How to Keep Your Finger off the Panic Button of a Church in Crisis

Churches that are in decline, and especially small ones, tend to push the panic button when things become dire. The first thing they do is call a meeting, and next they start looking for someone to blame. The problem with this approach is that it rarely leads to anything constructive. In fact, it usually makes things worse. The church ends up in a state of constant crisis, always on the verge of imploding.

When people feel as if they are backed into a corner, they will generally react in ways that are not rational or prudent. Same goes for churches that feel they are at the last resort mentality.  Here are some tips on how to keep your finger off the panic button when your church is in crisis.

These should be some of the first steps.

1. Pray for wisdom.

This should be the first thing you do when you feel like your church is in crisis. Prayer is not a magic wand that will make all your problems go away, but it is a way to seek guidance from God. When you pray for wisdom, you are asking God to help you see the situation clearly as He sees it. When making decisions while we are under threat of closure, we will make choices that may not be the best for the church at that moment. I often tell people...Breath...take that moment to collect yourself before deciding the next course of action to take. Allow God to speak to you in that moment.

2. Don't call a meeting.

When things are going bad, the last thing you want to do is bring people together and have them talk about it. This will only serve to make things worse. The best thing you can do is to have a few key people who are responsible for making decisions and trust them to make the right ones. This will be your church board or church leadership. This is where the discussion should have started in the first place. Be about the business of talking about the hard things. It is not a time to avoid talking about the elephant in the room. There need to be open and honest conversation on next steps and what the consequences will be if those steps are not take. 

3. Don't look for someone to blame.

When things go wrong, it is easy to start pointing fingers. This is usually counterproductive and only serves to further divide the church. It is important to remember that no one is perfect, and that we all make mistakes. If your church is in a state of despair, it is most likely the result of everyone’s neglect and not just a select few. If the can has been kicked down the road it is because everyone avoided the hard conversation. Instead of looking for someone to blame, try to find a way to move forward. It took more than one to get you in this place and it will take more than one to get you out.

4. Focus on the future, not the past.

It's easy to get caught up in what went wrong and who is to blame. But this only leads to finger-pointing and division. Instead, focus on what you can do to make things better. What are your goals? What needs to be done to achieve them? What areas are lacking? Refocus on evangelism and discipleship. reach the people that are outside your doors.

You cannot change the poor choices of your past, but you can sure do something about right choices now and in the future. The best course of action is doing something about the moment you are in right now. The present is the only thing you can operate in that can move the church in the right direction. Use your "now" to the fullest extent possible.

5. Don't make decisions in the heat of the moment.

When emotions are running high, it's often hard to think clearly. If possible, wait a day or two before making any decisions. This will give you time to calm down and think things through more clearly. Taking that breath will help do that. You Can’t Control Your Emotions, But You Can Control Your Response to those emotions. The best decisions are made when there's a careful balance between emotions and logic. When your emotions are running high, your logic will be low, which can lead to irrational decisions. Allow God to direct your paths. God already knows what He wants for you, long before you got to this point, so allow Him to direct you out.

6. Be careful who you listen to.

There are always going to be people who want to take advantage of a church in crisis. They may offer quick-fix solutions that sound good but don't really address the underlying problems. Be careful who you listen to, and don't make any decisions until you've had a chance to pray about it. Keeping your hearts ear in tune with God is the only true answer to any situation.

Finally, don't forget to pray for wisdom. This is the first thing you do and the last thing you do. This is the most important thing you can do in a time of crisis. Ask God to give you the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it.

These are just a few suggestions for how to keep your finger off the panic button when your church is in crisis. The most important thing is to remember that God is in control, and He will ultimately bring good out of any situation. Trust Him, and don't let fear or anxiety take over. Instead, focus on doing what you can to move forward in faith.