NETWORKING

There is one very important tool without which you will not be successful in planting your church or establishing a small faith group.  That tool is networking.  At the Church Multiplication Training Center I was given the following definition for networking:

“Networking is intentionally building relationships with people who need what you have to offer (a relationship with Jesus) and then getting them connected with other people who will help them on their spiritual journey.”

Remember:  Church planting is a contact sport!

That means that you need to spend time with people!  It is said that the majority of people who start out in sales fail their first year because they have such a great fear of networking and calling on prospects. 

You have to schedule time for networking, or you will not get it done.  When you first start out to plant your church, networking is your most important task in the mission field.  You need to set aside a block of time every week to devote to it.  If you’re bi-vocational, this would most likely be on Saturday or evenings of the week.  Whatever time you set, make sure the time is scheduled so that you will devote yourself to the task of networking in a methodical, organized, and purposeful way. 

I know you must be wondering how you will have time to do all this networking.  However, if you take a look at your “ministry” time of the past, you may find some activities that take up all your time and yield very poor results when it comes to planting and developing your church.  Here is an example of “church planting” activities that are a waste of time:

1. Finding great music for your church.  Do this later when you have a music minister.

2. Finding a great facility.  Again, you are putting the cart before the horse.  You need to develop your small faith groups first before you will have any people to attend the facility.  In addition, you should wait until you have a team of people willing to put up  their financial resources for establishing the church.

3. Reading books about ministry.  They do you no good if you don’t have people to whom you will minister.

4.  Developing great liturgies.  Again, if you have no people attending, what is the point? .

5. Working on a ministerium committee.  Save your time for developing your parish or small faith group.

6. Spending a lot of time on the church e-group.  Get off that computer, pastor, and go plant your church.

7. Spending time debating others on the finer points of theology.  This is a scheme to keep you from planting your church.  Don’t fall for it.

You should establish a network target of one person contacted per day, whether it is successful or not.  Just keep reaching out to one new person each day.

Another obstacle to successful networking is your personal resistance.  Here are some of the excuses we use to keep us from getting out to network the mission field:

a.      I don’t like being rejected and don’t want to risk it.

b.      I would feel like a salesperson.

c.      I’m shy.

d.      I’m not gifted in networking and it goes against my personality.

e.      I’m too busy.

f.        There just aren’t opportunities to meet people.

g.      Networking is hypocrisy.

These excuses are just made up so that we can keep from getting outside our comfort zones.  Don’t fall for them.

Remember that networking is not making cold calls and knocking on doors.   You do it in the natural process of your daily life.  You need to get a little notebook that you keep in your pocket along with a pen.  Every time you meet a prospect, put their contact information in your book.

 As you meet people and invite them to your small faith groups, remember one thing:  the people you want are the ones that are easy to get.  If they seem uncomfortable or resistant, or they tell you they belong to a church where they are happy, keep moving.  If they are not Christian and tell you they are not interested, keep moving.  This is not a time for converting people.  You are looking for the ones that are easy to get.

Here is something particular to the ICM:  One does much better in networking when one is wearing a clerical collar.  To begin with, people do not wonder why you are saying hello and being so nice...you are clergy and that is expected.  Without the collar they may begin to wonder about your motives for approaching them and making conversation.  Depending upon your age, some may even wonder if it is not a "pick-up".  Another reason to wear it is that those who are turned off by Catholicism or clergy in collars can be easily identified.  If they turn away and refuse to talk or even acknowledge you, then they are "hard to get".  You already know those are not the people you want to concentrate on.  You need to reach as many "easy to get" people as possible in your field.  Being nice to the hard-to-gets is also important.  You want to get known in your mission field as a nice, likeable person by everyone.

Go around your mission field performing random acts of kindness.  People will get to know you that way.  You will gain a kind of "Lone Ranger" reputation, especially since you will be easily recognized by your clerical collar (see above).  Hey...The Lone Ranger had the mask...you have the collar.  Around the Christmas season you might try wearing a Santa Hat as well, and giving out candy canes (have some sugar-free ones or other SF candy on hand too).  Wish people a merry Christmas, introduce yourself, and hand them your card.  Or, at least tape the card to the candy cane.  This could work for Easter and Halloween too.  Random Acts of Kindness are a well-recommended way to get yourself known quickly in an area.  Doing this at the supermarket, post office, etc., is good.  After you see people a couple of times, you could introduce yourself, tell them about your interest in the neighborhood (ministry), and if they are interested, ask their names and other info for your mailing list.

You could also participate in flea markets, fairs and block parties by having a table with your small faith group name.  Give away something inexpensive, like pens with your name, address, church, telephone.  Tape your card to them too.  Tell all who stop by of your interest in the community.  Get them to register for a prize give-away so you can get their info for your mailing list.  You might also be able to do this at the library, outside the supermarket, etc. 
  

Work on the referral system.  If you come across someone who is not interested because they are already church members, ask for the name of two people who might be interested in your small faith group.  It has been statistically shown that a referral generates more results than a cold call.  It is said that 70% of all jobs are found via networking. 

As you continue to pray and do your networking, you will find that God’s hand is evident in many of the contacts you make.  This is the supernatural factor in networking, which goes back even to the New Testament, where there were often “persons of peace” who helped Jesus make the connections he needed in order to grow his ministry.  A good example is Andrew the apostle.  In John 1:40, Andrew introduces his brother Peter to Jesus.  In John 6:8, Andrew brings a little boy with five loaves and two fishes to Jesus.  And, when some Greeks wanted to meet Jesus in John 12:20, who do you think made the introductions? 

There are also such things as “Divine appointments” that may take place in your networking.  Again, there is an example of this in the New Testament.  When Paul went to Phillipi with Timothy and Silas, a divine appointment took place.  In Phillipi they went out to the river to pray.  While there they sat and talked to some women.  Among these women was Lydia, a woman of influence who would be converted and start the first house church in the area.  There meeting was definitely a divine appointment which would never have taken place if Paul had not stopped to talk to the women at the river.

Here are some other important things to remember:

1. Appearance – Dress to fit the occasion.  You should relate to the people you hope to network with in style, but be sure your clothes are age-appropriate.  There is nothing less appealing than seeing the clothes of tomorrow on the body of yesterday.  Be clean, well groomed and manicured.

2. Actions – Keep smiling and make eye contact.  Be attentive and listen carefully. Focus on the other person and remember names and facts so that you can write them down in your little book as soon as you get the chance.  Observe proper etiquette – stand to meet people, open doors for people, don’t interrupt, use good table manners, be prompt, etc.

3. Focus – Give the networking opportunity your full attention.  Turn off your cell phone, be attentive, and don’t keep looking at your watch.

4. Conversation – Know how to start and break off a conversation.  Memorize some key phrases, such as:  “How did you get involved with the club?”  “Which one of these soccer players is yours?”  “Your house looks great!”  “Excuse me, I would love to chat some more, but I need to be off to take care of an  matter.”

5. Geography – Be where you can meet people.  Hang out at a local coffee shop.  Buy your gas at the same station each time.  Shop at the same store each week.  Walk your dog in your own neighborhood and stop to chat with neighbors.

Assignment 7:  In a short submission, make a list of five of your natural circles of influence.  A natural circle of influence is composed of the people you interract with each and every day as part of your normal activities.  An example would be your postal delivery person, people in your office, relatives, etc.  List five intentional circles of influence with which you could become involved in your mission field.  An intentional circle of influence would be composed of people that you will become involved with in order to do your networking.  An example might be the people of a square dance group or a specific club in your mission field community which you plan to join.  Elaborate on how you could be successful in these circles of influence.  How would you go about making contact and networking?

Business Cards – Be sure you have business cards with you at all times.  You should also consider making up some “social” cards.  When I moved into my new neighborhood, I printed up some cards with my photo and that of my husband, casually dressed and each with big smiles on our faces.  The caption read “Happy to Meet You” and ended with “Let’s stay in touch”.  In between was my contact information.  These came in very handy when introducing myself to new neighbors.

Finally, I would like to leave you with a quote from the New Testament.  It really captures the networking philosophy of the Paul, the “Apostle” to the Gentiles:

1 Corinthians 9: 19-23:   Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.