Blake Bradford
Dr. Blake Bradford is an author and United Methodist minister appointed as the Chief Mission Strategist and Superintendent of the Northwest District of the Arkansas Conference.
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Mission Possible: A Simple Structure for Missional Effectiveness
Meetings are not ministry! Let’s focus on ministry while making meetings fewer in number but larger in meaning. In this book aimed at congregational leaders, particularly United Methodists, the authors provide practical, field-tested steps to simplify your church structure and unleash more people into ministry. Too often churches try to simplify their structures by just having fewer people at the meeting table. But real simplification and accountable leadership means that meetings – and leaders – are transformed. Kay and Blake walk you through both the technical and adaptive changes to simplify your structure for missional effectiveness.
Mission Possible for the Small Church
Mission Possible for the Small Church is designed to help the small church simplify leadership approaches, church decision-making structures, and approaches to ministry. At the same time, it also offers tools to help clarify, focus, and guide small churches so each can operate effectively and efficiently. Ultimately, we hope and pray this resource helps the small church become a lean, relationally-focused, disciple-making movement with greater Kingdom impact!
Gather a small group of leaders to read and study this resource together. “Team Questions” are at the end of each chapter to help you process the topics and ideas and determine the faithful steps you feel called to take for your context. So, let’s get started and discover together how to simplify and clarify your ministries to reach more people for Christ.
STRENGTHENING DECISION-MAKING AND GOVERNANCE
Today’s context for congregations couldn’t be more different. While the legacy structures we inherited are exquisitely designed to make sure nothing new ever happens, the leadership structures that we need today must be nimble, adaptive decision-making groups that are designed to hold us accountable to Jesus’ mission and unleash more disciples to be engaged in ministry, not just attend meetings about ministry.
The governing model for most mainline denominations was explicitly designed to slow down the decision-making processes. The legacy model of governance is for multiple governing committees to meet (always in person), work through questions, send them to a church council, perhaps have questions sent back to numerous other committees.
IMPACT! ReCLAIMING the Call of Lay Ministry
"Dr. Bradford and Kay Kotan have written an insightful book challenging the church to reclaim the God-sized IMACT of the partnership between laity and clergy together strengthening the local church for a future with hope. This practical book is full of stories, practical examples, and questions to help ignite a movement where laity are inspired, equipped and mobilized for ministry and IMACT!"
-- Debi Nixon, United Methodist Church of the Resurrection