The Craftsmanship of Ministry: Building Something That Lasts
In the world of ministry, we often find ourselves caught between the desire for immediate results and the reality that meaningful change takes time. As pastors and church leaders, building ministry or the church requires diligence to focus on the right things. It requires us to take a different and longer-term perspective on the work we are doing.
I feel, at times, as leaders we are too quick to stop doing something just because it's not an overnight success. We might make changes to the youth ministry to make it more relevant and fun for students. After the first few weeks, if attendance drops below the levels of where we started, we may start to panic and revert to what we were doing before, just to make those who might not have liked the change comfortable once again. Sometimes change takes time to create impactful results.
As we implement change, I think we should keep a pulse on the relevance of our programs to the variety of individuals and families in our congregation and community. Our churches should include and welcome people of all walks of life. If there are not people in your congregation outside of your typical social circles, you are not building a church, you are building a clique.
The Carpenter's Wisdom
In Jon Gordon's book "The Carpenter," the master craftsman shares wisdom that applies powerfully to our work in ministry. As I've reflected on his insights, three principles have particularly transformed my approach to church leadership:
"A carpenter builds things. A craftsman creates a work of art." This distinction is crucial for ministry leaders. Many of us are content to simply build programs, services, and structures that function adequately. But God calls us to something higher—to approach our work as craftsmen creating something beautiful that reflects His glory. The difference lies not in the tools or materials, but in the mindset, intention, and care we bring to our work. When we approach ministry with craftsmanship, we elevate our service from mere functionality to something that can be life changing.
Always begin with the end in mind. The master craftsman never starts cutting wood without a clear vision of the finished piece. Similarly, effective ministry requires us to envision the ultimate spiritual outcome before implementing changes. What kind of disciples are we trying to form? What kingdom impact are we working toward? Starting with this clear vision allows us to make decisions that align with our ultimate purpose, even when immediate results seem discouraging. Without this end vision, we risk making reactive decisions based on temporary setbacks.
While most people approach their work with the mindset that they just want to get it done, craftsmen are different. They don't rush. They don't cut corners. They focus on doing their work with excellence. This insight speaks directly to our culture's obsession with efficiency and immediate results. In ministry, we often feel pressured to produce quick, visible outcomes. But transformation—both individual and communal—requires time. When we rush change or measure success by short-term metrics, we undermine the deep work God wants to do. The craftsman's approach reminds us that patience and excellence honor both the process and the people we serve.
Understanding the Change Timeline
Meaningful change doesn't happen overnight—it's a journey measured in years, not weeks or months. Church growth experts have consistently found that substantial cultural shifts within established churches typically require three to five years before demonstrating sustainable growth patterns.
Thom Rainer, a respected church consultant, has studied over 300,000 churches in the U.S. needing revitalization—not merely for numerical growth, but to recenter congregations on the foundational mission of developing disciples who actively share and embody the gospel.
Drawing from business insights, we can see that revitalization often follows a pattern known as a "J-curve"—an initial period of decline or stagnation before meaningful and lasting growth emerges. This timeline makes perfect sense when we consider that we're working with people's hearts, habits, and deeply ingrained cultural expectations—not just programs or structures. Leaders navigating these periods of change must recognize that temporary setbacks aren't signs of failure but necessary parts of the transformation process. The dip in the J-curve requires us to hold fast to our vision, practicing the carpenter's patience while continuing to communicate clearly why these changes matter for kingdom impact.
It's precisely during these challenging seasons that craftsmanship in ministry becomes most crucial—when we must focus on building with excellence even when immediate results aren't visible.
The Tiger Woods Lesson
Consider the example of Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time. In 1997-1999, at the height of his early success, Woods made the courageous decision to completely rebuild his swing with coach Butch Harmon. This wasn't a minor adjustment but a fundamental reconstruction of the very thing that had brought him fame and success.
The results were initially devastating. His world ranking dropped from #1 to #13. He won only one tournament in 1998. Critics questioned his judgment. Fans worried he had ruined his natural talent. The easy path would have been to abandon the change and return to his previous swing.
But Woods understood something essential: short-term regression was necessary for long-term greatness. After fully integrating the swing changes, he went on to win 8 major championships in the next 5 years and dominated the sport in ways previously unimaginable.
Applying Craftsmanship to Ministry
Like Tiger Woods rebuilding his swing, our ministries sometimes need fundamental restructuring that will temporarily disrupt established patterns. Gordon's carpenter would remind us that the strength of the structure depends on the details that no one sees. The most important work in ministry often happens beneath the surface, invisible to those who count only attendance or immediate engagement.
When attendance drops after implementing changes, remember:
Trust the process. Just as a carpenter follows a blueprint even when the structure doesn't yet resemble the final product, trust the discernment process that led to the change in the first place. If you've prayed, consulted wise counsel, and feel God's leading, allow time for the vision to materialize.
Focus on quality, not speed. In "The Carpenter," Gordon highlights that when you rush, you make mistakes. Ministry rushed for the sake of quick results rarely produces lasting fruit. Focus instead on building with excellence, even if it takes longer.
Communicate the "why" repeatedly. People resist change when they don't understand its purpose. The carpenter doesn't just build—he helps clients understand why each choice matters. Similarly, keep casting vision for why the changes matter for the kingdom of God.
Expect resistance as normal. Even Jesus faced resistance to new ways of thinking. Resistance doesn't mean you're doing something wrong—it often means you're challenging comfortable patterns that need to be disrupted.
Build for the next generation. The master craftsman builds furniture that will last for generations, not just for immediate use. Similarly, our ministry changes should consider not just current attendees but future participants who will benefit from the foundation we're laying.
The Patience of Craftsmanship
Gordon's carpenter says,
“The way to success is the way of the craftsman, where you work really hard for years. You show up every day. You do the work. You see yourself as an artist dedicated to your craft with a desire to get better every day. You put your heart and soul into your work as you strive for excellence. You desire to create perfection, knowing you’ll never truly achieve it but hoping to get close to it. You try new things. You fail. You improve. You grow. You face countless challenges and tons of rejection that make you doubt yourself and cause you to want to quit. But you don’t. You keep working hard, stay positive, and persevere through it all with resilience, determination, and a lot of hope and faith. Then you make it! Everyone wants to work with you. And the world says, ‘Where have you been?’ And you say, ‘I’ve been here all along, and hopefully getting better day by day.’ To the world, you are an overnight success. To you, the journey continues. You’re a craftsman who wants to make your next work of art your best work no matter what you have accomplished in the past.”
This patience—loving the process itself—is perhaps the most countercultural aspect of craftsmanship in our instant-results world.
Ministry crafted with patience produces fruit that lasts. Quick fixes might boost attendance temporarily, but they rarely transform lives or communities. The most impactful ministries are those built by leaders who understand that real change happens slowly, intentionally, and often through periods that appear unproductive.
When you feel discouraged by the apparent regression that sometimes follows innovation in ministry, remember Tiger Woods. Remember the J-curve of church growth. Remember the carpenter who knows that greatness emerges not from rushed work but from patient craftsmanship focused on long-term impact rather than immediate results.
The kingdom of God, after all, grows like a mustard seed—starting small, seemingly insignificant, yet eventually providing shelter for many. May we have the courage to build with that same patient expectation, creating ministries that will stand the test of time.
Michael Visser
Co-founder, Threefold Solutions
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