In this age of church decline, many congregations and pastors are searching for solutions to turn their churches around. In his book Direct Hit, Paul D. Borden sets out to redirect real leaders towards the mission fields in which they reside.
Borden does a good job of identifying the inward focus of congregations as one of the primary reasons for decline. Simply put, churches sometimes stop allowing the main thing (making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world) to be the main thing. More subtly, Borden identifies the lack of leadership as an additional reason for the decline that many churches are facing.
There is a plethora of practical advice relating to developing and implementing vision, motivating congregations as preparation for change, developing ideas and personnel, and launching systemic and long lasting effective change. Additionally, Borden cautions readers about the costs (pastoral, financial, emotional, spiritual, etc) of leading change. As a broad spectrum, shotgun approach, Borden's 110 pages (not counting forwards, appendices, etc) packs a lot of punch. He gives us plenty to think about with field tested methods and strong generalizations. As an introductory book to pastors or congregations desiring change, it serves well and would be a great book to study in small groups to launch deeper conversations.
I would caution, however, that it is only a jumping off point. Systemic change is hard to instruct fully in only 110 pages. Many pastors and coaches have spent a lifetime developing such strategies and it is challenging, at best, to cram that much experience and learning in so few pages.
Here are a few areas that I think are either understated (ie. if Borden were ever to do an expanded version, more should be said about these things) or may be lacking in some additional information:
First, in discussing the prayer team (the developing resources team), I am convinced that more than 6 paragraphs are needed to truly convey how important prayer is to undergird this process. Every successful change endeavor I have been involved with has only been successful when it was bathed in prayer. Not sprinkled, dabbled in, but literally drenched in prayer. Perhaps some insights and testimonies from some of the 200 successful churches they referenced in the forward would have been helpful here.
Second, in several places throughout the book, Borden refers to the process in terms of years related to the preparatory phases of systemic change. It takes time to communicate change, cast vision, and for people to fully embrace the hope of a better tomorrow over an uncomfortable and stagnate present. I want to say that every ministry situation that I have entered into in the past decade has been different. Everything is contextual! If you are entering into a situation where the stark reality of an immenent death has already created congregational urgency, then look for where the gaps are in the process (casting vision, providing hope to the hopeless, giving guidance to next steps, etc) and move in that space. Simply put, there is no need to start the process from scratch...capitalize on the work that God is already doing in the midst of the congregation. I have seen mergers take place and extension campuses thrive within months (yes months, not years) because we were following the movement of the Holy Spirit not a chronological road map. Sometimes, God will surprise you!
Finally, I am in complete agreement that outside interventions are extremely beneficial. There is a caveat, however, that those interventionists/consultants/coaches need to be well researched and have a mode of operation that is a fit for the congregation. This requires work on the part of the pastor and congregation. Pray about it. Call references. Check success rates. Ask excellent questions before committing (where are our opt out options? How does your model allow for our uniqueness of geography and people? etc). If you are pitched a cookie cutter model, trash it immediately. It is a proven fact that what works in suburban Chicago won't work in rural Texas or urban Los Angeles. Processes are often able to be utilized in various areas, but cookie cutter programs that don't take into account the unique culture and context of the area in which they are deployed are usually doomed for failure. Trust me, I have been involved in cookie cutter consultation before and it will set a church back years because they won't see any effective fruit from their labors and the process may poison the well for later intervention possibilities.
In the church that I am moving to at the end of June, they are already involved in a process very similar to the intervention that Borden describes in this book. I am excited about the process and am looking forward to what the small groups that will be studying and discussing this book will have to offer in the form of their reflections.
In closing, I was left wanting a little more...whether it was a little more depth or testimony...I know that Borden has only scratched the surface in this book. With that said, I would still strongly recommend it as a resource for churches and pastors as a beginning step in moving towards systemic change.
