Church Culture - Adaptive

The word adaptive means to have an ability to change to suit changing conditions.  On the other hand, the word inflexible means unwilling to change.  Courage to change is essential.

Each church develops its own culture, and to make new things happen, changing the culture is required.  Choosing the right programs, practices, and plans to start, to tweak, or to give up to create necessary change involves a sense of loss among the body of Christ.  Sometimes this feels like grieving; however, when we embrace biblical changes, it can only bring new life and growth to our church.  This perspective can help us to have a willingness to yield to whatever God is desiring to do in us and through us.  These changes may lead us outside of our comfort zones, but we must remember that God has given us encouraging promises and the power of prayer that we can use to make us bold to do His will in spite of our inhibitions.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the process of change takes time.  The initials stages of change usually take at least three years, and it often takes seven years for complete transformation to happen.

Making change happen must begin with its leaders.  Effective leaders need to be highly adaptive and to model it to others.  An adaptive leader is open to fresh ideas and new ways of doing things; learning is required.  Pray for our current leaders as we learn to do adapt and how to lead others to adapt as we walk through the change process together with courage, wisdom, and the Spirit’s leading.  Pray for those leaders that God is preparing to become leaders in the future of HFC.

Why do we desire change?  All for the sake of the gospel that will lead to more people experiencing the love, hope, and mercy of Jesus.

In I Corinthians 9:22-23 Paul said, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

Because our mission is to reach lost people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have to be willing to make changes to reach people where they are at in our community.