Super Focused, High Engagement Organizations
by Rev. Mark E. Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader
There is such a mix of dynamics at play in our current life and ministry context....
Regardless of one's theological, sociological, or political point of view, it looks like we can all agree that high volatility has followed us from 2025 into 2026. Things have not settled down, as we had hoped perhaps. But instead,
The Modern to Postmodern Shift continues
American's national government continues to shift and transform day by day
Civil unrest is growing in this USA
Our population is yearning for justice and peace
Our population is searching for hopeful ways forward
Our culture continues to reward busyness and achievement, discouraging Sabbath practice or stress reduction
These, plus many more unnamed dynamics, are influencing disciples of Jesus to engage their churches
With low level despair and ongoing grief
With low energy levels for what is perceived as superfluous
With low toleration for meaningless meetings and traditionalism
With great yearning for meaningful and life-giving engagement
With great yearning for a robust faith that sustains and empowers
So church leaders, what might this mean for our churches? For your church in particular? When we follow Kierkegaard's advice, holding the gospel in one hand while holding the current situation in the other, how are we to be churches who embody the gospel in these current moments?
We need churches who are hyper focused, robust engagement organizations.
By hyper focused, I mean those who don't waste their precious energy and time on the luxuries of yesteryear. Remember when we could run more committees than the mind can even imagine? Remember when we could schedule events every day of the week? Remember when we could isolate ourselves from the cares of the world and retain legitimacy and relevance? Remember when... you get the idea.
Instead, now is the time to double-down on our calling, purpose, and mission. Our people need a "Word from the Lord," so to speak, in order to be faithful and sustained for the living of these days. We need our churches to do a small number of activities, really well. There is much in church life that we do not need now, without capacity to continue them. Yet, what is essential to church life, we need more than ever. We need hyper focused churches.
But, do not mistake this as suggesting we become low expectation organizations. Actually, the reverse is true. Now is the time to robustly engage our people, calling them to high church engagement... into the hyper focused activities that represent the best of who we are as churches. Don't be afraid to ask people to worship more regularly, to commit to weekly worship participation. We all need to be together as church bodies during high volatility contexts. Don't hesitate to expect your people to participate in faith-based small groups, since we all need this kind of spiritual and social support to be faithful these days. Don't shy away from calling your people to serve, to pursue justice and care for the world we inhabit. We are hungry for something, anything, proactive to do what tilts the world toward God's kingdom. This is the time to do a small number of mission-congruent activities with high commitment and robust engagement.
Churches, we need you now. We need you to simplify your menu of activities, to direct our attention to what's most essential to following Jesus. Then we need you to expect us to step up, being who we are... disciples of Jesus Christ. Churches, expect us to show up for God and this world, and we are far more likely to do so.