Another technical scheme to draw unchurched people. Yes the website should be updated beloved but that is not the point. This is being presented as a top seven reason why a church is mediocre. We have been through four now and not one word about ensuring the full Gospel. Not one word about purity in worship. The truth is that the website of the church should be designed with the sheep in mind, not the goats. Why? Because the things of God are foolishness to the goats! Now Carey realizes that which is why everything he is trying to reach them with is purely carnal -- singers, lights, live-streaming and now the website. He even compares the management of the church to that of a restaurant except the church was never meant to be big business.
'5. Your Info Isn't Current. Few things tell you a church is mediocre more than out of date information. Whether it's your church sign advertising an event from last month, or still wishing everyone a happy 4th of July in August, or your church website or podcast is three weeks late on uploading the current sermons, having out of date information screams "we don't really care" to anyone passing by. And for sure there are reasons. The sign guy was sick. Or that unreliable website volunteer once again needs reminding. But again, all of that screams mediocrity. You'll have a hard time recruiting high capacity volunteers (and new people) into a culture that does a lot of shrugging and constantly sighs "oh well."' -- Carey Nieuwhof
The purpose driven model only thrives with plenty of volunteers. The shepherd gives up his shepherding duties to be the full time the vision casting leader. As with many of these items I agree in general principle that we should strive for the best in everything we do. The problem is promoting a church growth scheme devoid of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel. Do you know what says we do not care? Preaching a gospel that cannot save anyone. Refusing to discuss sin and the need to repent. Worrying about carnal minutia instead of eternal consequences. That says you do not care.
"6. You're Resigned to This. Maybe as you've read through this post you think there's no way out. You've resigned yourself to this. Don't. The surest way to ensure a mediocre future is to resign yourself to a mediocre present. I started in very small churches with not a lot of top-tier talent. I get what it's like to have to start with almost nothing. But if you focus on the best you have at the moment, and bring all of that to your mission, you will create a better future. Eventually, more and more talented people will emerge from the crowd and new people will join your mission, and soon you'll be so much further ahead. Was our band always great? No. Was every singer always on key? Nope. Did every volunteer always crush it? Of course not. But we did the best we could with what we had. And you'll soon discover if you do the best you can with what you have, your best keeps getting better. The path to an excellent future is this: constantly improve an average present. I have two full units in my Breaking 200 online course that will show you how to spot, recruit and develop the talent you have in your church that will move you into a far more excellent future. There are principles I learned as I led our church from small and rather unskilled in most ministry areas to where we are today (larger and with many gifted leaders)." -- Carey Nieuwhof
