The third strategic reason for a name change is when the new name re-clarifies a church’s identity during a relaunch, an organizational rite of passage, or a new strategic direction. In this post, I explore a few examples of this.
[...]
The second strategic reason to change a name is when your name is a barrier to the people you are trying to reach. Churches serious about reaching people far from God have taken great strides to "remove all barriers" to fulfilling the mission. In this case we learn how history trumped creativity.
[...]
The first reason to change your name is when the scope of a church's ministry grows beyond a name that is geographically limited. This has occurred for many churches venturing into a multisite strategy. For example, as First Baptist Church of Springdale prepares to launch its third campus, they recently navigated a name change to become Cross Church.
[...]
Your name is always your first opportunity to cast vision. Your name says something and means something to everyone who hears it or sees it. A wise leader understands the importance of a ministry's name and maintaining continuity with a name for people inside and outside the organization. Yet, there are some strategic seasons when a name change can be a powerful decision for the vision of the church.
[...]
I'm giving away some Vision Decks! This tool can be so helpful and so easy to use with your team. Check out the full post to see how to claim one while they last!
[...]
Effective leaders are agile, but not aimless.
Church leaders are faced with a massive challenge and opportunity in 2021—to reshape the fundamental structures and systems of the churches they lead. The most effective leaders, the ones who will guide their churches to growth in the future, will demonstrate consistent agility, shifting as appropriate to implement the strategies that will move them toward their vision.
[...]
When you lead with a brilliantly simple idea it cannot be ignored, misunderstood, or forgotten. It will have staying power and spreading power. Effective leaders cut through the noise and static interference with their staffs, leaders, volunteers, and attenders by expressing big ideas with the right few words.
[...]
Positivity that flows from God’s promises and results in a plan of action is an essential quality for church leaders, especially in 2021. Gospel-centered positivity, not unfounded optimism, is the second leadership trait we are going to focus on. Be positive, but not Pollyanna!
[...]
Insecurity in church leaders is one of the most significant challenges facing churches today. Yet those who are secure will win the day; because to lead with security is to be free to risk. Secure leadership doesn’t have to play it safe. These are days where we must refuse—with every fiber of our being—to play it safe.
[...]
If you have experienced our Younique training you know how important the 90-day goal is. In fact I believe it is the most powerful practice to become and do more with your life. If you have not completed any Younique training, don’t worry, you can still jump right in!
[...]
Understanding and identifying trends, however, is NOT the most important thing for pastors to be doing right now as we launch into 2021. Here’s why trying to track church trends should not be your highest priority.
[...]
The goal of the COVID Era Goal Ideas tool is to provide a framework for your team to wrestle through together. You cannot focus everywhere … that’s actually the opposite of what it means to focus. Instead of starting by evaluating specific goals, begin your discussion by discussing which BeachHeads and Domains your team should focus on based on your mission and your values.
[...]I want you and your ministry to experience the benefits of stunning, God-given clarity. As a pastor turned vision coach, I’ve worked with an unprecedented variety of churches from growing mega-churches and missional communities, to mainline revitalization and church plants. I started several interconnected organizations that help the church embody the movement that Jesus founded. My visionary planning tools, the Vision Frame and the Horizon Storyline are used by thousands of churches every year through my calling to raise up other consultants and trainers. In 2004, I founded Auxano, which I sold to LifeWay and continued to lead until 2020. In 2014, I created Younique to deliver gospel-centered life design through the church. It is now the world's only comprehensive, open-source life plan system.
In 2023, I founded Run Free as my official team-based consulting shop. We deliver the most innovative Vision Framing experiences available to church teams through the "Pivvot Process" and to network/denominational leaders through the "Denominee Process." We also offer team coaching to church leaders using the "Performance Practices" of meta-performance executive coaching.
I've written seven books: Future Church, Church Unique, Younique, Clarity Spiral, God Dreams, Innovating Discipleship, and Building Leaders. I enjoy speaking about clarity, calling, disciple-making, and vision. It's all about helping one another do more than we can imagine. I co-locate in Houston and Chile with my wife, Romy, and the last of my four children, Poema.
If you are interested in Run Free's consulting offerings or want to discuss getting a LifePlan, just reach out to set up a conversation.
More About Will
