By Eric Swanson
Eric Swanson oversees Leadership Network's Externally Focused Churches Leadership Communities. Several groups have already convened to challenge and encourage each other in setting long-term goals and strategies and new groups are currently forming. You can reach Eric at eric.swanson@leadnet.org.

One of the outcomes of the disasters brought on by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was the way people of faith mobilized for action in response to the loss and pain in the Gulf Coast.

Churches around the country quickly assembled money and materials, concern and convoys to come to the aid of those who were in distress. While politics and policies initially stifled many governmental aid efforts, within hours churches were putting together "first responder" work teams headed for the coast. I can predict with near certainty your church has a story to tell about how you responded to the disaster.

Removing drywall in Gulfport, MS
Defining Moments
Although it may not be obvious to some, Katrina was a watershed event in the life of the church in America. A line was drawn in the sand. Churches had to declare, with respect to helping those outside the church, whether they were "in" or they were "out." There was no neutral ground. There was no time for debate and rhetoric, for the world awaited a church with broad shoulders and big hands to do something.

In Houston, for example, a coalition of the faith community led by several pastors basically said, "The time for talk is over. It's time to put up or shut up, but if you come to help, check your egos and your logos at the door. This is not about us."

In response, tens of thousands in Houston churches rolled up their sleeves, fed and cared for the multitude of evacuees in the Superdome.

It was a defining moment of selflessness for the American church that even grabbed the attention of the New York Times in a story titled, A New Meaning for 'Organized Religion': It Helps the Needy Quickly.

Newspapers across the country, and even the British press, noted the swift movement of churches into relief and recovery operations. Researcher Bryan Jackson told the Times that churches became the first responders because "they're already there. They represent a focal point in the community," Jackson said.

Now, the questions we face as disaster victims struggle to put their lives back together: Can we sustain the action we've seen in the past few weeks that will lead to further change? Can we transform short-term relief into long-term strategy?

Solidifying Change
Jim Collins (author of Built to Last and Good to Great) reminds us that "mechanisms" cause good things to happen even when we aren't paying attention to them. A good illustration of a mechanism is online, automatic bill paying. If you have online bill pay, funds are withdrawn from your checking account whether you pay attention or not.
Acts 6 provides an illustration of how one-time actions can be transformed into permanent mechanisms that continue to cause the right things to happen. The task of feeding the Grecian women was made permanent by establishing deacons to care for the physical needs of the church. Nearly 2,000 years later, this one-time decision still bears fruit.

If you think about it, every value in a church is supported by a mechanism that makes that value operative so that every congregant can experience it. Because we value worship, for instance, we structure worship into the service. If we value prayer, we offer times of prayer--and always will. When we value intimate fellowship, we create a structure for small groups so that everyone can participate.

Everything of value has a supporting structure that promotes that value and defines who you are as a church. If I were to come to your church and ask, "What time is worship?" and you responded, "We don't do that here," I would be surprised if you then told me that worship is one of your core values.

In the same way, if you value helping those in distress (James 1:27), the hungry, prisoners, the sick and the immigrant (Matthew 25:31-46), then by all means put mechanisms in place that will operationalize that value.

Practical Suggestions
Just as you have systems that promote worship, prayer, Bible study and small groups, don't be afraid of systematizing needed and practical service in the community. Here are four suggestions that have value when applied separately and can also be implemented in total:

1. In your annual plans, require that each ministry director (from children to senior adults) include x-number of opportunities for engaging in the needs of the community in the coming year

2. As a church, set aside one day when parents, grandparents, kids, singles and marrieds can serve together on one community project.

3. Build into every small group a regular rhythm of service to those in distress. This is what it means to be part of a small group at your church: Everybody serves.

4. In your teaching, rediscover the truths of Ephesians 2:8-10. We are saved
Home preparation for evacuees in Dallas
apart from works, but God saved us for "good works that He's prepared beforehand." Part of your job as a leader is to help those in your ministry discover the intersection of their passion and God's purpose.

Can you imagine the difference it would make if every believer in every church were engaged in loving and serving those outside family and church? If you value it, then create mechanisms to see that it happens. Move short-term hurricane help to long-term, outward-focused strategy.