Cycle Starter Plans

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Having understood your church a little better with the help of the NCD Church Survey, its now time to start cycling together towards a healthier church. You’ve chosen to start experimenting and learning more about the topic to the left. Now, select one of the cycle starter plans below and write number 1 in its box. Put this sheet on your wall, then, go do it!

Next time you are meeting with others who are also working through a topic, ask each other the questions from the cycle, starting at “do” and finishing at “plan”. After a cycle you may decide the most important thing to do now is to keep going with the same plan, modify it, or choose another option from below. If choosing another from below, just write 2 in its box and so on.

If you’d like more cycle starter options, or to work on another topic highlighted by your NCD Church Survey results, just visit ncdchurchsurvey.org/cycle-starters

Service

  • Ask the three closest people to you in your church what they need most right now to help them minister in the most fruitful way possible. Consider which of their requests you can assist with and which ones you must ask others to help with. Be sure to act and to give feedback to the three people.
  • Establish exact dates (no more than 6 months away) for reviewing the current ministry of every person under your leadership to help them grow in the role, find a more suitable ministry, or take a break if needed.
  • Find one area of church or small group life where communication is poor and work with the leadership to improve it.
  • Identify those in your church who are active in helping those in need (food, clothing, education, counsel, etc.). Work out how what they are doing could be more integrated with the other ministries of your church so that those in need could be helped further along their journey to life in all its fullness.
  • If you have a leadership role in your church find someone willing and able to help you do your role and take the time to train them to the point where they feel equipped to do it effectively.
  • Share with someone why you believe they have a particular gift that is better developed in them than in yourself.
  • Spend time somewhere in your church's local community where disadvantaged people gather (e.g. unemployment office, courthouse, welfare store, etc.) and ask God to show you how your or your church's gifts may connect with the needs you see.
  • Ask a leader in your church to tell you how they see your contribution fitting into the overall direction of church life.