Atrophy!

Dear Pastors

Atrophy

Six years ago I broke my ankle…..badly……resulting in an operation, a screw (more like a sizeable bolt) was ‘screwed’ in to the right side of my ankle to help ‘knit’ the broken bones. This followed with a six week period of my leg in full plaster cast. After the plaster came off I experienced first-hand what muscle atrophy is all about. Medically speaking atrophy is a decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue. As we age this is a very common experience. To minimise this happening to muscles for example or to counter it altogether we are encouraged to use the muscles – to exercise. As they say “use it or lose it”.

The same idea can be applied to church life (and all organisations for that matter). In this context atrophy means a gradual decline in effectiveness or vigour due to underuse or neglect…..a decline, a tapering off, even deterioration. Actually there are 3A’s all connected to this idea that we should talk about. Apathy, Attrition and Atrophy. Atrophy typically starts with Apathy – a lack of interest, passion, excitement and concern that can quite quickly result in Attrition and decline.

I believe a really important task of leadership is to look out for the signs of atrophy. Ministries and programmes that are not reviewed, refreshed and renewed on a regular basis will invariably begin the slow process of atrophy. But here’s the thing - the signs are not always immediately obvious. Taking the human body analogy again. No use or underuse for a few days of your legs or arms is rarely a problem. A few weeks are probably harmless even. But continue on week after week, month after month and problems will begin to show up.

Here are a few ideas to minimise atrophy occurring in your congregation in no particular order:-

1. Visionary Leadership. The power of a compelling vision must never be underrated. A few carefully thought about words at just the right time can inspire ‘the troops’ once again. How easy it is to forget why we are doing all this hard mahi. How easy it is to get a bit whinny and complainy. How easy it is to go through the motions of ministry but lose the heart, passion and general zip zip that we all need to keep going with joy and gratitude. Leaders who can read the room, who can feel the overall mood in the place and take notice of the small talk that is going on and respond not with a telling off but with a timely ‘word’, can change the feel in the place overnight. That is the power of a carefully crafted visionary talk.

2. Ministry Reviews. Every church has somewhere between 6 and 8 core ministries - children, youth, small groups, Sunday Services, pastoral care, outreach etc. I would encourage a ‘full and frank’ review of each core ministry every year. The three ‘key’ questions to ask.
- What is going well and Why?
- What isn’t going well and Why?
- What is needed to improve what we are doing?

3. Surveys. Both formal and informal surveys can be an incredibly useful source of information that could point to ‘baby’ problems. I don’t know about you but I want to know when something isn’t working or may be working but far below par. “Feedback is the breakfast of champions” Ken Blanchard.

4. Creativity. We are in relationship with a God who is infinitely creative. How might that be reflected in church life? The fast songs – notices - slow songs - sermon routine is fine but maybe that needs a little jus now and again.

As pastors and leaders of churches and Christian ministries we want to see ‘life’. None of us want to experience atrophy. We long to see people coming to faith, people growing in their faith, people living as fully devoted followers of Christ serving Him with joy and gratitude. This is the stuff we sign up for, right?

Blessings
Alan