One of the pivotal moments occurs as the year draws to a close. This period is a time for reflection and celebration of growth and a critical phase for planning and looking forward. During these concluding months, many participants ask the foundational question: "What are we doing next year?"
One of our foundational objectives is captured in the phrase "To know Him and make Him known." We have spent the year on knowing God, cultivating spiritual disciplines and prioritizing our relationship with Him. As we transition from deepening our knowledge of God to sharing it, the Personal Ministry Plan becomes a crucial tool. It is the culmination of a year's worth of spiritual growth. This is not just an exercise but a commitment to action.
Gather all your information. Throughout the year, we have been developing several pieces of information for this exercise. I am convinced that God will begin to reveal His plan for your life when you pull it all together.
- Journal summaries. Each month, we summarized our top four journal entries. What were the recurring themes? What is God's Word leading you to do in your next phase of life?
- Book summaries. Review your big ideas, key takeaways, and personal applications.
- Assignment summaries. Review your notes from each assignment. Prioritize the areas you need to work on the most.
- Impact zone. Who is in your circle of influence, and how are you leveraging that influence for God?
Create the plan. A ministry plan can be as basic or complex as you want. I recommend your plan be in the form of 10 strategic goals for the following year. They need to be specific and measurable. Only put it on your plan if you are committed to doing it.
Examples of goals:
- Read through the Bible in a year.
- Memorize one verse per week.
- Pray daily with my spouse.
- Lead my family in weekly devotions.
- Get in an accountability group.
- Start serving at church or begin a small group.
Share it at the final meeting. Be prepared to share your plan with your group during your final meeting. Give a copy to someone who will hold you accountable for completing it. Your spouse should not be your accountability partner for this assignment, but I encourage you to share it with your spouse.
