Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” He was not diminishing strategy. He was simply recognizing the overwhelming influence culture has on people. It dominates everything else. It is constantly teaching, constantly showing people what is most important. By culture, I am referring to the shared values and beliefs that undergird all that the ministry or organization does. How can you tell if you have a healthy ministry culture? Here are three marks of a healthy church culture:
Marks of a Healthy Church Culture
Prayer
In a healthy ministry culture, there is a culture of prayer. People sense the freedom to stop meetings, not just begin meetings, to pray. People come to work surrendered personally, having spent time with the Lord. Prayer is not an afterthought or a transitional moment in a healthy culture. Oswald Chambers wrote, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works. Prayer is the greater work.” Prayer shows that we trust God and not ourselves, not our creativity, innovation, work ethic or skills. Unless He builds the ministry, we labor in vain. Without prayer, an utter dependence on God is lacking.
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