MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES.
Chapter 4: PLANNING.
You prepare to accomplish God’s purpose for your ministry by wise planning. An objective is an aim or end of action, a goal or intent to be reached, a plan. When you set objectives for ministry, you make organized plans to accomplish God’s purpose and you plan whether you consciously decide to do so or not. Planning by setting objectives is just an organized way of doing what you already do. It helps provide focus and direction for each day, brings your activities in harmony with your purpose of ministry, planning is a way of obeying the Lord and accomplishing His purposes for your life and ministry. Objectives are commitments you make to the future, not sacred commands. Objectives are steps you take to fulfill the purpose God has given you, plans for accomplishing purposes. Purposes inspires you, but objectives push you forward to accomplish the vision. Purpose is like faith, objectives are like works. Purpose without plans are unproductive, just as Faith without works is dead. Your purpose in God’s plan is great enough that it will take your lifetime to fulfill. Plans are just little steps along the way towards fulfilling the vision God has given you. Paul’s objectives were to open their eyes, turn them from darkness to light, turn them from the power of satan to God, lead them to forgiveness of sins and Lead them into their spiritual inheritance. The types of objectives are personal objectives and group objectives. Objectives permits you to accomplish God’s specific purpose for your ministry. Having a plan helps you make things happen rather than just letting things happen. Plans permits you to act with purpose rather than react in urgent frenzy. Objectives provide direction. Because objectives identify what is to be done, everyone knows the plan and confusion is eliminated. Objectives privides knowledge of where you are going. Planning ahead helps anticipate problems and work out solutions before the problems occur, thus you engage in offensive spiritual warfare rather than defensive. Planning helps people find their place of ministry in the body of Christ. Objectives permits evaluation of ministry. Planning helps you identify your motives. Objectives should come through prayer, guidance of the Holy Spirit, study of God’s word and from understanding your specific purpose within God’s plan. Planning is not a substitute for prayer and Bible study. Planning should result from prayer and Bible study. Planning should also relate to purpose. Prayer, Bible study and knowledge of purpose are very important to planning. Without these, you will plan with human reasoning. Planning involves setting priorities. Priorities are things that are more important than others. Objectives must be written, make it easier to remember, implement and evaluate your plans. Objectives must relate to purpose, must be clearly stated, must be balanced, definate, measurable, organized by priority and includes both long term and short term objectives. Plans can be for immediate future plans and distant future plans. Planning is a process. The Holy Spirit may direct you to change plans. Plans should be flexible and open to change.