Congregational SWOT Analysis

I) Personal Comments

A) Recovering from surgery has been hard and time consuming.

1. Has limited what I have been able to do this year.

2. We have been blessed by your patience, love, and concern.

B) Becoming an elder

1. Appreciate your confidence and it says something about how you view Regena and the family.

2. It has been a learning process. Just getting used to thinking a little differently and balancing my responsibilities as an elder with being a preacher.

C) Appreciate this congregation and your prayers

II) Congregational Activities

A) Men we are supporting

1. Daniel Sanders – now preaching at Merrillville , IN.

2. Eddie Pagan preaches at Paris , Kentucky

3. Robert Nichols preaches at Payson , AZ

B) Gospel Meetings

1. Sean Sullivan is scheduled for April 12- 17, 2009

2. Daniel Sanders is scheduled from September 13-18, 2009

C) Other activities

1. Newspaper article that runs the last Saturday of each month.

2. Television program that will run each week. Times are scheduled to be 4:30 pm Sunday; 7:30 pm Wednesday; and 10:30 pm Thursday

3. VBS is scheduled for the 1^st week in June.

III) SWOT Analysis

(The key is to be able to accurately judge your SWOT. Example: A church may be growing but actually doing very little. Another congregation may be facing declining numbers but be doing all the right things. One may feel discouraged and the other encouraged but for the wrong reasons.)

A) Strengths

1. Bible – the word of God.

a. We are to be sure that everything we do is based upon that word, Matthew 7.24-28

b. Whatever is accomplished outside of God’s word will be destroyed, Matthew 15.13.

c. We are to be like the brethren at Berea , Acts 17.11

2. Organized Bible Classes with capable teachers, Antioch continued for a whole year with Barnabas and Saul teaching them.

a. We read of disciples at Jerusalem being together in the temple as they studied the word of God.

b. We should be thankful that we have students and teachers for many congregations do not.

3. Good mixture of most ages – problem when a congregation does not have any young people or any older Christians. Philippians 3.15-16

a. Not all will be mature in a congregation. This will lead to various problems due to youth and a lack of knowledge. Therefore there is always the need to teach on fundamentals of the gospel.

b. There will be those growing and needing more “meat” as described in Hebrews 5.12-14; 6.1

B) Weaknesses

1. Every congregation has “issues and problems” for we are all human. Show me a congregation that makes no mistakes and I will show you a congregation that is doing nothing.

2. Need for more people to be involved in teaching Bible Classes.

3. Lack of visitors and contact with our community.

4. Attendance on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights.

a. Young people classes – teachers do not know who will be there or if they will even have a class.

b. Some sermons are preached when the people are not there to hear them that need to hear them.

C) Opportunities

1. Remember the saying that opportunities are really problems in disguise? 1 Corinthians 16.9 Problems presents us with opportunities.

2. We have younger Christians with great ability. You will have the opportunity to take a bigger part in worship services, teaching classes, leading in prayers and so on.

3. We live in a community with 50,000 people and most of those are not N. T. Christians.

a. Paul at Mars Hill, Acts 17.16 – 23, His spirit was provoked, he acknowledged their religious nature, took advantage of that to teach to them Jesus.

b. We have to see our opportunities: bad economic times, social changes, etc.

4. Lots of people live within 5 minutes of this building. The fields are white unto the harvest, John 4.35ff.

D) Threats

1. Apathy – toward evangelism, our personal responsibilities toward God and each other.

a. In Paul’s letters the first part dealt with the doctrinal issues and the 2^nd part with living the Christian life.

2. Discouragement – leads to many problems such as backbiting, complaining, finger pointing. Either we battle against satan or each other.

a. We need godly zeal – Galatians 4.18

b. We need to run so as to win, Galatians 5.7

Conclusion: The success or failure of this congregation to reach the lost, convert our children, edify its members; rest upon us. If you are dissatisfied or want to do more then do more. Talk with the elders, let us know. We have the responsibility to look out for your souls, to feed and lead this flock in a way that will please God. We need your prayers. Let us pray together.

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