Strategic Planning & Faith: Implementing Your Church's Vision - Part 2 with Bryan Blackford

In episode 11 of the Pastors & Money Podcast, we continue our discussion with Bryan Blackford on strategic planning for churches. Building on the previous episode, Bryan shares valuable insights on implementing and maintaining a strategic plan for your church, avoiding common financial pitfalls, and the importance of diverse involvement and clear communication. The episode also covers effective ways to measure success, the need for periodic reviews, and practical advice for ministry leaders struggling to align finances with their church's vision. Listeners are encouraged to integrate faith into their plans and maintain obedience to God's calling.

00:00 Introduction to the Pastors & Money Podcast00:41 Interview with Bryan Blackford: Implementing Strategic Plans00:57 Biblical Wisdom and Faith in Strategic Planning02:28 Engaging with the Podcast Community03:20 Recap of Previous Episode with Bryan Blackford04:32 Common Financial Pitfalls in Strategic Planning08:32 Effective Communication of Strategic Plans11:50 Measuring Success and Making Course Corrections18:01 Advice for Pastors on Aligning Finances with Vision20:49 Connecting with Bryan Blackford and Conclusion

Resources:

The Ministry Geek website: theministrygeek.comMinistry Geek newsletterBryan Blackford on Instagram: @bryanblackfordBryan Blackford on X: @bryanblackford

Interview Transcript: Implementing Your Church's Strategic Plan: Insights from Bryan Blackford

Avoiding Financial Pitfalls in Strategic Plan Implementation

[00:04:59] Bryan Blackford: One of the common mistakes churches make when implementing a strategic plan is not communicating it enough. Strategic planning isn't a "set it and forget it" process. It should be ongoing, not just achieving goals but also encouraging generosity. Keep the plan in front of your congregation, tell success stories, and show how lives are changing.

Another pitfall is not involving a diverse group of people in the planning process. While it's common for a small group to lead the process, it's crucial to involve influential people in your ministry. These are the individuals who, through their time, talent, and treasure, will determine the plan's success.

[00:06:59] Joy Suzanne: You want their input and their ownership so they can champion the plan to the congregation.

[00:07:05] Bryan Blackford: Exactly. You need two things from your influential leaders: input at the front end and buy-in at the back end.

Communicating Your Strategic Plan to the Congregation

[00:08:00] Bryan Blackford: Effective communication involves clear, consistent messaging through every available channel. Use your Sunday sermons, newsletters, social media, and town hall meetings. I call this the "every Sunday, every newsletter" approach. At the very least, reference your vision or goals in every communication.

As ministry leaders, we might feel like we're over-communicating, but our congregation isn't there every week. They might only hear it once or twice a month. It's important to be creative and find different ways to say the same thing.

[00:09:59] Don't be afraid of over-communicating. We don't shy away from this during capital campaigns, so why should we when it comes to our strategic plan?

The Importance of Repetition in Communication

[00:10:59] Joy Suzanne: It's like learning a language. People need to hear it repeatedly to internalize it.

[00:11:05] Bryan Blackford: Exactly. For those who attend every week, hearing the vision repeatedly reaffirms why they're there and why they're serving. Communication isn't just for those who may not know your vision; it's also for those who can give the elevator pitch at a moment's notice.

Measuring the Success of Your Strategic Plan

[00:11:59] Bryan Blackford: Measuring success is highly ministry-specific and depends on the goals you set.