Does your church leadership team struggle to work together on the mission God has given you? It may simply be that they are distracted.

Do any of these five distractions sound familiar?

1. Busyness: From potlucks to Christmas programs, there are a lot of things churches do. Some tasks are unavoidable for the life of any organization. But many activities are neither missional or necessary.
   TIP: Make a list of what you have to do to "keep the lights on" and a list of the activities that are most central to your core mission.
2. Traditions: Whether it's your denominational heritage or just an old habit, churches collect traditions like barnacles.
   TIP: Look back at your calendar or listen to some old recordings of your gatherings. Are there things you do that would be meaningless to outsiders and should be reconsidered?
3. Technology: At its best, technology eliminates dullness and monotony. But technology can also become our master, constantly commanding our attention.
   TIP: Set aside screen-free time for your leadership to connect.This could be a device-free retreat or a quiet moment at the beginning of a meeting.
4. Personal issues: If it seems like someone on your team isn't listening, they might have something else more pressing on their mind.
   TIP: Before you get to any meeting’s agenda, take a moment to connect and pray, even if it doesn't feel productive. It could be as simple as asking people to share their “highs and lows” since the last meeting. Also set aside a longer time for leaders to share their life story and testimony with the rest of the team.
5. Comparison: Comparison is the thief of joy and can also be a thief of focus. We can get so caught up in what other churches are doing that we lose sight of our unique mission.
   TIP: Ask each team member to articulate what makes your church unique calling. Take time to share these and give thanks for how God he has been at work among you.

Does your team need help tuning in to the mission God has given you? Fresh Expressions US is offering an upcoming online team retreat, Leadership Tune-up, February 3-4, 2023, to help you unearth your distractions and build a new, shared sense of focus.

Learn more and register HERE. BGAV-participating churches receive a 25% discount! Use code BGAV25 to access yours today.

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