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Perhaps the greatest thing about a blogging community is the community.  It’s the confluence of ideas shared globally without limitation of geographic boundaries.

In that spirit I share a recent personal experience.  Specifically it is about wisdom.  Wisdom with such depth that I’m still trying to wrap my mind around its truth.

If your an outside consultant you know your services will greatly help churches.  At the risk of sounding brash, churches need what you have to offer. The Challenge: how do you get churches to see their need and how they will benefit through your consulting ministry?

I recently posed this question to a colleague and friend.  He answered me with this redirected question, “How do you convince a person struggling with an addiction to admit they have a problem and seek outside intervention?”

That was a week ago and I’m still processing the depth of his response.  Do churches struggle with addictions?  Are church members and leaders addicted to destructive behaviors that undermine the health and wellness of their local congregations?

To be honest, his response made me a bit angry.  I mean, Christ’s Bride can’t suffer from addictions... Can she?  Then again...

Painfully I must admit my friend’s response holds some truth.  I can’t say I have fully processed, because I am still wrestling with it in my own heart and mind.

I will say this.  If addiction in the church is true, then the significance of our consulting work is exponentially more urgent!

So, what are your thoughts?  Is the Bride of Christ struggling with an addiction?  Is the biggest hurdle to helping churches their own addiction driven denial?

I’m looking forward to reading your comments.


Alan Chandler is a Consultant Partner with Church Doctor Ministries www.churchdoctor.org, a full-service church consultation ministry dedicated to helping Christians and churches become more effective for the Great Commission, to make disciples of all people.  Alan can be reached at alanchandler@churchdoctor.org