I recently heard a talk, made by an officer of a large corporation, on the captioned subject. In it, he stated that any business, whether large or small, needed to establish objectives, make plans, to reach those objectives and conduct a self-examination at regular intervals to determine the progress and if necessary, amend the objectives. If this process is to succeed, the objectives must be REALISTIC and ATTAINABLE. In establishing the "OBJECTIVES', management must consider the resources available, the potential market and competition. The "OBJECTIVES" (goals to be attained) should not therefore be measured by what someone else is doing or what we did last year.
In doing the work of the Church (edifying itself, caring for its needy and preaching the gospel-Eph. 4:11-16), we too should "manage by objective." If each of us as individuals, as well as the Local Congregation, as such, would apply these "Business Principles" in carrying out our work here during the year 1970, the results would exceed our fondest imaginations (God will give the increase, if we sow and water (I Cor. 3:6).
A. What are some of our Available Resources?
1. The Gospel-God's power to save. (Rom. 1:16).
The unsearchable riches of Christ. (Eph. 3: 7-12)
The manifold wisdom of God. (Eph.3:10).
2. A congregation of the Lord's people consisting of 184 saints, 3 bishops and 7 deacons. (Phil. 1:1). (Note: These are figures for the Winchester Road congregation in Memphis, Tennessee.)
3. A place where we can assemble (Heb.10:25) with Christ in our midst (Matt. 18:20) worship; Him in Spirit and Truth (Jno. 4:23-24).
4. A number of Evangelists with whom we enjoy "fellowship in the gospel" (Phil. 1:3-5).
B. What is our Potential Market?
The field is white unto harvest (Jno. 4:35). (There are at least 500,000 souls needing this Gospel within a ten mile radius of where we meet and millions of others within our reach).
C. Who is our Competition?
l. The devil (I Pet. 5:8).
2. False teachers (Acts 20:28-30: I Tim. 4:1-3; I Jno. 4:1).
3. The World (pleasures) (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Matt. 13:22; Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 4:4).
In View of these Resources and this Potential Market (and in spite of the Competition), dont you think it would be both Realistic and Attainable, to set a goal of 100 converts to Christ and an attendance at All Bible Classes of 300 by the end of 1970? Are you willing to do your part? See Eccl. 12:13-14.
TRUTH MAGAZINE XIV; 19, pp. 13-14
March 19, 1970
