Shared Wisdom - Top tips from churches & projects

As well as sharing the stories in this section, the church leaders and project workers below gave their three top tips and they appear here together.  We hope you find them helpful.

Alistair Park, New Hope, Leeds

• Keep the focus of your ministry - it’s easy to try to help everyone and that may cause you to lose your identity
• Learn to say no
• Keep God at the beginning, the middle and the end of everything you do.
  

February 2009

Dave Smith of Boaz Trust, Manchester

• If your project deals withpeople that need help now, don’t wait for everything to be in placebefore you get started. People will support things that can be seen tobe meeting a need rather than ideas that are waiting to be funded.
• Don’t re-invent the wheel. You are NOT on your own, and thechances are that there are others out there doing the same stuff asyou. Networking takes time, but it will save you far more time in thelong run – you can’t afford not to do it.
• If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing whatever theconsequences. It may cost you financially: it may cost you time andcommitment: it may even be deemed illegal if it challenges corruptlegislation – but if it’s on God’s heart, He will support it, fund it,and eventually bring the vision to reality.

March 2009

• Use the skills and gifts already in your church whether theyare cooking, gardening or basketball - the list of what can be drawn onis endless
• Pray and look for something new that you can offer - don't duplicate what already exists
• Buildup your local network, meeting community leaders, local businesses andother churches in the area. Link up with other organisations and tellthem about your idea.

March 2009

Darrell Tunningley, Connect Project, Runcorn 

• Clearly lay out your Christian ethos from the very beginning and don't compromise your distinctive as you move forward.
  
• Prayer has been our greatest asset and thething that has sustained us over the years. Ephesians6:18 says, 'And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kindsof prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep onpraying for all the saints.'
  
• Remember why you are doing all that you do, don't be afraid to say "I don't know" and don't be afraid to seek help. 

March 2009

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Vicki Woodley, Green Pastures/Shoreline Church

• Believe More
• Don’t worry
• When you feel it’s impossible - remember it’s God who is the builder.
  

March 2009