Tech leader Bill Gates is often quoted as saying, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years.” The same could be said about five-year goals.
Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar was known for saying, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”
Goals help us stay on track, and five-year goals help us think about setting out to accomplish things that take more time, require greater planning and attention and can have a greater impact than what can be done in one year.
Goal setting also honors God. Proverbs 21:5 reminds ministry leaders, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
At the same time all goals must be set with full surrender to God. Proverbs 16:9 protects us from trying to set our goals in concrete by stating, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
I have five-year goals that I hope to see accomplished in the next few years. These are goals that I pray about, work toward, share with others and give regular attention to. These goals, if accomplished, will make a gospel advancing difference in Kentucky and around the world, and I believe they honor God.
Here are five questions to help you think about five-year goals for your church or ministry.
1. What can you do to make the biggest difference? Alan Witham, long–time KBC team member, often referred to something called the “Domino Effect.” This effect encourages church and ministry leaders to ask and answer the question, “What one thing if completed successfully could make the biggest positive difference in your church or ministry?” That one thing could be increased financial support, hiring a staff member, remodeling the church worship center or something else.
2. What has God called you to do in this ministry assignment? John MacArthur, longtime pastor of Grace Community Church in California, began his ministry there in 1969 and had a stated goal of preaching verse by verse through the New Testament. His sermons were eventually published in a set of commentaries which cover all 27 books of the New Testament. I also remember hearing John Piper talk about a long-term plan to multiply the impact of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis through a ministry expansion. No doubt both of these men and thousands of others have led with a sense of doing what they believe God called them to do in their ministry assignment.
3. What does the church or organization need the most? One church I pastored needed to return to its mission. Another needed to rebuild its congregation after suffering a loss of several members. What is the greatest, most pressing need in your current ministry assignment? To discover the greatest need, you can pray, talk to others connected to the church or ministry and take the time to see what emerges. Often a new pastor or ministry leader will come into their role with a mandate that was made clear during the search process.
4. What problem in this church or ministry needs to be addressed? Every leader must solve problems. Sometimes a problem in a church or ministry could be a staffing issue, financial challenges, facility management and more. One way of thinking through five-year goals is to talk to church members and ministry participants, asking what they see to be the most pressing problems. By talking to enough people, you may begin to hear direction from the Lord about which issues need attention.
5. What are you gifted to do? God does not give any of us all the gifts, but He does give all of us some of the spiritual gifts needed for ministry leadership. How do your gifts and the needs and opportunities of this church or ministry meet? Asking and answering that question could point you toward five-year goals that need attention.
Once you have decided on your five-year goals, then you can start praying over them, communicating them to the congregation or ministry team and brainstorming with others to best tackle them. Who knows what God might do as you attempt great things for the glory of God and the good of people.
