I recently returned from my annual ministry planning retreat. It is a highlight of mine every year, to review God’s work, rejoice in His leading and power, and look forward with anticipation to yet another year of service for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Most likely your ministry organization, or your business, goes through some type of an annual strategic planning review process. But the process I am talking about here is more personal, about God’s calling on your life and ministry, specifically.
This is how I go about this important time of planning and praying. Hopefully, it will be helpful to you.
Select the Location
The first priority is seclusion for 2-3 days. You really need to be by yourself, with God, and no one else. This also means purposefully cutting yourself off from interruptions from your phone and email.
Find a relaxing place, relatively low-cost, and where you will have plenty of work space. You will need to be able to think and pray aloud. It is also possible you will need access to God’s natural creation to wander about and talk further with Him.
Establish the Theme and Topics
About two weeks beforehand, pay more attention to your life, ministry, hopes and concerns. Take notice of where you find yourself in God’s Word each days. Likely the theme for your annual ministry planning retreat will emerge.
Think big picture. What do you need to pray through? Talk to the Lord Jesus about? Or, just spend time thinking through opportunities, challenges and options? Maybe even research a little further?
Categorize these items into a few broad topics you need to cover. Bring the necessary documents, goals and files you might need. But bring only the few you really need, so as not to be over prepared.
Follow the Schedule
Organize your work time into 2 hour blocks with plenty of rest time in between them. The schedule needs to be both productive and enjoyable for you. Prepare yourself to hear from God; be expectant, as He will meet with you and show you His goodness.
Begin each session with singing one hymn or listening to one praise song. Listen closely to the words and how it might address you and your situation. Then read those Bible verses that you selected that fits the theme of your planning retreat. Stop and pray, worship in silence, just be open with your heavenly Father about why you are here and what you need Him to provide.
Then it is time to work. How is the Holy Spirit directing you at this point? Maybe you need to pray even more. Maybe you need to do some research or write up new plans, or sketch out diagrams. Maybe you need to develop an idea, or even a whole new vision. Maybe it is as simple as laying out specific goals for the coming year, or filling out annual planning forms. When the time block is up, close in prayer, take the break, and return refreshed to tackle the next topic.
Capture the Gains
In your closing session, review your progress and transfer ideas and action items to your calendar and wherever else you might need to keep them. You want to be able to head home with the process completed, not having to do this later.
Take time to thank God for listening and answering your prayers, and giving you direction. In the coming weeks and months, He most likely will continue to speak to you, refine your plans, and confirm His guidance to you both internally and by granting success.
One of the best rewards from following this annual pattern of strategic planning is seeing how faithful God is year after year. He is faithful to move His own plans forward by moving you to play a significant part in them. We learn so much about God, and enjoy Him even more, as we seek to follow His will in our lives and ministries.
Most likely your ministry organization, or your business, goes through some type of an annual strategic planning review process. But the process I am talking about here is more personal, about God’s calling on your life and ministry, specifically.
This is how I go about this important time of planning and praying. Hopefully, it will be helpful to you.
Select the Location
The first priority is seclusion for 2-3 days. You really need to be by yourself, with God, and no one else. This also means purposefully cutting yourself off from interruptions from your phone and email.
Find a relaxing place, relatively low-cost, and where you will have plenty of work space. You will need to be able to think and pray aloud. It is also possible you will need access to God’s natural creation to wander about and talk further with Him.
Establish the Theme and Topics
About two weeks beforehand, pay more attention to your life, ministry, hopes and concerns. Take notice of where you find yourself in God’s Word each days. Likely the theme for your annual ministry planning retreat will emerge.
Think big picture. What do you need to pray through? Talk to the Lord Jesus about? Or, just spend time thinking through opportunities, challenges and options? Maybe even research a little further?
Categorize these items into a few broad topics you need to cover. Bring the necessary documents, goals and files you might need. But bring only the few you really need, so as not to be over prepared.
Follow the Schedule
Organize your work time into 2 hour blocks with plenty of rest time in between them. The schedule needs to be both productive and enjoyable for you. Prepare yourself to hear from God; be expectant, as He will meet with you and show you His goodness.
Begin each session with singing one hymn or listening to one praise song. Listen closely to the words and how it might address you and your situation. Then read those Bible verses that you selected that fits the theme of your planning retreat. Stop and pray, worship in silence, just be open with your heavenly Father about why you are here and what you need Him to provide.
Then it is time to work. How is the Holy Spirit directing you at this point? Maybe you need to pray even more. Maybe you need to do some research or write up new plans, or sketch out diagrams. Maybe you need to develop an idea, or even a whole new vision. Maybe it is as simple as laying out specific goals for the coming year, or filling out annual planning forms. When the time block is up, close in prayer, take the break, and return refreshed to tackle the next topic.
Capture the Gains
In your closing session, review your progress and transfer ideas and action items to your calendar and wherever else you might need to keep them. You want to be able to head home with the process completed, not having to do this later.
Take time to thank God for listening and answering your prayers, and giving you direction. In the coming weeks and months, He most likely will continue to speak to you, refine your plans, and confirm His guidance to you both internally and by granting success.
One of the best rewards from following this annual pattern of strategic planning is seeing how faithful God is year after year. He is faithful to move His own plans forward by moving you to play a significant part in them. We learn so much about God, and enjoy Him even more, as we seek to follow His will in our lives and ministries.
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