Starting small

Start-up ministries can look very different from one another.

Some may be brand new. Others may have been operating for several years but still feel like a start-up because the ministry is continually experimenting, defining its identity and establishing its way of working

You may recognise some of these characteristics:

What you may be experiencing	What this can look like
A developing vision	You are still clarifying exactly what the ministry is called to do
Overlapping roles	One person may be responsible for several areas
Limited resources	Time, money and people may all be stretched
Experimentation	You are testing programmes, services or ways of reaching people
Strong relationships	Trust and personal relationships are central to getting things done
Founder influence	One or two people may carry much of the vision and decision-making
Flexibility	Plans change quickly as you learn what works

None of these things automatically mean that something is wrong.

They are often simply part of beginning.

Pause and reflect

Think about your ministry today.

Where would you place it on this continuum?

Exploring → Starting → Establishing → Growing

Now consider:

What makes you think your ministry is currently in this stage?

Example:

“We have a clear sense of why we exist, but our programmes are still being tested and several responsibilities are carried by the same two people.”

Write down two or three observations.