Church Consulting – Redefined (Part 1)
As an entrepreneur, change is a constant. Anthony Coppedge Consulting has changed significantly over the past the six years I’ve been out on my own. Most of the changes have come through necessity, others through revelation. In each instance, change resulted in new ways of doing what I love: helping people to be more effective.
When I started the company, the focus was on audio, video and lighting system design. The tech-centric focus increased with the addition of teaching and speaking opportunities where I was able to rattle off the latest model numbers and point people to the coolest technology. By rubbing shoulders with manufacturers and reviewing their products, the consulting practice morphed to include training their staff on what products churches needed, which led to product development, product training, sales training and market research about the House of Worship market buying habits.
In 2006, God literally took me to my knees in a time of desperate prayer. I’d been doing things my way long enough and He gently kicked my butt and lovingly showed me how to take my focus off of the tech and put it properly on His people. As a result, in literally one day, I changed my entire consulting model. “It’s not about tech, it’s about people” became my mantra and the focus of my consulting, processes, training and teaching. Change happened again.
Jump forward to 2009, six years after launching my business on the expo show floor of Infocomm, and change is happening – again. With both the necessity of market changes and the vision I’ve received from the Lord, I’ve re-invented my version of consulting with an even greater focus on helping people – senior pastors, executive pastors, business administrators, worship leaders, ministry staff and technical artists – to become more effective.
Something I’ve learned along the way is that when you make people the focus of your efforts, the resulting processes, priorities and passions (an alliteration just for my pastor friends!) becomes clear. If you want to help an organization become more effective, start by helping the people become more effective.
Trust me, I’ve tried it the other way around. I’ve helped churches get the right technology. I’ve shown them how to make the necessary process changes. I’ve spent countless hours designing new systems to make things more efficient. But you want to know a really important truth about a local church? None of that matters if “what” isn’t preceded by “why”.
The What? Technology. But great technology does not overcome the lack of a friendly, genuine welcome to a each and every person.
The What? Processes. A terrific process model won’t pour life back into those who serve.
The What? Marketing. A solid marketing campaign won’t matter if the church doesn’t follow up with consistent, personal communications.
Focusing on people helps me understand what makes each organization unique. Once I experience their DNA and understand the vision given to them by the Lord, helping people will then bring about the right processes, priorities and passions.
My re-imagined consulting means I spend time helping the church go way beyond needs analysis and well into practical applications of holistic communications and technology implementation. All of it, of course, is based around making sure the right people are in the right places with the right tools to make the most impact.
In Part 2, I’ll talk more about the kind of changes I’ve been making and how it’s helping churches just like yours experience healthy change and growth.
3 Responses to “Church Consulting – Redefined (Part 1)”
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I'm Anthony Coppedge, a follower of Jesus, a husband to my uber-bride and father to four great kids. I help ministries leverage technology and communicate with a digitally-infused culture. I'm passionate about this, so that makes me a Technology & Communications Evangelist. I attend and volunteer at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX and love it!
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Good stuff, Anthony. Great to hear how God is speaking to you and growing you. Exciting. Very challenging personally as I read it. Thanks for the reminder to focus on the people God puts in my life. I'm eager for part 2.
Thanks for making me think again Anthony. I have something to add – I have learnt thru trial and lots of error that people with the gift of administration dont love you for reducing their work load via technology – you need to give them something else to do that they feel fulfilled doing! Also I would add that just because it seems so obvious re: technology or graphics or anything, it is not obvious to lots and lots of people – even when they say they are computer literate. Will spend more time contemplating what you have written!
Sounds great Anthony. I can't wait to hear more 'updates from the field'!