How To Find Fresh Ideas

Have you ever made a copy of a copy? How about a copy of a copy of a copy? Over time, the copies begin looking blurrier and blurrier until you can barely tell what is written on them.

Similarly churches that simply copy what they’ve always done over and over tend to lose clarity too. Often, their strategies and approaches stop working long before they realize it and long after change is easily possible.
On the other hand, churches that are willing to explore and experiment with new ministry methods can maintain vibrant and relevant ministries. They know that, while our commitment to the gospel never changes, the most effective ways to reach our communities and disciple believers change over time.

Where can church leaders find a flow of fresh ideas so they can avoid becoming a bad copy of themselves? In today’s newsletter, I’ll share five easy places to start!

five places to find fresh ministry ideas

Networking

Don’t go it alone! It is hard to be creative by yourself. It is easier when you have a network of peers who are eager to share what has worked well for them. Collaboration and resource sharing are only possible when you develop your network.
Because our Church Renewal Lab is cohort-based, participants leave with a network of supportive peers in ministry. These church leaders understand your struggles and will be eager to help you when you need it!

Consulting and Mentoring

Sometimes you need more than a peer, though. Often, you will need an expert who has been where you are trying to go. You will need a guide who can help you avoid wrong turns and potholes on the journey.
We offer several types of coaching that may be beneficial to you, including personal development coaching, Reveal coaching, departmental coaching, Mission Insite coaching, and vision coaching.

Books and Podcasts

It would be amazing to be coached by nationally known thought leaders. You may not be able to connect with them one-on-one, but you can benefit from their insights simply by reading the books they’ve written or listening to the podcasts they’ve recorded.
The simple practice of filling your free time with intentional reading and listening can expand your horizons greatly. Don’t know where to start? Check out the Resources section of our website, where we frequently recommend the best books for church renewal and the best podcasts for renewal leaders.

Conferences

Attending a conference offsite with your core team can change the course of your church. Not only will you find a goldmine of information and ideas, but you and your team will have time to bond and discuss how these new concepts might (or might not) apply in your context.
Many types of conferences are available, including ones geared toward tech workers, musicians, youth staff, etc. We offer a conference for church renewal leaders, the More and Better Conference, which may be very helpful to your team!

Monitoring Metrics and Feedback

Getting honest feedback from your congregation and from your community is crucial. This will help you know which ideas are worth trying. The Assessments section of our website provides a great place to start.
As you implement new ideas, it is also critical to monitor how well you are accomplishing your goals. If you measure the right metrics often enough, you can course-correct and improve as you go!

As you can tell, the Center for Church Renewal is committed to providing you with everything you need to maintain a flow of fresh ideas into your ministry! In fact, that is the entire purpose of this newsletter. Just by reading this week after week, you’re getting high-level overviews of all five of these areas, along with links to go deeper!