Mom's Overture by Anita Renfroe
This is so funny - I cried tears of laughter - I hope you do too! :)
An experiment in communal blogging!
This is so funny - I cried tears of laughter - I hope you do too! :)
This is an idea which I have found very challenging - what does it mean for us to collectively guard the spirit of cessioncommunity? And what would it look like if we did?
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
I like and am feeling lots of the comments already stated so won't continue by repeating... hope theres something fresh here...
Well, here's my effort. Not conclusive by any stretch and pretty light on the OT end, but an effort nonetheless:
Ctrengths
- Great bunch of talented/gifted people in relation to community size.
- Strong, servant hearted leadership, not afraid or dismissive of their humanity. Also, well educated.
- Great culture of community: people looking out for each other, openness is expected and (mostly) given
- Fairly non-authoritarian structure/culture
- High level of involvement from community members
- High level of creativity
- Provide an accessible environment for the 'dechurched'
- Teaching that doesn't insult community's intelligence combined with a culture that encourages questioning, discussion and active engagement.
- Active blogger community that provides another forum for engagement, discussion and discipleship. - Good mentoring/discipleship network base
Weaknesses
- Temptation to focus too much on difference of presentation/style as an end rather than as a tool
- Too much resource (primarily thinking of people/time, but funds too) committed to Sunday night service, which makes it our primary community connection point even if our philosophy/strategy seeks to have as an equal 'one of several'.
- Relatively small community size means that a lot of our people are perhaps (or at least feel) over extended in cession related service, therefore loss of passion & energy.
- Slow growth in overall numbers over the past year- Some measure of community inwardness (which naturally develops if you don't keep consciously engaging outwardly)
Opportunities
- Wider 'depot community' involvement
- Proximity to Pakuranga college and Highland Park
- Development of online social/discipleship networking opportunities
Threats
- The various ministries could become fragmented if we do not see our individual contributions in the light of the bigger picture/overall vision.
Cheers,
Uncle Jakey.
Strengths
Rhett & Katie as “called” Youth specialists with 1-2 days (each) “voluntary” ministry time to give in 2007;
Relationships with our small core of youth have been significantly strengthened this year in an environment of informal, trusting communication;
The Depot as a non-church building, positioned adjacent to Highland park and Pakuranga College;
Multi-media elements and rock band format in service have the potential to engage youth – contemplative, kinaesthetic elements also seem to engage;
Youth are able to participate in the life of the church and in particular access service opportunities without distinctions being made
Jeremy Le Comte’s role as a part time student counsellor at Pakuranga College
Weaknesses
Absence of a clear sense of direction – too much week-to-week focus;
The size of the group currently makes momentum more difficult to encourage and limits the unchurched relational circle that we can touch;
Aspects of our service may be less engaging eg. Music tends to be over contemplative;
Mentoring and intentional spiritual formation has not occurred as intentionally as we planned;
Our leadership processes are not adding momentum and consistency to leadership and ministry development;
Opportunities
Young Life partnership offers proximity to unchurched youth and potentially a salaried community youth ministry opportunity;
Highland Park offers an incarnational mission field;
Relationship with the Depot tenants with youth emphasis – Lifeboyz & secondary school programmes
Threats
There are churches in our area who will “pitch” for youth currently attending other churches;
Other lifestyle options in the formative years
SWOT Analysis is a powerful technique for understanding your Strengths and Weaknesses, and for looking at the Opportunities and Threats you face.
Strengths:
What advantages does cessioncommunity have?
What do we do really well?
What unique resources do we have access to?
What do people outside the community see as our strengths?
Consider this from an internal perspective, and from the point of view of people we want to reach. And be realistic.
Weaknesses:
What could we improve?
What should we avoid?
What are people we are trying to reach likely to see as weaknesses?
Again, consider this from an internal and external basis: Do other people seem to perceive weaknesses that we do not see? It is best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible.
Opportunities:
Where are the opportunities for us in our environment and the communities in which we are placed?
What are the interesting trends you are aware of?
Useful opportunities can come from such things as changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc.
Are there local events that are a match for us?
A useful approach to looking at opportunities is to look at strengths and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities.
Alternatively, look at weaknesses and ask yourself whether you could open up opportunities by eliminating them.
Threats:
What obstacles do we face? Is competition an issue?
Strengths and weaknesses are often internal to an organisation. Opportunities and threats often relate to external factors.
Start a new post with your thoughts on each - feel free to comment on what others post as well. I've also posted a SWOT analysis we completed for cessioncollision to start the process...