• Home
  • About
  • Articles
  • DNA
  • Encouragement
  • Pastors
  • Resources

Small Church.com

A Big Place for small Churches

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« “Attractors”
Be Yourself »

Settlers of Catan

April 1, 2014 by Jim Thomas

Recently my kids have introduced me to the board game “Settlers of Catan”. I think it should be required for anyone in ministry. For those of you who are not familiar with the game, I would describe it as a combination Risk, Monopoly, and Tetris. the games begins with you determining a strategy for winning the game. All of your decisions at the beginning of the game are based on that strategy. As the game progresses and other people interfere with your strategy, you must adapt and adjust accordingly. Your strategy has to constantly change throughout the game based on your actions and the actions of other players.

In the course of over 30 years of ministry spanning 4 states and 4 very different types of ministries, I see numerous parallels to this game. When I began in ministry, I had a number of plans, visions, and goals as to what I wanted to accomplish with my life. Through different life events, I have had to adapt and change. The desires of my heart remain the same, but they have been “fleshed” out in ways that I never imagined.

I think it is important that as leaders, we realize that we have to be willing to adapt and change as God leads. In “Settlers”, you are constantly evaluating and adjusting to reach your goal of winning the game. In ministry, you must be willing to do the same. I am not suggesting that we compromise our core foundational beliefs. But I am suggesting that we have to be willing to change our approach to how we do ministry.

In my current ministry we are in the middle of this process. We are currently evaluating our original plans for growth. We now find ourselves looking into other options and directions. We are in the process of adjusting our paths and procedures while maintaining a clear focus on our end goal which has never changed.

THOT – Have you gotten to the point in ministry where you are so focused on the plan or the path, that you have lost sight of your real goal? Are you willing to consider other ways or paths to accomplish your goals? Could you be missing a new direction and opportunity because you are unwilling to change your original plans? I have never won the game “Settlers of Catan” without changing and adapting my strategy to the players around me. Could your current ministry strategy be holding your ministry back?

Settlers_of_Catan-p2

Advertisement

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Ministry | Tagged pastoral ministry |

  • Archives

    • April 2018 (2)
    • March 2017 (1)
    • May 2016 (1)
    • April 2016 (1)
    • March 2016 (1)
    • February 2016 (1)
    • January 2016 (1)
    • February 2015 (1)
    • November 2014 (1)
    • October 2014 (1)
    • September 2014 (1)
    • August 2014 (2)
    • July 2014 (2)
    • June 2014 (2)
    • May 2014 (1)
    • April 2014 (2)
    • March 2014 (2)
    • February 2014 (2)
    • January 2014 (2)
    • July 2011 (1)
    • April 2011 (3)
    • March 2011 (2)
    • February 2011 (3)
    • August 2010 (1)
    • July 2010 (1)
    • May 2010 (1)
    • March 2010 (1)
    • January 2010 (1)
    • October 2009 (1)
  • Categories

    • Hidden Gems (1)
    • Leadership (3)
    • Ministry (21)
    • Minitsry Philosophy (1)
    • Personal Growth (3)
    • Principles From My Mentors (1)
    • Random Thoughts (12)
    • Uncategorized (7)
    • Welcome (1)
  • Pages

    • About
    • Articles
      • A Thriving “little” church that doesn’t know any better (Drury)
      • Ability to see Potential (Klassen – 1996)
      • Big Ambitions, Small Church (Schirle – 1999)
      • Church at History’s Hinge (Anderson – 1994)
      • Dynamics of Small Church Ministry (Koessler – 1992)
      • Jubilee Year of The Rural Church Program (Farley – 2004)
      • Lessons from the small Church (Sanchez – 2004)
      • Nature and Characteristics of the Small Membership Church (Bob I. Johnson – 2004).
      • Parable of the Combines (Daman – 1999)
      • Place of the small Church in Today’s World (Gangel – 1984)
      • Retooling for Rural Ministry (Klassen – 1989)
      • The Outback Steak Church – (Drury)
      • Where are the Happiest Pastors? (Schaller – 1977)
    • DNA
      • Culture
      • Global thinking in a Grain Bin World
      • Growth & Money
      • Pastor’s Role
      • Relationships
      • Rethinking Numbers
      • Would Christ go to Mayberry?
    • Encouragement
      • Bird in the Cage
      • Greener Grass
      • Hermeneutics in Everyday Life
      • Hymn vs Praise Music
      • Road of Life
      • Why your New Idea Will not Work
    • Pastors
      • 2 Types of church “Dragons”
      • 6 Rules for a Fair Fight
      • Before you say yes – Questions to ask a new church
      • Budgets – A Narrative approach
      • Compensation
      • Crafting an Expirence (Rob Bell)
      • Funerals – Etiquette
      • Funerals – The Eulogy
      • Has ministry gotten harder over the years?
      • Recommended NT Commentaries
      • Recommended OT Commentaries
      • Should I leave?
      • Small Church Music – McIntyre
      • When Things Get Ugly
      • Writing your Resume
    • Resources
      • Books on Small Church Ministry
      • Small Church Conferences
      • Statistics
      • Websites

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Small Church.com
    • Join 47 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Small Church.com
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: