Change. Change. Change.

If it ain't broke, break it.

In other words, change. Just to change. That may sound like an odd statement, but it's vital. Why? Because change is the guts of creativity.

We all want to be creative. But to do that, in any venue of life, we have to be willing to change. Something. Anything. And we have to do it before we need to do it.

One of the biggest pitfalls we find ourselves in is the inability, or unwillingness, to change. We lock ourselves into a style, a look, a time zone. And after a while, everything we do and say looks and sounds like circa 2002.

When you drill it down, the lack of change is all about fear. Many people and leaders resist the need to change because of the resistance of change. But there's a spin cycle of success when it comes to change.

Change. Conflict. Growth.

If you want your life and your leadership to reach the level God wants it to, you have to change.

At Fellowship Church, we change all the time. There's a running joke that FC stands for "frequent change." But it's true. We've discovered over the past 18 years that when we change, yes, we face conflict. Yes, people do the push back. Yes, some people even leave the church! But as we stick through the changes, we also discover tremendous growth on the other side.

So what does change really look like here?

Change Your Preparation
I don't always prepare my messages the same way. I vary the books I read, the articles I research and the people who help me craft the weekend messages. I even change the places I study. 

If I stick to doing things the same way, I fall into a rut. And there's no less effective place to be than in a rut.

Change Your Worship
Over the years, we've blown up the entire dynamic of our worship department. And not just once.

This is one of those areas that, when it's "working," people are afraid to change. But it's one of the greatest ways to keep the church on its feet with its arms raised in worship rather than folded in familiarity.

Change Your Style
I'm not talking about just your clothes (though, yes, please change those as the years go by). I'm talking about the style of your leadership. In other words, change the people you have in leadership positions.

Even as I write this, we're in the process of changing the entire leadership scheme of Fellowship Church. Because we've discovered that new perspectives, new viewpoints help elevate our church to heights we never dreamed possible.

Don't be afraid of change. Instead, be afraid of what could happen if you don't change. Be willing to face the conflict change will bring. And get ready to experience the growth on the other side!

Comments

[Jamey Santo]

This is a awesome word of encouragement. I am the Director of Operations of a Church in Orlando with a fairly large staff. This brings encouragement to take action on the changes that have been brewing on the inside of me regarding the future development and growth of the Ministry. Thanks for being real and encouraging.

[Esmeralda Yado]

This hits home big time! God has broken me and taken me through some change this year! The type of change that I was so afraid to embrace. When I finally invited change and began to let go of fears, God began revealing some awesome things! Stepping into His dream was the best thing ever. NO regrets!

[Lana Adams]

I LOVE IT ! What is so 2008 is'' It's all about me.'' I have watch a friend make that change of letting go to the world she knows and giving her life to God. I used to listen to her worries , now every time I call she tells me something new God is doing including her going worldwide. Giving God the control is truly worth the change!

[Kathleen Henriques-Brown]

I had to think for a second whether I agreed, as at first thought I considered, 'but doesn't change rock stability?' However, after years in a place where everything stayed the same to the point of boring but comfortable, I was propelled to change by unwanted circumstances in my life. It led me to change my church environment that I had been in since birth, for 35 years, and now 2 years on I'm established somewhere new (Hillsong London) which is completely different to what I had become accustomed to - worship, message style, focus... It has made me welcome new things with a different life-giving perspective. We may be predisposed to believe stability means familiarity, doing what we know how to do well and continuing to do so to expert level, but we may not realise that the lack of experiencing new things can be what makes us unstable, as we wont be ready for when change does inevitabley happen. I recognise now that yes change does rock stability where we have become dependent upon our own infrastructure for security. Change rocks us to fall and depend upon the unshakable things found in Christ Jesus.

[Scottie Sellers]

Change is great. Change needs to happen. Without it we get stuck in a routine and eventually end up in a rut.

[Lisa Neal]

Thanks for this post. I live in Raleigh, NC and we go to Saturday night service at our church so we get to watch you on Sunday mornings and this is something that we will pass on to our fellow leaders at our church.

[Jud Stone]

I find it interesting that it is only we humans that need to change. Thankfully we serve a risen Lord who does not change! Yes, we may need to change to get us in alignment with Him but change in itself could be an avenue for us just to feel like we are doing something.

Christlikeness in us means that we must change, because we are fallen - I look forward to the time when we do not need to change. Jesus did not and does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever - that is our standard.

[Debra Henry]

Pastor Ed: What an very inspirational blog as I am myself amongst an organization that is going through an IS Co-Sourcing initiative. Alot of Long Term employees are being replaced by overseas, less expensive sourced resources. But do these "being replaced" employees look at the "fall out" with anger or as an opportunity to change and find the new adventure God has planned for them. I myself is an independent contractor, who prays daily and values change knowing God only lays in front of us what he knows we and/or He expects us to handle. Thank you Pastor Ed for being an incredible deliverer of HIS message.

[Kris Washam]

Great post...I love change, it keeps me on my toes! Life will give you those curve balls anyway so you might as well keep emotionally fit by shaking things up once in a while.

[Vannessa Rodriguez]

im going through big changes in my life right now... i'm prepared for the difficulties but soooo happy about the new growth coming my way. thank you!

[Andy LaValley]

Ed,

Man I love and agree with all of this! I just wish everyone thought like this in leadership. I am so ready for change that makes a difference.

[Tony McCollum]

Outstanding post, Ed. Thanks for sharing this.

[Eveyn van Winkle]

LOL Reminds me of a Cheers episode in which Fraser attempts to help Woody with his speech:

[Woody is rehearsing his swearing-in speech]

Woody: "I believe I was elected to the city council as an agent of change, and I fully intend to live up to that pledge. I will make change."
Frasier: No, change "change" to "a change."
Woody: What?
Frasier: No, see in here, you make change. There you make a change, so just make the change - change "make change" to "make a change" - OH, JUST CHANGE IT!!
[storms out of the bar]
Woody: I think I see why Dr. Crane never cures anybody.

To be all things to all people as Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 9, we have to be adaptable, willing and able to change. It might be uncomfortable, but it is exciting :) Being a Christ follower IS exciting!

P.S.
Come back to visit us at BAF Corpus Christi!

[Marcus Hackler]

As a creative professional I recognize and thrive on change, but it's interesting how even as I'm naturally apt to thrive in this environment, I still get stuck in a rut of routine... The truth is relationships are naturally organic and fluid, so why not embrace the dynamism? Good post Ed!

[changeisgood4u]

Amen.