Strategy Matters

Phil Cooke has a blog titled, "The Change Revolution"; I thought it was appropriate to place his "Why Strategy Matters" post here...

"Having a plan to reach your audience with the right message is critical. Whatever the challenge is that you’re facing - the strategy (or lack of it) that got you in this sorry situation, won't be the same strategy that gets you out. I’ve used the quote before on this blog: “When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging.”

But I’m shocked at the number of people that just keep doing the same thing year after year as if the direction of the ministry, audience numbers, response, income – whatever, will magically change. But getting from point A to point B doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through a well thought out plan.

And by the way – when it comes to churches - changing graphics, cool music, lighting effects, or dumping the choir robes isn't a strategy. That's just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. You need a fundamental re-think of what story your church or ministry is trying to tell, what that means to your audience, how to connect with that audience, and why it's absolutely urgent they respond right now.

Figure it out, because your future may be hanging on it."