An inside look at STRETCH-Structuring Your Ministry For Growth-Part 3

Last week we started asking people to twitter about STRETCH to win a copy so here's my eight winners so far...

@kodypage

@mikebrooks

@lizwalker

@revjvincent

@claytonpoland

@letthemcome1014

@beckyklaw

@citykids_cc

Email me your snail mail address at theClub@jimwideman.com

and we'll send it out!

I'm still giving out a free book everyday until September 15th just for tweeting, so have at it...

@jimwideman is giving away a copy of his latest book STRETCH http://bit.ly/eUSGyx #kidmin #leadership  #jimwideman

Three Keys to Growth

Expand your structure: the first thing that we have to do before our ministries can grow is expand our structure. Isaiah 54:2-3 says, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left.”

I will be talking about this a lot in the coming chapters, but first you must understand that for growth to happen, you have to make room for it. You have to intentionally expand various parts of your ministry so that you will be ready.

Keep Doing What Brought You Success

            When you’re setting yourself up for growth, you don’t do everything new. You keep doing the things that brought you success. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I like to say it this way: you’ve got to dance with the girl who brought you. What has your ministry been doing that you believe God has blessed? Outreach? Friendliness? Serving the community? Focusing on families? Tech-savvy environments? There is a reason God has been blessing you and wants to send you growth. Pray and seek to identify the good that you are doing, and keep doing it!

Don’t Do the Same Stuff

            On the flip side, the third key to growth is to not do the same stuff. Same actions bring same results. If you want something you’ve never had, you’ve got to be willing to act differently. If I want to lose weight, I can’t eat the same things I ate to gain the weight. It’s the same with growth: you can’t keep doing the same things and think you’re going to get different results. Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Still more to come...

If you desire to see growth in your own personal spiritual life and the life of your ministry, then order a copy today.