Systems vs Relationships

So, you're in bivocational ministry.  That likely means you are in smaller churches with less than 200 people.  If you are like me, you find yourself at conference after conference waiting for one word to come up..."systems".  Don't get me wrong, I know systems are necessary.  I am thankful for the brake system in my car and the alarm system at the church.  God gave us systems within our bodies to ensure they function the way they are intended to.  As necessary as the systems are, they don't tell the whole story.  

For us in smaller churches, we must first learn to build relationships before we ever begin to lock down systems.  If you leave that conference or that meeting and all you can focus is implementing new systems, you have missed something.  Think about some larger churches you know and what they do to make sure their systems work...they have small groups.  The small groups give opportunity outside of their Sunday mornings for people to connect with other people.  They are building relationships.  Trust me, that didn't happen overnight and yes, they messed it up time and time again but they stayed with it.  

Good systems don't flourish until great relationships become the focus.  For smaller churches, the "system" you need to focus on first is getting people to move from a guest to part of your church family.  Of course, you need to have plans or systems in place for the newcomers to your church but if that system doesn't happen with the intention of building relationships, then all you have become is a concierge service at the front door.  You can't expect to just find someone with a nice smile and a great personality to put at the front door and think it will turn in to people flooding your church because you're the "friendly church" in town.  At the same time, you can't have an incredible assimilation plan that leaves out people connecting with people.  It takes both relationships and systems working together to make your church a great fit for new people coming in.  Remember, the focus must be on building relationships that help lead to creating better systems.