There are three reasons consultants can be decisive in helping a church advance themselves in God's mission:

Insight: An experienced leader from beyond your current context of experience can help you see your strengths, weaknesses, and hidden habits.

Expertise: A skilled leader from the wider world of mission can train your leaders in principles and tactics they cannot learn by themselves in traditional ways.

Motivation: A faithful leader who has followed the mission you hope to pursue can focus and increase enthusiasm for your own calling in your unique context.

Choose a consultant wisely. A good consultant should have experience in working with your size church, community context, and mission orientation. The consultant should have broad recognition and credibility through publishing and personal endorsements, and should be an effective listener, synthesizer, and communicator.

The one and only reason to do a consultation is to focus and equip a church to grow God's mission and multiply disciples of Christ. We are passionate about helping you fulfill "The Great Commission". There are six times when a consultation might be particularly helpful to a church.

• Anytime your primary mission field changes. The average distance your church and community members travel to work and to shop defines your primary mission field. Anytime this mission field changes, in lifestyles or demographics, your mission tactics might change.
• Anytime your church is ready for growth. The growth you anticipate may be numerical, relational, economic, educational, and of course, spiritual, but any period of growth brings stress and requires careful planning.
• The last six months of a pastor's tenure. Succession in leadership brings both grief and opportunity. You can ensure that continuity is preserved, and that opportunities for change are identified, before you call or receive new pastoral leadership.
• The first year of a pastor's tenure. This is often a time of greatest openness to innovation, but also of urgent communication, consensus building, and strategic planning.
• Prior to any building project or technology upgrade. Mission focus, strategic planning, and community research are crucial prior to any effective capital fund raising campaign, relocation, or building project.
• Anytime there is a crisis. A crisis may be negative or positive, and can involve people, property, programs, or finances. This is a time to discern vision, build mutual support, overcome stress, and seize unexpected opportunities.

What might a church expect during a consultation?

• A time of learning
• A time of examination
• A time of listening
• A time of facilitating
• A time of recommendation
• A time for choosing the best direction
• A time of significant growth

Consultations will help your church move forward into God's mission with a bigger vision and greater confidence.