What challenges do you face when try to transition a legacy church into a network of simple/organic churches? This post continues the interview with David Havice.
Felicity: You obviously hit some challenges when you transitioned your church. Can you describe them?
David: The normal challenges were there and revolved around three areas: Spiritual concepts, emotional issues, and physical logistics. (I describe these and the process we went through in a small e-booklet “Journey Through Transition” which I will send free to anyone who would like a copy!)
The greater challenge is not the initial transition stage – I would say we did this successfully. It’s the ongoing process of grasping the deeper changes! The main one would be moving from a church-centric vision to a kingdom-centric vision. After 7 years we have grown from 6 house churches to basically two house churches! Some of the people who made the transition with us just weren’t able to continue through what I would call “the rhythms of life”: children, toddlers, etc. Changing needs in the existing body brought about changing ideas on how to best cope with those needs and house church wasn’t always the easiest answer!
We have worked hard at releasing people kindly, when they felt the need to leave! My biggest disappointment is that somehow, we’ve not been able to GRASP the MISSIONAL emphasis and go with it!
Felicity: Do you believe it’s possible to transition successfully? What would make a difference?
I believe its possible – but I don’t think it will ever be easy! Any leader who determines that a legacy church can be transitioned should be ready for heartache and loss – as some people just won’t get it. Again, I think it’s a wineskin issue. There are people who fall through the cracks – they start out with the idea of change, and then can’t fully cope, so rather than going back, they just drop out!
Most of all, a leader who embraces transition for the whole church should be patient, and set for the long haul! Ultimately, what survives all the changes will be totally different than what that leader started with, and even then, there will always be the tendency in those who were a part of the legacy church to “look back”. I believe that is a DNA issue, and I’m not sure how much that can really be changed without a major work by God in the heart of each person.
Felicity: What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of transitioning their church?
David: Here are a few pointers.
- Make sure God is in it (but even when He is, be prepared for an outcome different from what you expected.
- Don’t see it as another way to grow the church – Turn your eyes to the Kingdom and look for how you can have the most impact in reaching people.
- Prepare your people for serving others, rather than being served! Help them understand that some of the things they are used to will not necessarily be available any more – the perks and benefits of a traditional programmatic church. It really isn’t about us, its about Him and His Kingdom!
- Build in the MISSIONAL perspective from the outset – not as an idea for those who are most outgoing, but as a necessary framework for each believer!
- Help people understand that the church is much more fluid than static and that we don’t have to exist perpetually in the same form!
In the third part of this interview, we’ll look at why David is still committed to simple/organic church principles.