Can a ministry still survive if the founder dies?

May 31, 2013
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I am about to go accepting a job at a very big ministries. The founder is 80 years old and I guess most people know this ministry because of the popularity of the founder. I don't know how long this founder is going to live but if he dies or retired, would the ministries still go on?

Totally depends on who's in line to take over. Some instantly crumble because the "inheritors," shall we say, are incompetent or just not cut out for it or don't want it in the first place. Some seem to wheeze along indefinitely on fumes. Some do really well and even increase massively in size and scope. So, before joining any ministry where the founder (and I assume chief pastor) is coming down the home stretch, I'd want to know who's taking over and how effective and competent and cut out for it he is. Also whether his beliefs and vision for the ministry are the same as the founder's. Ideally I'd want to see videos.

I might also want to take a look at their financials, if they're available. One component of that is, for the United States anyway, relative to donations, will the ministry be able to withstand being stripped of its 501 (c), or deciding itself to break the relationship, because of the direction things are headed in this country?

And then check out who's in the seats every Sunday, and how many seats are actually filled. This is where audience shots (second cam) help when you watch the sermon videos. Thousand-seat sanctuary only 20% filled, and most of them are retirement age? Man, I'd be thinking twice about that one for sure.

The pre-service music can be a good predictor of a ministry's future, too: not just the style but also the quality. If the quality isn't there, as far as I'm concerned the ministry isn't all that concerned about attracting new believers or retaining the ones they have. This has to be driven directly from the top, with utmost urgency, and with proper hiring and retention criteria. Sloppy/weak or just downright incompetent musicians and/or vocalists? Poison. People will walk. A-list (studio-class) musicians and vocalists? The business will be profitable and will increase. Trust me on that -- I've been at this for a while. I could write a book, etc.
 
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LoveofTruth

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I am about to go accepting a job at a very big ministries. The founder is 80 years old and I guess most people know this ministry because of the popularity of the founder. I don't know how long this founder is going to live but if he dies or retired, would the ministries still go on?

Thanks

Dont join anything, meet in homes with other believers around Christ as the head. No man should be the head man over all, and all can use their gifts. God did not intend the church to behave in the way many do. Christ alone must have pre eminance
 
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Ezeretane

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wow i can't disagree more
A ministry should survive his " founder " as the basis , the purpose and fuel should be Christ
If you ask yourself questions like: how much people, seats filled, average age of staff ,etc... (very logical questions by the ways) you could miss the dream of god for your life!
ask God where he wants you to be because wherever it is , even if it's a mess , your involvement can be a tool in God's hands for something greater and just unbelievable.
I know you must make good decisions but with God you can't make mistakes !!!
I've seen couples of men taking part in "big" ministries but then some issues appears (nothing is perfect) and they got betrayed, expelled or else because of the choices they made (wrong or good by the way but different from the general church's opinion) and they got very badly hurt and destroy , got depressed and left church for years; They can't trust any christian anymore , can't stand pastor and are bitter
why because (event if they were right ) they lost focus : it's all about Jesus and the kingdom
conclusion : you are not asking yourself the right question (hope i don't sound patronizing :wave:)
 
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tonnerkiller

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You are not the founder, people are different. If this is such a big ministry, maybe there are also other pastors next to the founder and you? How much are they involved, would the congregation stay together if they'd go on with it? I presume you being the last joining the team wouldn't be the one in charge once the founder dies.
Also you can try to reach out to other kind of people the founder has not on his list. As I said, you are a different person with different gifts. You didn't become a pastor for the money in it. It isn't in the first place a question of economy. So the question would rather be: Is the gospel preached there and will the people listen to the gospel if it is preached in your words? I can guess they wouldn't offer you a job if they didn't find you theologically sound...

God bless
De Benny
 
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bort

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Depends. From what I have seen they usually do over a period of time. Sometimes there are rare instances where they keep going though. Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago and Teen Challenge are a couple examples. I think one would have to define what survival means too. There are a lot of ministries today still going but are not operating nowhere near how they used to run when they were founded.
 
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bort

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It would be interesting to study characteristics that long running ministries have in common with each other that have led them to remain vibrant. These are just some observations I have seen from my brief time. Its important to note that no matter what organization it is, without the divine sustainment and enabling favor of God no ministry would be able to survive no matter what they do or who they are.
If you have anything to add I would love to read it.

1. They started with a core vision and have kept to it. Many ministries start in one work or area of ministry and then as needs or opportunities come up for other focuses they shift or try to add to what their original objectives were and things get so discombobulated people and issues go in disarray.

2. They keep a strong emphasis on discipleship and continually seek to raise up leaders as older generations die off. They refuse to allow a ministry to revolve around men.

3. They don't change. Culture changes and with it usually come changes in certain aspects of the church too, but adapting to these things are limited as a whole for a ministry that has faired the waters. (Refusal to change and insisting on keeping to the old days can also contribute to a church's demise too)
3. Zero tolerance for sin. Uncompromising stance on walking in holiness. No ministry is perfect because people are not perfect, but the longest running ministries are those whose leaders have been able to avoid spiritual falls.
 
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ShawnMCG

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A lot of great insight here.

Healthy churches have transition plans set and ready to go before the day the leader see's Christ. I would even suggest that if your lead pastor is still alive, that he/she start training someone to take the reigns now. This takes between 2 - 4 years for the training to be complete, for the congregation to get comfortable with the leader, and for the staff to recognize the many differences and changes that will occur when the transition takes place.

And what a wonderful testimony of the Multi-Generational God we serve? :)
 
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