|
 As
an NCD coach, I have seen many churches take the NCD survey, look at
the results, and then move on to the next item of business. The
common denominator for all of these churches is that the pastor did
not adequately prepare the church to engage in the NCD process. The
first step in the NCD process is to prepare… but this preparation is
much more than preparing your leaders to take a survey. It is
preparing your leaders and your congregation for engaging in
the entire NCD process.
The fact is that taking the NCD survey
will not make your church healthy! Health comes through actively
addressing the Minimum Factor. The good news is that the survey
results give you the place to start.
So how does one go about preparing a
church for the NCD process?
|
1. |
The first step is the pastor
becoming familiar with the NCD paradigm. This may include
reading Natural Church Development and/or attending a workshop
that provides an overview of both the NCD principles and the
NCD process. The pastor must be personally convinced that not
only is this a 'good idea', but that it is what God is calling
the church to do, that God wants to speak to the church
through the NCD survey. |
|
2. |
The next step will be the pastor
speaking to the leadership team of the church. The ABC’s of
NCD is a wonderful tool to use. Most people will be able
to read and understand the basics of NCD through reading this
booklet. However, you will still need to introduce them to the
NCD process that follows the survey. Like the pastor, the
leadership team must discern whether God is calling them to
this process. Ownership of the decision is critical at this
point. If the team does not have ownership now, results that
may be difficult to hear even under good circumstances will be
quickly dismissed. |
|
3. |
If you do not already have a
coach to guide you through the NCD process, now would be a
good time to find one. A coach will help you stay on task with
your plans and not get sidetracked by unexpected hurdles.
|
|
4. |
NCD is not simply a technocratic
process that the church walks through. It is a spiritual
process. Once the decision is made to go forward, intercessors
will need to be mobilized. Prayer is a vital part of any
successful implementation process. Although we may plant and
water, it is God who brings the growth. |
|
5. |
At this point, you will be ready
to begin choosing the Church Health Team (CHT),
sometimes also known as the Implementation Team. Even before
the survey is taken, you will want to strategically consider
who should be on the Church Health Team. You will want people
who can see the big picture, people who have a passion to see
your church become more healthy, and people who can think
strategically about planning. For a more complete
understanding of who should be on the CHT, CoachNet members
can download the document "Implementation
Team Qualifications". If you can identify three or four
members now, additional members can be added after you receive
the NCD survey results.
The CHT members can then begin
their own education about Natural Church Development so that
they are prepared to guide the church through the NCD process. |
|
6. |
The final step in the
preparation process is to order the NCD survey. The CHT will
be able to assist you in determining which 30 people should
take the survey, can help explain the NCD process to them, and
can administer the survey. |
By taking these steps, your church
will be ready not only to take the NCD survey but also to engage
successfully in the NCD process. Engagement in the full process will
result in addressing the Minimum Factor in such a way as to bring
increased health so that God’s purposes can be more fully
accomplished through your church.
Jeannette Buller
is an NCD Coach and Coach Trainer working with churches in the
USA. She is also the NCD director for CoachNet International
Ministries. |
.jpg)
