The way you start impacts how you finish.
Just ask the 2011 Boston Red Sox. The preceding off-season had gone exceedingly well. The legendary general manager, Theo Epstein, had built what many believed was a super team. The team’s four high-profile additions led many pundits to call it the best off-season in history.
But then came opening day, which kicked off the season with a 9-5 loss, the first of six straight losses to open the season. By Tax Day (April 15), the Red Sox were 2-10 and lucky to be behind only five games to a middling Yankees team leading the division. While the team rebounded, eventually leading the division for much of July and some of August, the early struggles set a detrimental tone. As of Sept. 3, they were up by nine games in the wild-card standings before a historic collapse that left them on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
Most of the attention fell upon the Red Sox’s struggles in September, but their poor start put the team in the hole at the beginning of the year. Their story is cautionary for sports teams and organizations like your church: slow starts can have lingering effects.
You don’t want your church to turn in a performance in 2025 like the Red Sox did in 2011. You have too much on the line. You’re not battling for a World Series trophy. You’re fighting for the spiritual health of your congregants and the vitality of your community.
Here are seven actions you can take in the waning days of 2024 to ensure you have the best possible 2025.
1) Pray
If you want 2025 to be a year to remember for your church, you can’t start anywhere better than through prayer. You can do all the planning in the world, have a masterfully designed budget, and still fall flat on your face as a church next year.
No matter what next year holds, it’ll be, first and foremost, a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-12). Don’t overlook prayer. Pray with your leaders. Pray with your congregants. Ask God how to move forward in the coming years. Listen to where he wants to lead you. Then, let God empower you for an unbelievable year.
2) Review 2024 with Key Leaders
You likely had good moments and tough ones in 2024. Each can teach you something as you move forward. Your good moments can remind you what to lean into in the coming year. Challenging moments can help you refine your vision and learn from your mistakes.
Bring together your leaders to review the past year. Encourage everyone to be honest about both the good and the bad. Consider providing anonymous opportunities for leaders to share feedback in case they’re hesitant to share in a public forum.
Consider distributing short surveys to your congregation to track feedback about the church’s ministry and their own spiritual development.
3) Communicate What God Has Done
Most people would probably be shocked by the incredible progress your church has made in the last 12 months. You’ve likely done great work even if you’ve missed some of your goals.
Share stories of people and communities impacted by your ministry. People love stories—especially positive ones!
Include some metrics (such as attendance growth, baptisms, material help you’ve provided, etc.) that tell a big-picture view of what God has done.
One of the best ways to do this is through a year-end impact report. Nonprofits have been producing these for their donors for years, and many churches are beginning to see their value recently. These reports tell your church’s story through powerful narratives, compelling metrics, and vivid images.
4) Celebrate 2024
One of the best ways you can communicate what God has done over the past year is through celebration. Before the year ends, schedule time for a party—with your leaders/staff and your congregation. Consider dedicating a portion of your last service of the year to this celebration.
Use your celebration time to share testimonies and exciting stats that show your church’s accomplishments. This may be an excellent time to show a video summary of your end-of-year impact report.
5) Review Your Vision
The beginning of a new year is a good time to examine your progress and ensure you’re still moving toward your stated vision. Vision drift happens all the time in churches. You slowly start to focus on other good work in your community that’s outside the bounds of your vision, which pushes your vision to the sidelines over time.
Here’s an easy way to do this: Your calendar and budget are the two most important ways you demonstrate focus on a specific vision. Put a written version of your vision statement in front of yourself, along with your church calendar and budget. Go through each date and line item and determine whether it complies. Have several people do this so you get different perspectives.
6) Create Concrete Goals
You’ve probably heard of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Make sure whatever goals you’re trying to accomplish this year fit within those descriptors. This helps to make sure next year, when you’re evaluating the year, you have something concrete to evaluate them on.
Your goals should help you move toward your vision and accomplish your mission.
7) Plan an Impactful Sermon Series
Your first sermon series will set the tone for the year. A strong sermon series to start the year gives you a significant next step for people who visit your church over the holidays.
People often commit to new goals when they start a new year off (e.g., losing weight, getting on a budget, going back to church). Sermons corresponding to those “fresh starts” can be particularly effective ways to start a new year.
If your church prefers to teach through the books of the Bible rather than the topical method, consider choosing a book that focuses on themes like renewal, growth, or hope. Ephesians and Nehemiah are both good options for this.
Communicate your wins from 2024 with a more effective year-end impact report. For help, check out our new free guide, The Ultimate Guide for Creating a Compelling Year-End Impact Report.
ACS Technologies
ACS Technologies sets a new standard in church technology, offering a holistic suite of solutions that streamline administrative tasks and empower your staff to excel in their roles and your church to excel in your community.
In the ever-evolving landscape of church engagement and management, ACS Technologies rises above the rest. Our comprehensive church solutions, bespoke digital offerings, streamlined communication tools, comprehensive ministry consulting, and training make us the trusted choice for over fifty thousand churches. Experience the ACS Technologies advantage and elevate your church’s online presence, connectivity, and generosity today. Join us in redefining church technology for the digital age, where your ministry’s success becomes our shared mission.