Leading a Congregation to Relevance

“In Leading a Congregation to Relevance, Dean provides a step-by-step process that will challenge, inspire, and refocus your congregation. I recommend the book and the process for your church.”

Mike Tucker, Speaker Emeritus, Faith for Today Television

Do you lead or participate in a relevant congregation? Ask different pastors and church leaders, and you will likely receive many varied answers about what defines a congregation’s relevancy. Many leaders might even dismiss the concept of relevancy as important and identify a congregation’s success simply as a healthy church growing by specified numbers. That’s an old scorecard, the new one is relevance. In his new book, Leading a Congregation to Relevance, the author, C. Dean Waterman, considers a definition that can apply to every congregation:

“A relevant congregation makes a significant spiritual impact on individual lives and the community it exists in, without condition. It does so by exhibiting the timeless message of the gospel, while ministering within the context of the culture and community it exists in.” (from the Introduction, Leading a Congregation to Relevance)

Relevant congregations, by the author’s conclusions from twenty-plus years of experience, have a culture, or a DNA if one prefers, of genuine love, acceptance, and grace. These congregations are safe, inclusive within their community for anyone who enters the doors. They join people on their personal journey of intentional discipleship from atheist to saint. They welcome diverse perspectives, inviting conversations on personal faith and God. Irrelevant congregations do the opposite; “In a place where no one’s allowed to ask questions, share doubts, engage in dialogue, or be completely honest, relevance simply can’t exist.”

Relevant congregations welcome everyone; those with diverse opinions, faith journeys, lifestyles, and backgrounds. They are a “…map, directions, where people should look to find Me,” in the words of Jesus as portrayed in the Dallas Jenkins produced streaming series, The Chosen. This applies to those in the community who are discouraged and searching, looking for hope and meaning. They are looking for a relevant congregation who, “If someone wants to find me, those are the groups they should look for.” These congregations model the principles of the Kingdom as Jesus taught in Matthew 5-7. They exhibit the gospel in action first, by word second.

Of course this is the author’s definition and conclusion of a relevant congregation, but it comes from personal experience and investigating numerous congregation that are plateaued and dying. In twenty years of pastoral leadership, C. Dean Waterman has witnessed congregations on life support and congregations that are rays of relevance, impacting lives and their community. Some of the plateaued and dying congregations served had excellent financial reports. Others were doing well in attendance. Another was recognized in the community by its prominent location on the main street of town. Yet another was “hip” and perceived to be culturally relevant by music styule, casual dress, and an easily located coffee bar. In the case of each congregation, even when they met their specific numbers that would suggest success to an outside observer, they had lost relevance.

Why were they not relevant? Most of these congregations weren’t engaged in intentional discipleship and investing in the spiritual purpose and growth of the individuals they ministered to. They didn’t speak to life as it is, and the issues people dealt with daily. Additionally, they were not outward focused on their community, intentionally living with missional influence. Most often this lack of outward focus was due to not understanding, or worse choosing to ignore, the culture and circumstances of their community. It became easier to remain insulated away from others than to be involved with them. While time and circumstances changed, the congregations rarely did. Therefore, when people came to visit these congregates, they experienced a message out of step with their life, and the challenges they were facing. These congregations seemed oblivious to the immense challenges within the culture and preferred to ignore them rather than address them with a biblical worldview and a missional mindset.

Do you long to lead or be involved in a relevant congregation, one that makes a significant difference in the lives of those within the walls and out? Is your congregation plateaued, stuck in a rut, or dying? In Leading a Congregation to Relevance, the author gives a model that will take your congregation on a new journey to relevance and impact. Not shaped by the latest methods or trends, but a process built on fundamentals, strategically undertaken for maximum results. Once you read it, you will no doubt want multiple copies of Leading a Congregation to Relevance for other staff and leaders within your congregation, for the model is a compass to changing the direction of a congregation for good. Ultimately the relevant congregation you desire to be a part of models Christ most effectively.