The leaders of any organization have but one primary purpose. In the church or other volunteer organization, this primary purpose is magnified greatly. The leader’s job is to support the people in accomplishing the vision by removing barriers, ensuring policies, practices, & systems make life easier for the members of the organization.

Many churches and similar organizations have no true vision. They may have dreams, goals, or “hoped for” aims. In my mind a vision is the compelling image of an achievable future. Even in organizations that have what they call a vision, very seldom is there any part of that vision compelling members toward fulfilling it.

To compel is to desire something with all your heart. If it is not something that tugs at my heart I will not be compelled to help you achieve it. Leaders must cast a vision that tugs at the heart of individuals, compelling them to action.

Part of casting the vision for an organization is the removal of barriers. If I were in the jewelry business and our vision was to be the best known diamond carrier in town, I had better be certain we had a supply of fine quality diamonds in stock at all times. Yet, there is one organizational health factor even greater than carrying the needed inventory.

The greatest asset of every organization is the same – its people. The people in your church or organization need to know you understand this factor. The more you demonstrate to them your understanding of their importance to your organization, the more they will strive for the vision. Successful leaders know some of the greatest motivators for producing great workers have nothing to do with remuneration.

Successful leaders will always cast a vision, incessantly share the vision, and continuously work to remove any barriers that would stifle the work of fulfilling the vision. Before the vision is shared successful leaders have spent hours with others combing through the vision, identifying potential barriers. Then, more time is spent identifying approaches to break down or eliminate those barriers. Part of casting the vision then becomes equipping the members, not only in what the vision is, but how to overcome or eliminate the barriers.

Barriers to fulfill the vision are not always outside influences. In fact, most barriers reside inside the organization. Organizational systems, policies, and practices can be some of your thickest barriers. Be certain to evaluate these barriers as well as other obvious and not-so obvious ones.

Leaders, support your people, not in what you want, but in the way they need your support.

Support your people, they will accomplish the vision!

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

This was first posted April, 2017

I was recently asked, “How can our Bible study leaders use Spiritual Gifts to organize and make their classes more effective?” I want to springboard off that question to share some ideas of how to make your church, organization, or Bible study class more effective. The following four avenues can improve the effectiveness of any organization or group of any size.

Structure – Having a workable, amicable structure in place allows everyone to use his/her abilities in pursuing the groups goals. Too often organizations have restricting structures in place that actually constrict effectiveness. Build your structure around the giftedness of your people for fulfilling your organizational goals. You will be much more effective.

Observation – Perhaps the greatest tool you have for employing the gifts of others is observation. Observe others in the organization to see where each one excels. Not only while engaged in the activities of your organization, watch during the down times. This is when you will often see some of the otherwise unseen, unknown giftedness.

Discuss and practice gift oriented ministry (service) – Employing and utilizing each person’s giftedness is a sure-fire way to increase effectiveness. Do not assign tasks because it needs to be done. Assign tasks according to the giftings of each person in the group. Tasks are not burdensome when we are employing our giftings.

Praise & celebrate – Celebrate all the victories, big and small, along the journey. No victory is too small to celebrate. Some celebrations may be a one on one thank you. But the greater and more you celebrate in front of the entire group, the more good work is recognized by the entire group. Remember, “What gets recognized gets emphasized and What gets emphasized gets recognized.” When people see others getting recognized for their contribution, they too will recognize the importance of their need to contribute accordingly.

Certainly, these are not the only four things that will promote effectiveness in your group or organization, but these four will go a long way in producing effectiveness personally and in the organization. What can you do to implement better practices in each of the four disciplines listed above?

Need help in any of these areas? Contact George Yates or your organizational leaders.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Why are so many churches in decline today? What causes decline in churches?

Stop the declining trends in your church

I believe there is more than one cause for decline and each church has its own cause(s). Some churches face decline due to apathy within the church. Others suffer from decline because of a lack or loss of vision and purpose. Speaking with church members and leaders, you will find a plethora of reasons for the decline in churches today. However, most reasons can be traced back to one or possibly two causes.

If I had to list but one cause of decline in churches, I would reach for the words of Jesus to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:4, “Yet, I hold this against you, you have lost your first love.”

I am not writing to condemn the church or church practices, but to encourage and to uplift the church. This verse of scripture is difficult for us to hear and accept about our own church because we are the church. But we should not stop in reading this verse alone. In the next verse Jesus gives us the cure. He says, “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:5 What a glorious revelation from our Lord and Savior to the people of the church at Ephesus and to you and me as part of today’s church.

Churches do not intentionally walk away from their purpose (first love). Decline is certainly not in the motives or objectives of any church. Oftentimes we get caught up in the busyness of church life to the detriment of being the church. Other times it is being the church that begins the slide.

Being versus doing requires a tender balance. Faith without works is dead so we know we are commissioned to “do.” However, we can also fall into the trap of doing and doing and doing and lose track of “being” God’s church. How is the balance in your church?

Questions church leaders can ask of their church include:

1) What are we doing that is not directly related to one of the tenets of The Great Commission? What will it take to implement new strategies for effectiveness in fulfilling The Great Commission?

2) Where are we caught in tradition?

3) What do we need to let go of to allow God to move in greater ways for His Kingdom through our church?

4) What must happen in the hearts of each member (& leader) in our church to become a more effective Great Commission church?

Portions of this article are excerpted from the introduction of Reaching the Summit: Avoiding and Reversing Decline in the Church and was first posted July 9, 2012.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

In an earlier post, (February 19, 2024), I wrote, “To me, innovation is not an idea but a process. Innovation is not the introduction of a new idea. It is the ability to take the bold steps to bring that idea into reality. Everyone dreams, but few innovate.” Since then I have written four posts about innovators and opportunity seekers. Here is one more with steps to unleash the innovator in you and your church (organization).

Innovators usually break through the norms of the day and most often are criticized for it. This is a fact of life. When you are an innovator, you are reaching beyond what everyone else is doing. Innovations are implemented to improve something or to overcome an obstacle. Most people will talk and talk about an issue without ever attempting to overcome the obstacle. Then they will criticize someone (church) that is innovatively combating the issue and in many cases overcoming the obstacle.

Today’s innovations become the norm of the next decades. But how? How do you become an innovator especially with limited resources?

1, Pray! Our God is the God of all resources. You do not need the resources of the mega churches to be God’s fruitful source in your community. God has given you resources that you are likely not fully utilizing. Ask Him to guide you and your church in using them for his glory in his way. Pray for outside the box ideas.

2, Seek out the true strengths of your church. Do you have good cooks?, Is there a group in your church who have a passion for children and could volunteer within the school system in various ways. Do you have handymen in your church? Every church has strengths that can be used for God’s glory and fulfilling The Great Commission.

3, What are the needs in your community in which you are particularly gifted to assist? Here are three questions to ask, door to door, in the office of mayor, schools, police chief and others. 1) in your opinion what are the two greatest needs in our community? 2) How could a church help meet those needs? (do not use the name of your church, say “a church”) 3) How can we pray for you right now? – If they allow you to pray and give you a prayer request, follow up in 30 days saying, “You told us last month about______. We’ve been praying, how’s that going and how can we continue to pray?” This is where gospel conversations begin because you have demonstrated that you truly care.

4, Connect the dots of your strengths and the needs in the community. – They will connect. That’s God’s purpose for you and your community.

5, Brainstorm and work with your leaders and congregational groups to implement a course of action within your God-given means– even if it sounds far-fetched and has never been done before. Implement and follow up. That is innovation.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Walking across the church parking lot Sunday, a couple pulled in and the driver rolled down his window to say, “I’ve got something to talk to you about.” Pastors know this is not always a good sign. This one turned out to be great. Getting out of their vehicle, he handed me a piece of paper and said, “We didn’t want to steal your thunder, but let me show you what I did.”

He proceeded to show me that he had taken the Easter card our church was handing out, to a local advertising company and had them separate it into four specific events to create an electric billboard ad for each event we had scheduled for Easter.

He and his wife both repeated the statement, “We didn’t want to steal your thunder…” Steal my thunder? That’s not stealing anyone’s thunder. That is taking what God had given me as a business card idea and putting to use their God-given abilities to shine His light on a much bigger scale – billboard sized. I was thrilled and filled with joy!

If you’ve been around me much, or you have heard me speak, you have likely read or heard the statement, “Don’t copy models, capture principles.” I could also say, “Don’t be a copycat, be an innovator.” God is a creator, an innovator. When God created you, He created an innovator.

History repeats itself time and again revealing that spiritual innovators did not follow the rules of the day. We see it in fruitful churches today and we see it throughout history. Billy Graham filling stadiums worldwide, Jonathan Edwards regional revival, John Wesley outdoor preaching, Martin Luther getting the Word of God to the public, stating the common man was spiritually mature enough to read and discern the Word.

We see these innovators throughout history. Yet, none was quite the innovative as Jesus Christ. By the standards of the religious leaders, Jesus was a failure, because He failed to do things their way. Yet, this exactly what made Jesus a fruitful innovator. According to the religious leaders Jesus failed. According to God Jesus became the Savior of the world.

The world does not need another savior, we have one. What is needed is for you and me to become the innovators for which we were created. How do you become a spiritual innovator? Dare to be different. Follow God’s will for you and you will become an innovator.

God has given you gifts, talents and abilities to use for His glory. We are to develop and understand how to use those under the guidance and influence of His Word and His Holy Spirit. Not to fly off on our own, but to use His giftings to align with what He is doing around us. For some it might be a journey around the globe or across the street to share of God’s love. For others it might be something like a billboard. We are all called to be His billboard somewhere to all nations. Dare to be different, be God’s innovator.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Is it possible that many churches are declining because they do not believe they have what it takes to be fruitful? Two of the most heard reasons for churches fruitlessness is 1) “We don’t have any creative/innovative people.” and 2) “We don’t have the financial resources to…”

I believe and have written that I believe that every church has exactly what you need to reverse declining trends and to be the fruitful, productive church God created you to be. You may not have what the mega churches have, but you have exactly what you need to begin your turnaround. When your church is faithful at employing all that God has given you, God will add what you need as you grow and as you need it. And the glory will go to Him alone.

Think on this; where will God gain the most glory, from your church receiving a one-million-dollar inheritance from a now deceased, long time member, or from your church providing ministry out of your meager resources? God is the God of miracles. Yes, we would all like to receive that inheritance, but we know the greater satisfaction (in Christ) and the God moments happen when we allow God to demonstrate who He is in His power and His resources through our weakness and our meagerness.

If your church receives a million dollars, great! Let God multiply it like the lunch of a little boy to bless many more than a million. But the reality is most of our churches will never receive anything like that. This allows God to show up and shine through the church as only God can do as, Christ did with the one lunch of that small boy.

Stop fretting over what you don’t have, and start praising God for what you DO have, and ask Him to show you how to allow Him to shine through your church (the people) to a lost and dying world currently separated from God.

In Acts chapter 3, Peter tells the beggar, “Silver and Gold I have none, but what I do have, I give to you.” I believe Peter had no money on his person. If he had money and had given the man a couple dollars to get something to eat, would the outcome have been the same? Would the crippled beggar have been healed? No, he would have a couple bucks. He would not know the healing power of God.

Peter gave what he had, and it was more valuable than a million dollars. You have exactly what you need to be the fruitful, productive church God created you to be. Are you willing to give all to Him as He has given to you as an individual and as a church? Trust God and see what He will do with what you consider your meager portion.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

In the church as well as the corporate world, the fruitful or successful ones of the day are always the ones who sought change to move beyond an issue. People and organizations become fruitful by seeking better opportunities than a current issue is presenting.

Too often in churches (and other organizations) we talk and complain about the issues of the day. We look to blame outside sources over which we have no control. When we do this we are spending our time on the negative of the situation, not attempting to overcome the obstacle presented by the issue.

The leading (fruitful) churches of the day, like any other organization, have chosen to be opportunity seekers. These organizations have chosen not to dwell on the negative of the issue, but to seek opportunities to overcome the obstacles. We must become opportunity seekers, not problem dwellers.

Opportunity seeking organizations embrace needed change. Fruitful churches embrace needed change in their methodology without compromising the message of Christ. Not even one century ago most churches were community churches. Across much of our nation we can see the land dotted with church buildings looking much the same in structure. Back then with only ten families, you could fill a church of 100 plus. Many of those buildings now are empty buildings or housing less than thirty people on any Sunday.

From there with increased availability of transportation, we saw the rise of regional churches. The came mega churches. With the advancement of technology, we began seeing multi-site campuses and today even internet churches. Each of these have had their place in the history of God’s church. The leaders of many of these were innovators, thinkers, willing to seek God’s next opportunity. Some were copycats. Some made the fruitful change, some did not.

Copying models does not equate to success. “Do not copy models, capture principles.”

William Pollard is quoted as saying, “Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.”

Every innovation is a solution to an issue with an obstacle. Issues are not problems to be feared, but opportunities to be embraced. As culture changes around, let us embrace the opportunity to share God’s story in ways that are interesting and relevant to those we have been called to reach. What is your first step in overcoming an obstacle in front of you with an opportunity to rise above?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

Good is the enemy of Great. When we settle for good, we never strive for the greatness for which we were created. With this being true, would not comfort be the enemy of success or fruitfulness?

In the life of any organization (church) when comfort sets in, we begin to settle for good, and our fruitfulness begins to wane. Even in the most fruitful of ministries we’ve seen this happen. Often without realizing it we put the organization (ministry) on autopilot.

Instead of continuing to push forward with the same drive that earlier produced the desired fruit, leaders and members alike become distracted. The guard of staying focused on the main thing (that which God has blessed) is dropped. The focus now becomes either; 1) multifaceted – trying to do many things with a mindset that one worked, how much greater can five produce? Or 2) We’ve had a great season of harvest, now let us rest for a season.

The issue with the first one is no one can be great at five or six different things. Good or mediocre maybe, but not great. Fruitful organizations (churches) maintain a focus on what is/will produce the best results. There may be a shifting in that focus from time to time, but not such a diversification that brings a loss of focus.

The issue with the second reason comes in not staying true to God’s calling. For instance, in the church when a church is truly pinpoint focused on God’s plan, the fruit being produced will continue growing and producing more fruit. God does not give until you burnout. God gives to bless. Burnout can only come when the organization has lost its focus and members or leaders are operating out of their own strength.

Do you have a personal and organizational focus? Are your mission and vision statements clear concise, and brief and in alignment with God’s desire and calling on your life? Answer these two questions to begin your journey back to a clearly focused pathway that only God can give, and He will bless your focus and grant you passion to be fruitful beyond your human limits.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

“Dan Junna and his wife, Elizabeth, met in high school while working in the drama club together. Fourteen years later they are married with a nine year old daughter. Dan and Elizabeth still love the theater and with their daughter have joined a local theatrical group as a family with the distinct intent of building relationships to honor Christ and introduce other thespians to the saving grace of His gospel. One husband and wife couple from the theatrical group has joined Dan and Elizabeth on two occasions for worship in the first two months since making their commitment to serve Christ in this fashion.”

Innovation: while some dictionaries define innovation as “a new idea, method, or device” I believe those definitions fall short of true innovation. Another definition found in dictionaries is, “Introducing something new.” Again, this falls short of true innovation. There are many dreamers who can introduce new ideas, but few bring those ideas to fruition.

To me, innovation is not an idea but a process. Innovation is not the introduction of a new idea. It is the ability to take the bold steps to bring that idea into reality. Everyone dreams, but few innovate.

Fruitful churches, ministries, and organizations have leaders and members who are driven with a passion to be innovative. The greatest of these have a spirit of “whatever it takes” to make it happen (in God’s design).

God is an innovator. He not only dreamed of an earth. He created the earth and everything on/in it and the heavenly bodies as well. He went beyond dreaming by making it happen. He created you and me, mankind in His image. That means we all have the ability to be innovators, not only dreamers.

The Apostle Paul said, “I have become all things to all people so that by all means I might save some.” (I Corinthians 9) To put Paul’s thoughts into today’s vernacular he was saying, “I went to Alabama football games with Alabama fans, and I went to Auburn games with Auburn fans with equal interest. I went to UK basketball games and cheered them on, and I went to UofL games and cheered them as well.” The Apostle Paul rode his Harley Davidson donkey with the other Harley Donkey riders. He hung out with people that many in today’s church would abhor.

Paul never compromised his faith or His message, God’s message. But he did not hide out in the church building either. Instead of saying, “We’ve never done it that way.” Paul set his sights on reaching people through whatever means and situation he found himself in.

Near the end of the book Turnaround Journey many of the 4C’s church members became innovators. Some joined bowling leagues or the local community theater with the intent of sharing Christ. And it happened. Others started sportsman outdoor and scrapbooking groups and much more with the intent of sharing Christ. And it all happened because the leadership decided to create a culture of innovators.

Do not settle for dreams when God, your Creator gave you the gift of being an innovator.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.

The first paragraph is from Turnaround Journey, SonLight Publishing

Is your church focused on the already persuaded or on the pursuant? When churches become comfortable, they plan and program for the already persuaded, those who are already members of the church. We give names and descriptives to appear we are outward focused, yet with little reaching out to those pursuant to a relationship with God.

Many of these churches claim loudly that they are God’s New Testament church, yet their baptistries are filling only with dust. Things may appear stable when they are likely shrinking little by little each year. Perhaps stable in appearance, yet spiritually stagnant.

The New Testament church as we read about it in the book of Acts says God was “adding to their number daily those who were being saved.” If God added only one person per day for the next year to your congregation, how many more would you have? It is not a trick question, 365. That is four times the attendance most of our churches see on any given Sunday. This is something to get excited about. Do we even believe God can do this today?

When your church is focused on the already persuaded instead of those pursuant of a relationship with God, you are likely not seeing people come to faith in Christ, baptisms are not happening, and church life is more routine than God experiences. When this is happening in a church, the church has lost focus on those who are far from God.

Research has stated that when a person has been a member of a church for seven years it is likely they have no genuine relationships with lost people outside the realm of the church. Yes, we are to grow together in Christ, we are to have relationships in the church to encourage and to build one another up. Yet, the commission we have, The Great Commission, tells us to go “Go”, into a lost world, a world that does not know God.

Ask yourself and your church members these questions.

• How many conversations have you had this week with the intent to share about Christ?
• When was the last time you spoke about your faith story to someone other than a church member?
• Who are you building a relationship with so that you can gain their trust to share the gospel with?
• What are the names of the people far from God whom you prayed for today?

When your church begins praying and asking themselves this type of questions, God will change the church focus and bring lasting fruit in and through your church.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.