When considering Opportunities and threats, realize they are mainly gathered from looking beyond the boundaries of the church/ministry. These questions will help identify Opportunities and Threats, What community-based needs could be met by our church’s strengths and resources? What is changing in the community or in society that will impact us in the future?
Note that Opportunities and Threats in a church environment are clearly external considerations. In Opportunities,” list the opportunities your church is to capitalize on. In threats,” list the external threats that your church must be aware of in terms of problems that has to solve.
Remember, the aim of SWOT analysis is to identify the key factors that will impact the church’s ability to achieve its purpose and vision, rather than attempting to map every possible factor. It is probably best to limit the SWOT analysis to no more than 10 factors for each of the four elements
In order to do effective strategic planning, there are specific ways that this information can be used by church leaders, In general, it is clear that the church should attempt
To build its strengths
To reverse (for disguise) its weakness
To maximize the response to its opportunities, and to overcome its Threats.
SETTING YOUR GOALS
Now that you know your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which have led you to knowing your capabilities, then you must set goals to make your planning complete. Goals must not only be discussed but also must be written down on paper and must be specific. Goals are long-term, intermediate and short-term. For example, if you are developing 10 years growth plan, 10 years will be your long-term, 5 years will be your immediate goal and 1-5 years will be your short-term goals, these are all broken down to weekly assignments. Why do we do this? Remember the bible said “Precept must be upon precept, a little here, a little there “Things should not be muddled together rather proper steps are taken sequentially to accomplish the vision.
TAKE ACTION DON’T WAIT
As good as the SWOT analysis, goals and targets setting, they cannot by themselves accomplish anything. You have to follow up on your goals and work at it to get it done.
So take action and look at the goal so as to actualize growth. The essence of this to eliminate idleness, redundancy and time wasting. You will have to recondition your system and work ethic and will soon discover that your productivity has tremendously increased.
If you are going to do a crusade in three months’ time, for instance, you do not have to wait for that date before you start your plans. At least, you will need to
- Secure a venue
- Carry out a spiritual survey of the area or city
- Secure a venue
- Carry out a spiritual survey of the area or city.
- Raise your intercessory team to water the area by prayer
- Carry out prophetic prayers and actions in that place.
- Do your publicity and mobilization
- Prepare the follow-up materials
- Get the follow-up leaders and counselors ready and expecting sinners to be saved.
- Get your deliverance and healing team ready
- Prepare for first Sunday service with your plan to inaugurate and plant a church there, etc
You need at least these basic Preparations for an effective Crusade leading to soul-winning and church planting. Things should not be done any how; proper planning leads to expected outcome. Remember, “Failing to plan is planning to fail” Homespun
CLOSING GAPS
In most local churches and to most Pastors, even though they have been praying for growth, they do not quickly make the connection of their growth with Visions or Fisrt Timers who come knocking on their doors weekly.
Lets us take a case study. A Pastor has 400 members and has believed God to exceed 1000. Four years later, he still has 400. He seems to believe God has not answered him or maybe he has not prayed enough. However, on a weekly basis, he has between 10 -20 people visiting the church for the first time, averaging 13 souls. In the last four years, he has had 13 souls multiplied by 208 weeks, giving him 3,120 souls.
Lets assume they retain 50% of those visitors, which is not too bad, they should be having 1,560 souls added to their 400, bringing the number to about 2000 souls. However, after four years, their number still remains 400 members.
So, where is the problem? There is a disconnection between their prayer, desire and planning. This clearly shows that their internal follow up system and discipleship program are not working as they should.
The gaps must be identified and properly closed in order to enable the ministry retain those whom God sends to them, it could be they need to rebrand or change certain practices while retaining their core values and calling. There must be the willingness and the will power to drive the needed change and transformation which ofcourse, begins with the leadership itself.
For example, instead of being in a church Service for 6 hours, can you reduce your time to 3 hours or maximum 4 hours on Sunday? Do you have any effective plan to reach out to these visitors even after Church Service? Are your leaders ready to make sacrifices for the kingdom or do they work only at their convenient time?
PRAYER POINTS
- Lets begin to thank God for His Covenant of PROTECTION PROVION AND PROMOTION in this New Month.
- Lets thank Him for our nation Nigeria, that despite all that is happening and has happened we are still together.
- Lets pray for the Nations of world right now witnessing onwar or conflict or the other that God should restore peace and bring comfort to them.
- Father ,we pull down every stronghold of lies ,deceit and bewitchment in this nation in Jesus name.
- Oh God arise and expose ,disgrace every agents of wickedness in this nation in Jesus name
- Oh God arise and disconnect every form of external forces influencing this nation negatively in Jesus name.
- Pray for the forthcoming Leadership Retreat in Owerri, that the revival power ofGod will break forth in this retreat.
- Let Every agent mounting siege against Nigeria be destabilized and scatter in Jesus name
- Let command the operation f the emptiers operating in this Nation be scatter in Jesus name. people positively .
- Pray for God’s backup in all our programme of activities in this our New year.
- Thank God for His Protection, Provision and Promotion on every side.
- Pray that the Lord will have His way during and after the programme
- Commit every aspect of the congress to the Lord and ask Him to perfect all that concerns the congress. Ps 31:8
- Pray that the Word of the Lord will come expressly to us during this Congress
- Pray that everyone participating in this congress will be imparted by the Spirit of God. Ezra 1:5
- Let us pray that God will also visit the Online viewers during this programme
- Pray that there will be discovery and rediscovery of purpose during the congress. Acts 26:16
- Pray that God will fill the heart and mouth of every minister that will speak in the congress with the mysteries of the kingdom. 1Pt 4:11
- Pray and ask God to fill every speaker with the spirit of revelation and prophecy as they wait on Him for this assignment. Ezekiel 37:10
- Command all the forces of life and nature to align themselves with God’s purpose during the congress and beyond. Ps 8:6
- harvesting souls Acts 2:47
- Pray for the Kingdom of God to reign supreme on earth Mt 6:10; Rev 12:10
Pray that God will expose the false teachers and prophets that are deceiving the people, 2 Peter 2:1-2
Let the Spirit be poured from high on the Church and Ministers of the gospel, Isaiah 32:15-18
Let us pray for souls to be harvested into the Kingdom, Acts 2:47
Let’s pray for the Kingdom of God to reign supreme on earth Matt 6:10; Rev 12:10
Let the gospel pervade the entire earth as water cover the sea, Isaiah 11:9; Hab 2:14
THANKSGIVING
Let us thank God that we still have a country to dwell in called Nigeria
Thank God for all the past and present leaders who had made some positive contributions to the development of this country.
Thank God for His good plans for Nigeria
Thank God for the church in Nigeria that is standing for Him in Nigeria.
PRAYER FOR THE NATION
Let us pray the Nations of Africa that God will give us good and faithful leaders like David, Isaiah 55:3-5
Pray that the exploitation of Africa by the West shall seize and Africa shall blossom, Numbers 17:5-8; Isaiah 27:6
We should pray for the Nations of the earth for peace, Isaiah 32-17-18
Pray for the Church of God on earth that revival will burst out from every nations, Hab 3-2
Let us pray that the oppression of the Church world over should abate, Acts 10:38
Pray that God will expose the false teachers and prophets that are deceiving the people, 2 Peter 2:1-2
Let the Spirit be poured from high on the Church and Ministers of the gospel, Isaiah 32:15-18
Let us pray for souls to be harvested into the Kingdom, Acts 2:47
Let’s pray for the Kingdom of God to reign supreme on earth Matt 6:10; Rev 12:10
Let the gospel pervade the entire earth as water cover the sea, Isaiah 11:9; Hab 2:14