For congregations to be ready for a successful, empowering Spiritual Strategic Journey, they must have several types of readiness. First, is a sense of urgency or passion to transition and change, and ultimately transform. Second, is spiritual readiness that realizes if transformation is to happen it must be of God. Third, is leadership readiness that indicates the numbers and types of leaders needed for transformation are currently present in the congregation. Fourth, is strategic readiness where they know the strategies and actions they need to take based on an accurate assessment of their situation.

I am now beginning to think about a fifth sign of readiness. That is financial readiness. Does your congregation have the financial commitment by its members and regular attendees, and other sources, to pay for the transition and changes it must engage in to be able to transform? If not, what must it do to develop these before it engages in a Spiritual Strategic Journey?

What do you think? Does this need to be added as a sign of readiness? Is your congregation financially ready? Let me hear from you.