Looking for a church home in their new community Bill and Jane turned into the parking lot of First Community church. Bill noticed immediately the worn shingles on the roof. Bill was no expert but he knew the church roof needed attention. Jane on the other hand thought to herself, “The hedges have not been recently trimmed, and those flower beds out front were once likely beautifully adorned with color.” As they neared the building Bill noticed the grass growing through all the cracks in the well-worn parking lot.

Not seeing any signs for which entrance to use, Bill assumed, “It must be over there, where most of the cars are parked.” Unfortunately, there were no parking spots in that area, so Bill drove around to a side lot with faded lines. Bill pulled into a spot beside two other cars assuming this must be the way the lines are supposed to run.

Jane unfastened the car seat and lifted Tracy, their youngest out and onto her left hip with purse and diaper bag on her right shoulder. Bill meanwhile lifted Jenny in his right arm and taking Tommy by the hand tucking his and Jane’s Bible under his arm and as a family they made the trek around the building and into the door they assumed to be the main entrance. Once inside, both Bill and Jane began looking for signage or any indication to where the nursery or the sanctuary were located. There was nothing to indicate either. After a couple minutes pondering, Bill turns to his right and says, “Come on we’ll find it or someone who can help us.”

Have Bill and Jane been to your church? We think our church is guest friendly, but is it? We believe so because we know where everything is. But newcomers do not. In too many of our churches we assume too much on behalf of people who have never been to our facility. We walk right past what I call concrete pigs, blemishes, broken tiles, bad outside appearances, without ever noticing them. They become obscure to church members, yet they are blaring sirens to newcomers.

Here are a few questions to critically ask as a church:

1, What is the first thing a first-time guest sees when turning into your church drive? (bad looking roof well-worn parking lot)

2, Is the curb appeal positive or lacking? (flower beds, shrubs)

3, Is there signage guiding guests to preferred parking areas for easy entry? (close parking for guests or families with young children, faded or no lines in the parking areas)

4, Once inside are there smiling, courteous, happy people looking to assist newcomers? (what about in the parking lot to help mothers of young children?)

5, Is there adequate signage to assist people in getting acclimated with the building, restrooms, preschool and children’s areas, worship center, fellowship hall, etc.?

6, Is someone assigned to guide newcomers to the various areas marking floor maps so parents can remember where to pick up their children after services?

7, What is the condition of the most used restrooms near the worship center?

I could probably write at least twenty more questions to ask as a church about being truly welcoming to guests. It only takes a newcomer three minutes to make up his/her mind about the true friendliness and consideration for new people of your church. What does the first three minutes on your property tell newcomers? What are you telling guests about your church the first three minutes they enter your facility? Will you take time this week and join others in your church to take an objective look around your church from the eyes of a newcomer?

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.

One weekend evening recently, I received a voice message on my cell phone. It was a good friend, Kevin, whom I have written about before. In His message Kevin slowly said, “Alright, so I’m sitting here at a campfire up in Indiana with…” he then proceeded to name the last names of couples I remembered from a church I served years ago. Afterwards Kevin said, “…But there is about thirty of us here with all of our kids and grandkids and I’m thinking all these people are here because you asked me to teach.” After a pause he continued, but with a dampness in his voice. He later told me that he intended to leave a longer message, but his emotions overwhelmed him.

What started as a class of five or six young married people when Kevin began teaching, launched into young couples living life together. It started nearly thirty years ago. Their children grew up together and now their grandkids are reaping the benefits. Once a year they go camping for a weekend. This was where Kevin called me from a few weeks ago. I have to admit I got a little emotional as well.

Using misguided barometers and practices inside our churches has sent many churches into the decline spiral over the past few decades. For years church leaders blamed the baby-boomer generation for this exodus from the church, yet it was much due to our very own practices. So how has this group of thirty plus people stayed close for so many years? What made the difference?

Let’s briefly assess the impact that the church’s misguided barometers of evidences of learning might have had on this exodus. It will also assist us in answering the question of the lack of return of some post-covid. If it is true that human nature wants and needs acceptance and relationships, why in the church are we losing ninety percent of our teenagers at the age of eighteen? Acceptance and relationships are encouraged through the church’s activities and the Bible teaches this through God’s love, right?

Something that God intended to happen through the local church must be missing. Stronger or more relevant relationships are being built outside the church especially in the lives of teenagers and young adults. Could it be that our misguided understanding of evidences of learning has played a part in this scenario?

When asked why they do not attend church or Bible study classes (Sunday School), many adults respond, “I have been there before.” Their report is, “It is boring.” It may be boring because they are not being taught in an environment of acceptance. Learning is exciting! If true learning is taking place, life change is happening, and learning is being evidenced in people’s lives. When this happens, people will return for more and they will be sharing their experiences with others.

This is what happened in this group of young adults that grew from a group of six to – I’m not sure if anyone knows the true number. As each one entered, he/she was genuinely accepted. Relationships grew organically and intentionally. Learning was exciting and lived out with one another. They longed to be together, they walked life’s journey together, they studied, prayed, laughed, and cried together. They grew spiritually together. Almost thirty years later, the evidences of learning are still projecting in their lives.

What will you do this week to increase the acceptance and relationship building for true evidences of learning and spiritual growth?

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.

One of the misguided barometers in the church today is, “We are giving them good doses of God’s word each week. Why they’re not learning, is their own fault.” The questions we need to be asking are, “Can they use what we are giving?” or “Are we really giving them anything practical that they can use in their walk with God?” Most of us would say yes, because that is our perspective.

If I give you a diet of only Miracle Grow plant food and that is all you take into your body, will you remain healthy? Will you grow? After all it is Miracle “Grow”. No, of course you will not remain healthy. God has created our physical bodies to grow and sustain on a steady diet. If we take the majority of those elements away from our diet, our body will begin to send up warning signals. If we continue to ignore our body, it will begin to shut down, little by little our health will deteriorate.

The same is true with our spiritual being. We need a healthy, steady diet to grow and sustain our spiritual being. Unfortunately, the steady diet many Christians are getting across North America is not the one God has prescribed. An old saying I remember hearing growing up in Kentucky regarding some preachers and speakers is “All the meat and no potatoes!” Basically, this meant the speaker had all the substance without any sustenance. Substance is necessary, but it does not produce any evidence of learning.

Evidence of learning cannot be found in the lives of many Christians because they are not receiving the sustenance which brings about life change. The greatest evidence of learning (spiritually speaking) is life change. Substance will never produce life change. It can produce great trivia buffs, yet that is not our objective. In many churches I’m afraid we’re serving up all the meat and no potatoes.

In the Christian realm, have we forgotten the need for balanced spiritual nutrition? We must use context for the depiction of God’s truth’s and principles. However, we must also have an earnest portion of application. Only application will bring about evidences of life change. We’re always looking for “spiritual maturity” in others. But, are we looking in the wrong places? One writer said we are using misguided barometers.

When looking for spiritual mature Christians we look at criteria as: Attendance, How many jobs in the church do they already have, tenure of membership, and do they attend Bible study. While each of these could be considered as descent criteria, not one of these demonstrates evidence of learning.

True evidence of learning is the outward manifestation of learned principles and truths. A modification of our beliefs (core values) brings about a behavioral change. Behavioral change is an evidence of true learning. It is an outward manifestation of an applied adjustment to our core values.

Jesus’ sermons and teaching consisted of more application than context, because people need to know how to put into practice God’s principles and truths. What will you change today in your delivery and conversational practices to enable people to a true learning experience that will manifest in their actions? When you hear an evidence of true learning confer recognition for it. Make it known publicly.

This is adapted from portions of chapter six, Evidences of Learning, Teaching That Bears Fruit. Guardian Publishing, George L. Yates

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.

Folk lore shares, An old wise man would sit outside his village under a shade tree every day thinking and sharing with anyone who might stop by to talk with him. One day a traveler stopped by and said, “Old man I have been traveling a long way, visited many villages, and met many people. Can you tell me what kind of people I will meet in your village?”

“Certainly,” said the old man. “But first tell me what kind of people you have met on your journey so far.”

“You wouldn’t believe it. I have met some of the most awful people. People who are selfish, rude to strangers. People who don’t care for themselves or others. I’ve met foolish young people who could teach me nothing and old people whose lack of hope depresses everyone.”

As the traveler spoke a look of sadness grew in the wise man’s eyes as he listened. “Yes, I believe I know exactly the kind of people you speak of. And I’m sorry to tell you, if you go into my village, that’s exactly the kind of people you’ll meet.”

“I knew it,” the traveler scoffed. “It’s always the same.” He kicked the dirt under his feet and wandered off without going into the village.

Later that day another traveler stopped by and asked the old wise man the same question. “Kind sir, I’ve traveled far and met a lot of people. Can you tell me what kind of people I will meet if I go into your village?”

“Yes, I’d be happy to tell you. But first, tell me what kind of people you have met in your travels so far?”

The traveler responded, “Oh, you wouldn’t believe it! I’ve met the most amazing people. People who are kind and generous to strangers. People who care for one another like family. I’ve met young people with wisdom beyond their years and I’ve met older people with a youthful passion for life that brings joy to everyone they meet. And I’ve learned so much from all of them.”

As the traveler spoke, the wise man smiled brightly as he nodded in a knowing way. “Yes, I believe I know exactly the kind of people you speak of. And I’m happy to tell you, if you go into my village, that’s exactly the kind of people you will meet.”

Most often what we see in people is dependent on our perspective. If we expect to find negativity, most likely we’ll find it. If we expect to find nothing of worth, we’ll find nothing of worth in people. But if we go searching for the best in people like the second traveler, we will find the good in those we meet and interact with. When we go searching for the good in people, everyone is a winner and each one goes away encouraged.

Is your perspective more like the first or the second traveler? What will you do this week, beginning today to be more like the second traveler in our story?

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.

If asked “What is the primary goal of your church.” what would be your response? The overwhelming majority in any church cannot answer this one question. Some would offer a “churchy” answer, yet they really have no clue of any true goals of the church. The truth is the leadership in many churches never set goals for differing reasons which include, 1) life gets in the way, to much to do. 2) fear of goal setting. 3) fear of failure. 4) misunderstanding of the importance of goal setting. 5) Lack of knowledge to properly set good goals.

In this article we’ll look at some basic broad based goal ideas for your church. These are what I call overarching themes that a church can determine to set a goal from. In other words, if a church has an overarching theme of Increasing the level of missions awareness, a goal might be set to increase not only the education of missions, but also the missions giving and the number of people going out on short term missions projects each year. If your church had zero people on mission projects the past year, your goal might include sending at least five (5) people on short term mission trips in the next year.

Here are some ideas for Overarching Themes. 1) To raise the level of quality Great Commission ministries to the community. Evaluating ministries each year for their effectiveness in fulfilling The Great Commission is a great practice. How many of your ministries are wavering in truly fulfilling The Great Commission?

2) To discover and develop a distinctive niche of service to your community. Using a community survey can assist in determining the needs of your community. Compare the needs with the God-given gifts and passions of your church and you have found your niche. Contact me, I can assist you with a three question survey that can be used six ways to determine the true needs of your community.

3) Develop a consistent, comprehensive plan of community ministry to share Christ and experience His Kingdom growth. This is not only doing one ministry or one event but emphasizing every member and every ministry group to utilize their gifts and skills to serve and share Jesus in some capacity through the church to your community.

4) Develop a consistent decision-making plan for effective God-driven ministry use of resources, people, finances, property and time. How will you decide what is good and right for your church? Set a plan, develop a series of questions to ask before making any ministry related decision. Then be strict in following the plan.

5) To reach new people groups in your community through genuine care and service. Established churches of forty or more years have likely seen a turnover in the community. What new ethnic groups has God brought into your ministry area? How can your church use God’s gifting’s to bless these new people groups?

Using these Overarching themes as a starting point can assist you in setting goals for your church. Setting goals helps keep us focused as a church. When you do not set goals, you cannot reach them because you cannot hit a target that is not there. Where will you begin to identify your church goals and set out to reach them?

Contact George Yates for more information on Overarching Themes and Goal setting.

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.

Don was a member of one church where I served on staff. He truly had a servant’s heart. Don had retired from a local factory and spent much of his time serving God leading Bible studies and services in nursing homes, visiting shut-ins, and the sick in the community. I cannot remember a time when Don was not available and ready to serve in whatever capacity was needed; whether it was visiting, a demolition or refurbishing project, or driving someone to the airport or doctors appointment. Don truly was a servant of God and it humbles me still today when I think of his selfless, faithful service to our Lord.

I begin this article with my perspective of Don Hollingsworth because he taught me a lot and when God called me away from that church, I feel Don gave me one the greatest compliments I have ever received. On our last day of service with this particular church Don stood before the congregation and said, “One thing I learned from George is there are no problems in life, only opportunities.” Don went on to explain what that meant in general and in his personal life.

That may not seem like what you would consider a great compliment. I was not expecting this comment, still I consider it a compliment and a testimony of living day in and day out of how iron sharpens iron. Here was a man twenty plus years my senior, whom God was using to influence and encourage me and sometimes to humble me as well. Following his statement I began reflecting on our four years together in ministry and could recall Don entering my office, riding in the car to a visit, or even sitting at lunch. Though I may not have realized the events when they happened, I could now recall Don entering my office and saying we have a problem, or sitting at lunch, or in the car saying something similar using the word problem. My response was always the same, “Don, we don’t have a problem, we have an opportunity.” Then we would begin to explore the opportunity. What did God have in mind and in store for us through this opportunity?

You may ask what is the difference. The difference, I believe is huge and of cataclysmic proportion. When we look at issues and situations as problems, our efforts and outlook are only focused on the negative. No matter how we try to explain away our attitudes and actions dealing with problems always originate from the negative plane. You cannot put enough spin on your words or actions to remove it from the negative.

On the other hand when you deal only in opportunities you always deal from the positive plane. Where ever there is an opportunity there is the prospect of betterment. When we deal with opportunity our thoughts are on improvement or becoming better. I believe it is nearly (if not always) impossible to view opportunity from a negative plane. Opportunity imparts a positive point of view and positions you for a constructive approach to your situation or issue.

When we view our situation as a problem we almost always push the reasoning to someone or some event outside of our control. “It was the economy.” “Our people are not doing their job.” This is human nature because we cannot possibly view ourselves as the problem.
However, when we deal with opportunities we always probe how we can improve our organization, ourselves, and the productivity of our employees or volunteers. Dealing with opportunities in this manner becomes a winning situation for everyone.

Even in personal life those who deal in problems will always operate out of the negative plane. “I really messed that up. I don’t know what I am doing.” That is certainly dealing from a negative, problematic point of view. There was certainly something gone wrong here. I did mess up, the opportunity is, now how can I learn from this and take action steps to improve and demonstrate that I can do this and greater things than this.

Hopefully, by now you can see this is much more than semantics or a play on words. There is an enormous difference in attitude and action toward the issue, the people involved and the desired improved outcome.

In life you are given opportunities to help yourself and others. As long as you view people or situations as problems you will never rise above a negative perspective on life. And you will never be all that God created you to be. However, once you begin to view life as a series of opportunities, not only will your life improve. You will assist in the improvement of life for many. That my friends is the purpose God has for you in life.

Remember, there are no problems in life, only opportunities. Let’s improve something today!

This post first appeared on January 12, 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.

Not all declining churches are dysfunctional, but all dysfunctional churches are declining. Is your church dysfunctional?  Are you assisting in the dysfunction of your church? Let me list a few ways dysfunction shows up in churches then give some aid.

Dysfunctional means not operating in a normal or proper fashion. Therefore, in the church, if we are not going out and attempting to make Disciples, speaking to people about Jesus in an attempt to allow the Holy Spirit to convict them, we could be part of the dysfunction of the church. The function of the church is our mission – The Great Commission. If we are not growing in our personal walk with God through Jesus, becoming more like Christ, are we not dysfunctional according to Christ’s own teaching?

In the church personal dysfunctional often leads to congregational dysfunction, or organizational dysfunction. Congregational dysfunction can occur when a church’s priorities and significances get overturned or out of order. This can manifest in the way a church views its programs, practices, budget, staff, even time restraints.

Refusing to let go of obsolete programs (programs no longer fulfilling The Great Commission) is an outward manifestation of congregational dysfunction. Refusal to change worship times or wanting to change times for our own pleasure are outward manifestations of congregational dysfunction. Cutting the missions giving and ministry budget to maintain a certain quality of staff can also be a sign of congregational dysfunctional. The flip side of that, cutting staff compensation, insurance, or other benefits can also be manifestations of congregational dysfunction.

How can you tell? Ask this question: “Are you keeping the main thing, the main thing.?” If the purpose (function) of the church is fulfilling The Great Commission, will this decision move us toward being like the New Testament church in Acts or will it send us down a path of our own desire?

Lyle Schaller in The Interventionist wrote, “In the healthy congregation the decision-making processes are influenced by (1) obedience to the gospel, (2) a sincere search to learn the will of the Lord, (3) prayer and cooperation, (4) listening rather than screaming, (5) the call to be faithful rather than the urge to prevail, and (6) reason rather than exclusion.”

With a broken and contrite heart pouring your heart and soul into these six attributes any dysfunctional congregation can become a healthy and more effective Great Commission functioning New Testament church. The requirement falls on the shoulders of each one individually. What will be your first step today and through this week in moving your personal life and your church family away from any sign of dysfunction to be more like the bride of Christ?

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.

Bill left his supervisors office somewhat depressed. After all Bill thought he was a pretty good communicator and a friendly supervisor. Yet, the scores from his direct reports’ evaluations shared that his interactions were always brief, uncaring and most often negative. His reports wanted feedback. They desired to know that Bill cared more than just keeping his job. In their opinion, Bill had never carried on a conversation with any of them.

Are you aware there are three tiers to a healthy conversation? How effective are you at guiding your conversations through all three tiers?

The first or lower tier of all conversations is sort of the foundation, what the conversation is built on. This first tier is based on facts, feelings, and fears. Isn’t this where your conversations begin? “How are you today?” Response: “I’m fine.” (feelings). Or another Response: “Not good, my dog ran away last night.” (fact and fear) or “How’s the weather where you are today?” Response: “It’s raining.” (fact) The entry tier of conversation usually begins with fact, fear, or feelings, or any combination of the three.

The second tier of a conversation can be thought of as the exploratory or speculative tier. On this tier the conversation turns to exploring the facts, feelings or fears in the lower tier. In the church world this tier might be peppered with questions as; “In your opinion, what have been the causes of the slow decline over the past fifteen years?” or “What types of outreach have you implemented recently?”

In response to a couple scenarios above, “How are you capitalizing on the rainy weather?” or “Has your dog run away before? Where did you find him that time?” In tier two you want to help the other individual explore and unpack the possibilities related to his/her facts, fears, or feelings. Asking the right types of questions will bring your conversation out of tier one and into tier two. Tier two can also endear others to you because through these “right” questions the other person will sense that he/she is considered worthy of your time. Therefore, they will sense that you care.

Moving to the third tier of a healthy conversation might be more difficult, but it does not have to be. Tier three might be considered the tenets tier. Tenets reveal a person’s beliefs, principles, and ideals. You can move any conversation to tier three by again, asking the correct type of questions. Rather than exploring the facts, fears, and feelings as in tier two, in tier three you lead the other person in discovering a path of rescue or accomplishment.

Questions in tier three can be as, “How important is it that you find your dog today?” or in the church, “What are you willing to sacrifice to see your church turn around?” or “What must you do to prepare yourself to lead your church up that long arduous hill ahead?” Tier three questions should never be accusatory or worded in a negative manner (neither should tier two questions). Instead word your questions to lead the person to optimism and a positive outcome or accomplishment.

Do your conversations move through the FET – Foundation, Exploration, and Tenet tiers? What can you work on this week to be a better conversationalist?

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.

Kevin was recruited to teach in the youth department of his church. Not given any formal training, Basically, Kevin was handed a set of curriculum materials and told, “Go get ‘em.” After a couple of years in the youth department, Kevin was frustrated, burned-out and left his teaching position.

Unfortunately, this scenario plays out in too many churches. More on Kevin’s story in a moment. The dictionary gives a description for the word learning as: To gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of; to acquire through experience.

The last part of that definition is “to acquire through experience.” Acquiring is the action of taking something on that is new and different making it part of your being. We absorb the new into our being. It becomes part of us, who we are. “Through experience” cannot be accomplished without action. Our actions are the means through which we display our behavior. A changed life is visible through the actions of the learner. Behavioral change is life change.

True learning occurs when an alteration of lifestyle or behavior pattern of the learner is evidenced in accordance with our teaching. One key factor: You and I are not the teacher. The Holy Spirit is our teacher. We are His instruments. Listening to the Holy Spirit causes life change.

Some months later, I asked Kevin to sit in on our adult class teachers’ meetings. He began attending the meetings and after a few weeks I needed someone to teach one of our young adult classes that I was temporarily teaching. I asked Kevin if he would fill in for me. A month later, I asked Kevin to fill in again for the same class. Afterward Kevin came to me and asked about teaching the class until I could find a permanent teacher. Kevin ended up taking the class and for the next few years it was one of the best growing classes in the church. The class birthed four or five other classes, produced numerous teachers and Sunday School workers and eventually birthed a new church in a neighboring county.

Kevin is not from Missouri but he is a “show me” kind of guy. Kevin was not easily convinced by word of mouth of his potential or the potential of the class to flourish. The principles and practices of teaching/learning and class growth had to be proven to him. As the class grew, Kevin would come to me and say, “I learned this from you…” or “You are the one that taught me to…” or “You said this would happen…” Kevin has grown eminently in his God-given abilities to teach and lead his class. What made the change? Was it because he had a good mentor? No, not at all!

Kevin attended training conferences, read books, and studied other material on improving his abilities. He knows the Holy Spirit is his teacher. He has learned to take the knowledge presented him, gain a deserving understanding, then place it in proper perspective. Kevin has utilized God-given wisdom to put into action the application of learned knowledge. Kevin has experienced an alteration of behavior patterns for teaching/leading. He has experienced change and he teaches for life-change.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher. We are His instruments. Listening to the Holy Spirit causes life change. Whether you are a classroom teacher, parent or business leader, how will you adapt your learning/teaching procedure today?

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 a recent discussion with a couple of leaders the conversation turned to how to elicit a good response when inquiring about how another leader is doing. Not only leaders, this is applicable to any person that you want to check on or inquire about – as long as you truly care about the individual. Both men stated a couple possibilities. 1) How are you doing? Or 2) How can I pray for you?

My mind kicked into gear, and I asked, “Is there a better question?” That’s the way my mind is wired, always looking for the better question. Both men looked at me with an inquiring facial expression and one asked, “Like what?…”

“Well, if you really want to find out how they’re doing or how to pray for them why not ask something like, “What is the biggest hurdle you are facing right now?” You could see the light bulb go off in their head by the expression on each face.

When you ask one of the two questions in the first paragraph, you will get a response. However, it may or may not be the reality of what is needed in his life. When you ask, the biggest hurdle question, that hurdle will guide you to understanding the need in his life. You, then can suggest and develop a line of prayer. The following is what I later wrote and sent to the men I was meeting with.

Instead of How can I pray for you? Or What can I do for you? Why not ask questions as…

What do you see as your biggest hurdle right now? (in ministry, personal life)

What occupies the majority of your time these days?

In all of our lives (jobs) there is stress. What are your two top stress causers?

It is important to use deeper listening skills to their answers. Listen to what is being said and to what is not being said. The following demonstrates a funnel of questions for each of the above.

1 What do you see as your biggest hurdle right now? (in ministry, personal life)

In your opinion, what could you use to help you over this (these) hurdles?

Thinking of those responses, how can I assist you in overcoming that (those) hurdle(s)?

2 What occupies the majority of your time these days?

Which of these are time thieves (stealing time that you reserved for study or other works)?

Can you list two things you could use to guard against and reduce some of these time thieves?

What would need to happen to bring these two to reality in your life?

How can I be of assistance to you with your time thieves?

3 In all of our lives (jobs) there is stress. What are your two top stress causers?

How/what have you learned to do to relieve you of the stress of these factors?

What do you believe to be within your power to avoid or reduce the stress caused by these?

Are you willing and capable to enact either of those? (those= answer to question above)

Can I assist you by calling you in two weeks to see how you are coping with these stress factors?

At the close of each of these is the built-in opportunity to pray for that person. These questions should give you a much better & more accurate idea of what is going on in this person’s life and a greater opportunity to understand what his/her needs are. Asking these questions also will engender a greater sense, on the other person, that you truly care.

Do you have a better question? Are the responses you get from others expressions of true heartfelt needs or superficial, spur of the moment responses? Try one or more of the three listed above to show you really care and see if your prayer life increases as well.

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.