Have you ever noticed that life is seasonal? It’s not just Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. All of life is seasonal. I was reading and came across these seasons in the life of a church.
Growth season: This is a time when everything is rosy. Attendance is spiking, giving is on the rise, programs are thriving, and the future looks bright.
Consolidation season: The goal during consolidation is to assimilate and support the people who showed up during all of that growth.
Transition season: This could be the result of staff changes, economic uncertainties, or facility issues that leave people feeling a bit off balance and uncertain.
Malaise season: In this season things are unusually somber, stale, and just plain stuck. There’s no buzz.
Reinvention season: This is when the leader announces that it’s time to put every ministry of the church under the microscope and discern whether it needs a face-life, an overhaul or a funeral—a necessary pruning exercise to make room for future growth.
I think it’s good to remember that life is seasonal. It’s also beneficial to acknowledge what season you’re in so that you don’t get stuck there. Each season is temporary (unless you get stuck—then there may need to be a funeral).
When I look at the above seasons I think we’re in two at the same time. Wanna guess which two?
1 comment:
Hmmm... Well, I "feel" like Hub City is in growth, though I'm not sure there is ever a time everything will seem "rosy." I could also see transition and consolidation.
So there's my guess.
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