers

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