I recently just finished Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results by Lovett H. Weems, Jr. and Tom Berlin. Along with other members of the senior staff, I read this in preparation for our semi-annual retreat today. I have been considering what it fruitful and effective ministry is like, especially in response to Kevin Watson’s post, Further Thoughts on Measuring Effective Ministry. I appreciated many of the principles put forth in this book. Here is a brief summary:

1. Fruitfulness is part of the character of God and the story told throughout scripture.
2. There is a clear difference between business and fruitfulness.
3. Always be clear about why you are doing anything in the life of the church, i.e. We have worship each week, so that…
4. Alignment between God’s vision and the vision of the leadership is essential for fruitfulness.
5. Capturing a creation story for an existing congregation can catalyze fruitfulness.
6. The entirety of God sized visions aren’t always revealed at the outset.
7. Fruitfulness is enhanced by the governing board, church staff and the congregation being on the same page about vision
8. As a church leader, paying attention to how you care for yourself is of utmost importance.
9. God gives the growth

Perhaps most helpful, I found a clear way to consider fruitful leadership:

“Fruitful leaders care about results because results are ways to go beyond merely filling a pastoral role to active participation in seeking results that we are convinced emerge from the gospel we preach.” (xvi, Bearing Fruit: Ministry with Real Results)

In the words of LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow, “But you don’t have to take my word for it…”