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The GiDC Process – One year at-a-time

submitted 2 years ago by to GiDC
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Link: https://www.ncmtraining.com/2022/09/27/the-gidc-process-one-year-at-a-time/

I’m changing how I invite people to the GiDC process. I want to invite them to one year at-a-time. This does not deny the reality that it takes 3-4 years to build a culture. Three-four years is the message I preach, but, three years is a daunting time period to hold people’s attention. Why think in one-year time commitments?

First, three years is a big bite for many to swallow. One year is an easier commitment and can build incentive for adding another year. Taking one year at-a-time easily communicates the three-fold emphasis of the GiDC process. For example, year one is about the CORE; year two is CULTURE; year three is COMMUNITY IMPACT.

One year commitments gives both us and the church a way “out.” Situations change at churches — pastors move on, building projects start, congregational challenges happen. Sometimes churches have to adjust priorities and a year at-a-time focus gives them a way out if circumstances change.

A one-year commitment with a subsequent evaluation also gives us (NCM staff) a way out. We may discover that a church is not ready for intensive disciplemaking training or conditions arise in the church where key leaders are not available. Taking a year at-a-time with a built-in evaluation gives both sides an opportunity to re-negotiate in light of new realities.

How can this approach happen? First, we mark together the starting date and target a one-year date with an evaluation. Second, the evaluation reviews the GiDC Church Agreement noting the topics and actions completed for that year.

I would also ask some additional questions.

1. What disciplemaking progress has been most encouraging?
2. What disciplemaking actions would you like to see taken in the
next year?
3. What is the Lord teaching you, a leader, about disciplemaking?
4. What are some small indicators that a culture is being built?
5. What has encouraged the building of a disciplemaking culture?
6. What has discouraged or slowed the process of building a
culture?
7. What action steps have you taken as a leader to build a culture?
8. What actions steps are still necessary to take to build a culture?
9. What about the GiDC process has been most helpful so far?
10. What can The Navigators do to improve our culture building
process with you?

Time is given to “sleep on” the results of this discussion before we meet again to plan the next steps.At this session, I will ask them to review our discussion on the Agreement plus the other questions and make two decisions. One, does the church want to continue? Two, what are the priorities for the next year? I will inform them prior to this last meerting that I (or the team) will be making a similar assessment and decide whether we want to continue investing in this church and identify the next action steps.

My former mentor John Ed Robertson used to say that “Sometimes when you give people the benefit of the doubt the doubt’s not really a benefit.” We want to continue to help every church but sometimes the best course of action is to cut the tie, releasing us and the church. However, this tie is cut in the context of a loving discussion and not by a quick decision on either part.

One year commitments serve the church and us. They set the church up for success by giving an honest picture of progress (or lack of) and a plan for the coming year. One year commitments take into account the changing realities and expectations in the church’s life and in our lives.



5 responses to “The GiDC Process – One year at-a-time”

    1. 0

    It would also be nice to pull together an assessment at the end of each year. …Questions for them and for our work with them.

    2. -1

    Is there a way to set up notifications when discussions are posted? These types of conversations would be helpful for many!

    3. 0

    The one-year idea feels right. Also, I love the idea of an annual assessment alongside recasting the vision yearly. I’m part of a new LLT at my church and after seeing people’s looks of disbelief at the thought of a 3-year commitment, we said, “Let’s focus on this first year. I bet you’ll want to continue after a year.”