Religious groups have passed down ideologies, rituals and practices for thousands of years. These cultures help reduce free-riders and encourage large-scale cooperation.
However, research in a variety of global contexts shows that the culture and customs of interaction within religious groups working to relieve poverty can sometimes impede these efforts. This is often due to the fact that such groups reinforce taken-for-granted, class-infused styles of interaction.
Create a Vision
A vision is a broad picture of the future that can be a source of inspiration and motivation for a group. It should be bold enough to inspire people but also doable within their current situation. When these two lines intersect, people are likely to buy in to the vision and work toward it.
Religious groups have managed to create a culture of cooperation on a large scale, which is why they are some of the most successful groups in history. One of the reasons for this is that shared beliefs in God bind group members together and reduce free-riding. Members are more willing to bear costs for the benefit of fellow members and cooperate with other groups (Henrich, 2009). This increased in-group cooperation is reinforced by a belief in God’s all-seeing nature which maintains moral behaviour under threat of supernatural punishment.
Develop a Mission
Establish a clear goal to focus your church’s missions efforts. Use the church’s existing contacts and partnerships to identify specific global needs and a project with which your church is best equipped to meet them.
Consider including members of all age groups in your mission committee. This creates a deep sense of ownership and increases involvement. Additionally, involving children in mission activities helps get them thinking about missions at a young age and teaches them that helping others is a central part of the Christian faith.
Having a broad mission team also helps build consensus. When the leadership team crafts value statements and vision, include a list of people who embody those ideals. This way, when presenting the new vision to the congregation, members can instantly see that the team has broad support for it. This increases its chance of adoption.
Develop a Strategy
A strategy provides the “how” to realize your church’s vision. It defines a plan for reaching new people, providing more programs and achieving internal process efficiencies.
By requiring members to prove their affiliation to the group by bearing costs that are high enough to deter free-riders and impossible to fake, religious groups have created long-running forms of sustainable cooperation. This has made them some of the most successful groups in history.
To develop your church’s strategic plan, create a set of goals that are SMART — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. These goals will serve as the foundation for your strategy and help you manage expectations during collaborative ventures. Religious congregations often plan group ventures, such as mission trips or community outreach projects. Identify secular organizations that align with your goals and begin to build relationships. Set up a memorandum of understanding with your partner outlining roles, responsibilities and expectations.
Develop a Pitch
Religious groups have a unique opportunity to use their followers and members as clientele for business ventures. As such, it is important for religious entrepreneurs to understand how to develop a business plan that will appeal to their audience and attract the right investors.
Effective religion pitch decks need to be able to convey the vision and mission of the project while also connecting with audiences on a spiritual level. Storytelling techniques are key to delivering these messages, as they allow entrepreneurs to engage and inspire audiences without violating theological or ethical principles. Religious leaders should be prepared to answer questions about the project’s impact on the community, as well as its legal and regulatory compliance. Having this information ready will demonstrate that the team is knowledgeable and sensitive to religious contexts. This will build trust and credibility.
Develop a Budget
Developing a budget can be an important step in the planning process. A budget is typically created using estimations of expected income and expenses. Budgets are often compiled at the beginning of the year, but should be modified throughout the year as new information becomes available.
Creating a budget is also an opportunity for religious groups to set financial goals for the year. These goals can help the group to stay on track and accomplish its objectives.
There are several different types of budgets that can be used by church groups, including a line-item budget, a zero-based budget and a program budget. Each of these budgets has different strengths and weaknesses, but all can be effective for church organizations. These budgets can help to ensure that the church has enough money to meet its goals each year.
Develop a Communication Plan
Getting the word out about events and activities within the congregation requires a comprehensive communication plan. Churches that lack an internal communications plan suffer from a variety of issues ranging from inefficient workflow to missed opportunities for outreach.
The first step in developing a communication plan is determining what needs to be shared. This includes identifying internal and external communication channels. Internal church communication focuses on communicating to the congregation itself – this includes weekend services and other event information.
Developing a communication plan involves breaking down projects into manageable portions and setting deadlines. It also includes recruiting volunteers to assist with the project and documenting feedback from congregants. This helps the team stay organized, increase productivity and reduce redundancies. It also allows the team to capture stories of how people’s lives are changing through their participation in the church.
Develop a Marketing Plan
Although it might seem like marketing is only for businesses, all types of groups can benefit from a well-planned strategy. Religious organizations are no exception.
Start by identifying your target audience. This will help you plan your tactics and create SMART goals that will be easier to measure and achieve.
Share photos and videos of your activities with your followers. It can be as simple as a choir practicing for the next service or volunteers preparing cookies and coffee in the kitchen.
Get involved in local community events, such as summer fairs or wellbeing fairs. This is a great way to promote your religious organization while also building goodwill in the local area. This is especially important if you want to grow your congregation.
Develop a Financial Plan
Although religious groups are not technically businesses, they must follow many of the same financial best practices as for-profit organizations. This includes accurate record-keeping and preparing budgets that align with the organization’s mission.
When preparing your church’s budget, be sure to include all income sources, including donations and interest from investments. You also need to consider expenses such as mortgage payments, car loans and the cost of maintaining facilities. Keeping an eye on cash flow can help you determine if you have enough money to fund your priorities or if it’s time to reduce expenses.
Finally, don’t forget to set aside funds for unexpected expenses. This can prevent your church from going into debt and ensure that it’s able to meet its obligations. It can also help you feel more comfortable about spending your church’s assets.
