by Duane Stine
Some would say that I am very handy in a kitchen. When it comes to demolition or remodeling, that may be correct, but if we are talking about cooking or baking…that is a whole other story. My wife and kids can attest to that on both points! But although I may not be much of a cook, I know a little about what it takes. And the one place where I can participate with pleasure is in the taste testing! Cooking or baking takes a lot of trial and error to perfect a recipe to your specific liking and many times the journey can be as delightful as the final result.
A similar process is needed for most anything we desire to do well. Golfing, for instance, takes lots of practice on a driving range and putting green as well as playing round after round. Adding lessons to the mix and even a personal coach can even speed up the learning curve. Each time out brings opportunities for great joy as your play improves and it also identifies hardships that will require more focused energy.
Whether we are cooking or playing golf, improving at what we enjoy doing takes constant evaluation and readjustments along the way. If you are anything like me, you probably wish it would come together faster than it usually seems to, but then again, it is the learning process that spurs us on to keep trying, adjusting, and adapting. We are motivated with the hopes that the next time will be better than the last as we gain experience and mature towards our goal.
To help us reach our goals there are many things that must take place, but one key ingredient is the process of assessment. It is like a taste testing or having a coach critique our swing. It is taking an honest look at how we are doing or what we have completed and evaluating it against a standard. As difficult as it may be at times to hear, if our desire is to improve or reach a target, we know deep down that it is necessary.
Yet when it comes to ministry, assessments and coaching can seem even more daunting. Maybe it is because it affects our livelihood instead of just our hobby. Or maybe it is because the weight is greater. If I hit a ball out of bounds or burn a new dish, it really does not have any lasting impact or eternal consequences. But in the lives of those who we lead and minister to, there are no mulligans. Or at least, that is what it feels like. Yet God does not expect perfection from us. He gives us His grace and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We do not have to get it right every time, but we do need to keep growing. Pray. Plan. Do. And seek forgiveness where necessary.
It is easy to come up with reasons to avoid assessments, but my challenge to you is to lean into them instead. Assessments are necessary for our development and we may find that a “pinch” of something or a small change to our grip could make all the difference. Additionally, one might find that the results of an assessment could bring to light a needed shift in a fundamental goal or purpose. If a necessary tweak or shift is discovered and implemented and the result is increased gospel impact, wouldn’t we all rejoice and thank God for his revelation? I know I would!
I believe in assessments and the value they bring. But please do not confuse my enthusiasm for them as a desire to just prefect our existing programs. Yes, I want to see ministry done with excellence as we serve as onto the Lord, but I also endorse the practice of evaluating everything and hanging on to the wheat and allowing the chaff to be blown away. In other words, sifting through the noise to focus on that which is essential.
The district offers sever tools to assist in the development process. I encourage you to take advantage of those tools and become a “Taste Tester” for your ministry.
[Note: To learn more about the tools that the district offers and to help you figure out which one would be best for your church, please reach out to Duane at duane.stine@epdalliance.org.]
