While some will likely want to debate my impressions of missional – my reflections are simply  for you to explore together as God pulls each of us toward Him and His mission in the world, IN the church, THROUGH the church and AS the church. ( My Spiritual Leadership in a Secular Age book is built around this thought) Allelon and the writings of Alan Roxborough continue to inspire, instruct and challenge my thinking.  I would point you to the current newsletter and his article entitled, “Getting Back into the Neighborhood” http://www.allelon.org/pdf/MapMakingINTRO.pdf  What powerful challenges to each of us as we seek to live a servant focused life! 

A Local Church Experience and Struggle 

      I was recently consulting with a group of deacons and found them to be of many different mindsets, with varying passions and desires about the focus of their deacon ministry structures and mission.  I found it intriguing that their voiced desire was to become ‘more servant and ministry oriented in their service’ but the list of questions they wanted me to respond to were all very management focused questions.  What they said they desired did not match their intent or personal preferences.  They seemed to be so entrenched in who they had been that they could not even explore who they sensed God calling them to be. They were more concerned about church constitution alignment than their alignment to God’s calling.  How can one desire the right directions and still fall into the trap of the familiar that keeps them and the church stuck? The meetings I was in with this group seemed like we were going around and around a tree and never making any progress because management issues took precedence.  Somehow their head and heart did not or could not connect.  The sad thing to me is that they confessed they had been around and around this same tree for almost a year! What time wasted.  I finally said when you are ready to make a decision that will move you forward call me back and I left.  The pastor called me back the next day and said, “boy I like your style! (I was relieved) He further explained that this group made more progress in decision-making after I left because of the shock value and the mirror I had held up before them.  Sometimes shock treatments are what we need to align ourselves to our original calling and to align our hearts and our heads and our ministry structures. 

Tools for the Journey 

      Sally Morgenthaler has a powerful article on ‘Worship as Evangelism’ that speaks to the heart shifts and the ministry structures shifts that are being called for in the hearts of many leaders and in many congregations.  Read it with careful eye and an open heart and mind http://www.allelon.org/articles/article.cfm?id=402 .

      My new book Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church for all Generations is designed to coach leaders and churches through their missional struggles, creating missional structures that attract, assimilate, disciple and deploy persons from every generation.  The book will be released October 19, 2007 and can be ordered on our eStore. 

Coaching Questions for Church Leaders 

• What are the core values and priorities in your church now?
• How do they align with the words and practices you engage in each week?
• What does God desire for your church to be in your community?
• What is preventing you from being faithful and fruitful in God’s desire for your church?
• How do you celebrate your alignment with God’s mission in the world?
• What needs to happen to move you beyond the walls of the church and the immediate membership to the community?
• Who shares this dream and might be able to help you now?
• What’s the next step?

NEW BOOK RELEASED OCTOBER, 2007

Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church for all Generations by Edward H. Hammett and James R. Pierce will be published by Chalice Press

Order Now

A resource for church leaders and church members. The book is filled with practical and proven ideas for churches who desire to minister effectively to all generations without isolating or ignoring any age group. Released in October. 

To book a seminar with Eddie email at EdwardHHammett@mchsi.com  

Join me in an online forum on my new book October 8-11, 2007 at www.easumbandy.com Register by visiting the www.easumbandy.com webiste now!