PLANNING TIPS FOR PASTORS FOR THE NEW YEAR

The time to set targets for the new coming year is getting so late, our preparation and strategic planning helps us to hit the ground running as an individual and as a church/ministry. The new year is just a few days away, and by now many of us should have a template of God’s direction for the church of God under our leadership for maximum effect in the new year. No more like before, should we engage the use of fire brigade tactics. No matter the level of our achievements, challenges, successes and disappointments we trust Jesus, that next year will be greater in Jesus Name. Here are a few tips to help us in preparation for 2024.

1. EVALUATION: (Philippians 3:13-14). Taking inventory of the current year, the challenges, shortcomings, successes and victory. Learning from the past to better understand the cons and pros synonymous with the pursuit of our vision and callings. Evaluate the successes and challenges of the current year to inform our planning for 2024.

2. CONCEPTION: (Proverbs 29:18) Spiritual investigation into what God’s agenda is for the incoming year, and where our ministry fits in. Receiving the Spiritual vision for the year 2024. Seek divine guidance for the upcoming year and establish a spiritual vision for your ministry. 

3. INTERPRETATION/ASSIMILATION: Received vision is one half of the job, interpretation and breaking it down to the ministry tools at our disposal is another job. It is the shaping of the vision into the various platforms of our ministry. Internalize the vision, ruminate properly. Through this the goals and objectives are clear. Communication Strategy must be put in view. Enhance communication channels, ensuring effective and timely dissemination of information to the congregation (Proverbs 16:3).

4. PLANNING: (Eccl 3:1) Write and draft out the stages of execution in a plan. Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for the church and personal growth. Bring in the big guns at your disposal among your team members, strategic planning meetings will go along way to ease the planning process(Proverbs 18:13). 2 (Timothy 2:2). 

This also sorts out the issues of 

✓ What do we need

✓ Who can get it for me: strong team building, delegations, profiting from relationships of the past with other people. 

✓ How do we get it, analyze your steps and workable structure 

✓ Stages of execution

✓ Time frame attached to each stage

✓ Elapse of each stage of the plan

4. REQUIRED TOOLS: The personnel needed for the execution of the assignment:

✓ All Church Leaders & their roles

✓ All Church Workers & their roles

✓ All Ministry Associates

✓ All Church Members & their roles

✓ Contributions from Mentors & BOT etc

Remember that the need for training and retraining will be needed as soon as possible to properly integrate everyone into the assignment. Strengthen your bond with your mentors and BOT who should be interested in the progress of the assignment as time goes on. Leadership Development training and equipping leaders within the church to foster growth and shared responsibilities.

5. EXECUTION: focus for the year, prepare your pulpit to do a lot, be careful of the use of the Pulpit this year. Develop a feedback system that helps in your evaluation. Deaden any anti-progress and toxic relationships that can be a treat to the assignment. Be time conscious with each stage, and be audacious. Please note that strategy can be adjusted along the way, if the proposed strategy is not working, we need to be flexible and not static. Old programs that are not yielding meaningful outcomes can be replaced with new ones. Be open to godly and healthy counsels from.your team and hold everyone accountable including yourself. Event Planning Outlines focusing on the calendar of key events, special services, and outreach programs throughout the year.

6. SUPPORT SYSTEM (Finance):II Corinthians 9:7. For every vision finance is crucial, so we need to raise funds in a healthy way.

a. Create a financial attitude in members (structured teachings, and dishing it out constantly)

b. Financial Stewardship Development, has a transparent and sustainable financial plan to support the church’s mission and activities.

c. Spiritual solutions through prayers and deliverance sessions on the finances of the members

d. Invite financial experts who will help to develop the members by targeting their financial welfare.

e. Evaluate the Church and ministry expenses.

e. Investments etc

Therefore we need the following:

1. Foot soldiers/ Lieutenants

2. Adaptability

3. Manuals and materials, 

4. Collaborative Partnerships

5. Armour-bearer, groups of intercessors

6. Event Planning. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

7. Covenanted partners

8. Trusted and godly experts 

9. Technology Integration (Colossians 3:17 

10. Effective community strategies (Proverbs 18:13 ) 

11. Prayer Networking Methodology

12. Strategic Planning Committee at various level

13. Accountability Relationship

14. Understudy  bigger ministries or senior associates who have achieved what you are trying to achieve for support systems and understanding.

15.  Firm administrative structure (we will look at this in subsequent studies)

Dr Niyi Oluwatuyi 

crcinfo2004@gmail.com

Church Resuscitation Centre

08077814990/ 09065270518