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Introduction

Organisations ought to have strategic plans to guide them in decision making processes[1]  as was depicted in the survey that revealed the needs of the church as expressed in the identified project 7[2]. The goals can only be arrived at if specific action plans are clearly spelt.

Main body  

The church wants to increase youth involvement in its activities by sixty per cent within two years which can be achieved by formulating ministry teams whose main focus would be dealing with tactical issues concerning the youths. The ministry teams should be answerable to a higher authority that will act as the long term strategic planning role. This ministry will allow many volunteers to focus their attention more on the specific areas that they are more passionate hence create dedication and improve involvement. Equally, targeting the new converts can provide an avenue for increasing their participation in the activities of the church by nurturing and mentoring them as they grow spiritually.  Enlightening them on the virtue of accountability and the dangers of deviant behaviour will ensure that they remain steadfast in the church’s teachings. Energizing youth fellowship and programming by ensuring programmes which make them excited and proud to be a part of but checking that the ministry’s focus is not lost in the process.

In trying to improve committee support by a hundred per cent in six months additional training could be offered to the relevant members so as to effectively equip them in service. The training should be systematic and logical, and should help them feel the efficient use of their time as well as the joyfulness of their work. The creation of teams within the committees to address smaller tasks or focussed initiatives will also ensure their improvement if they assign members basing on their areas of passion or calling. The teams if provided with specific mandates can be assessed at the completion of the task hence improving on accountability and effectiveness. The reviewing of the duties of committees would also refine and clarify without ambiguity the role of members hence enabling them to stick to their respective line of duties which in turn promotes effectiveness and efficiency.

For the church to provide other kinds of support to a third of its members whenever a need arises within a year, the  first action plan could be the creation of small groups based on the areas of residence such that people from a certain area form one group. This would facilitate easier organization of meetings and also give members a chance of knowing those that need any kind of help in their group as well as hold each other accountable over time in their pursuit to achieve progress in life. By identifying the needy among them also, the church can seek ways on how individuals can stretch beyond their comfort zones by donating their excesses towards helping the needy among themselves in particular and also the surrounding community in general through on- going as well as new programs. Besides, establishing and offering some social services at subsidised rates, if the resources permit, can play a very vital role towards supporting the members of the congregation as well as the surrounding community at large. Facilities to offer such services might include schools, hospitals and even recreational grounds.

In trying to improve the preaching as well as the praise and worship quality by eighty per cent within six months an appropriate action plan would be trying to incorporate various styles of doing the same by having more than one person playing that role hence encouraging dynamics. This can be done by inviting different preachers on different occasions and training many people in the praise and worship ministry. Similarly, this can be achieved by encouraging different worship settings like dawn services, lunch hour meetings or even retreats for the different groups in the church. Besides linking artistic expression in the services themes would help a great deal. Such expressions might include drama, music dances that conform to the initial focus of the church and also some aspects of art. These action plans tend to foster different worship forms aimed at stimulating spiritual growth positively.

For the church to improve discipleship training and opportunities by fifty per cent within a yea, an effective action plan based on spiritual education should be the use of curricula that is both creative and experimental for the different classes available. The classes, being based on the age difference of the attendants, could aim to expand their student’s individual Christian formation while solidifying their biblical knowledge and at the same time help them explore their understanding of God’s call. Similarly, by providing a variety of topical studies, whose durations are short, at various times the participants would be encouraged to attend hence allowing for greater participation among members.  Some special interest groups such as specific ministries could sponsor such topics on behalf of the church. Establishing a reward program for those who strictly attend the classes and successfully complete such discipleship trainings will also encourage new converts to get involved in that process diligently. Such programs might include organizing a small pass out event, a form of graduation  ceremony or offering the available opportunity to the participants who expressed interest  on the same on a who is more dedicated  to the church activities basis.

In conclusion therefore, the above goals if effectively implemented will enable the church accomplish the mission that it is empowered and called to serve.

Reference

Burkhart, Patrick, and Reuss, Suzanne.1993. Successful strategic planning: A guide for

nonprofit agencies & organizations. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

Allison, J. Michael & Kaye Jude, Strategic planning for nonprofit organizations: a practical

guide and workbook. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2005