3 weeks ago I injured my back doing deadlifts. That’s right! Deadlifts…my last set of deadlifts ever I might add. I’m turning 40 this year and I’m checking out some of those cool walkers with the tennis balls on the legs. So after 3 weeks of grumbling I decided to head to the chiropractor this week. He asked some great questions for me before he began, and I thought they might be good questions for you as well.
WHERE DOES IT HURT
This is an obvious question as it relates to ministry. We tend to focus on the point of pain, but it’s also important to know that treating the symptom doesn’t always solve the problem. You’ve got to track the pain back to the source. A church with financial issues often times thinks the “big donor” is the solution. But debt is just a pain caused by a larger issue. That underlying issue has to be resolved or the pain will re-appear down the road.
WHEN DOES IT HURT
Me “Doc it hurts when I do this….” 
Doc “Then don’t do that!!”
Me “Great freakin answer Doc”
Before we begin consulting with a church on facilities, we always spend a couple of days with people who lead each area of ministry for the church. Each of these people can easily answer the question of “When does it hurt” for their area of ministry. They are living it every day. As the organizational leader it can be easy to misunderstand or diminish the magnitude of “when it hurts”. Take some time to intentionally involve yourself in the emotion of the challenges from their point of view. Your key leaders are critical to solving the challenges your church faces, and they are critical to its continued growth.
HOW IT HURTS
How does the problem really hurt. With my back, I’m having a hard time getting to the gym (harder than normal). I can’t throw my daughter around like normal. My wife is ready to snatch my spine out if it’ll help with the winning.
How do your problems really hurt the church? If someone spends weeks, months, or years investing in their neighbor and finally gets them to come into your church, how does your “hurt” impact their desire to return? What is the conversation they are having in the car driving away sound like? That is the real cost of your pain. (BTW – I got the “driving away” question from Kerry Bural at Resonate or Die. Great question, thanks Kerry!)
WHY DOES IT HURT
Once you find the underlying source of the pain you can better understand the decisions or mindsets that contributed to the pain. My most obvious answer to “why” my back hurts was deadlifts. The real “why” however has more to do with years of sitting the wrong way looking at a computer screen, not taking other sports injuries seriously, and a general disregard for my back in general.
Understanding the real “why” is critical to solving the deepest challenges we have as church leaders and human beings in general. Many churches spend years treating the symptoms and never striking at the heart of the problem. Track your challenges back to decisions you’ve made. Once you’ve done that look at those decisions and ask yourself “what was the underlying thought we used to make that decision?”. Was it faith in an all powerful God, or was the decision based on some sort of fear. Fear of negative ramifications or fear of missing out on something.
The Doc asked me all of these questions before he laid a hand on me. He also did and x-ray which is sort of what you’re doing here.
There are always multiple solutions to any problem if we take the time to really look. The trick is to find the one that offers the best fit for what you can afford. What you can afford financially, from a time investment, and what you can afford to spend in influence with the people who follow you.
How does your church deal with pain?
Wow, Richard. This is a great set of questions to coach any ministry leader to solve a nagging problem. I’m going to incorporate this into my life and ministry. Thanks!