Discovering Your One Excellent Mission

Part 3 of 6: From Programs to Purpose: Realigning for Mission

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14

Programs aren’t the mission—they’re just tools. In this article, we’ll explore how to evaluate what your church is doing and make sure every ministry supports your One Excellent Mission.

A Quick Recap

In Part One, we asked the question: Why does your church exist? We discovered that every congregation, regardless of size, has a vital role to play in God’s Kingdom.

In Part Two, we dug into 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, realizing that not every church is called to do everything. Just as every believer is uniquely gifted, so too every church is uniquely called to serve in a way that reflects its God-given DNA. This is your One Excellent Mission (OEM).

Now in Part Three, we’re taking the next step: learning how to make sure that every ministry, program, and idea in your church points back to that mission.

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:17:

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

That “whatever you do” includes worship, preaching, children’s ministry, outreach events, fellowship dinners—everything. And yet, many churches find themselves overloaded with activity, but not always aligned with purpose.

The Target Metaphor

Think of your church’s mission as a target. The bullseye is your OEM—the one excellent mission God has entrusted to you.

• Programs that hit the bullseye advance the mission with clarity.

• Ministries that land on the outer rings might be good things, but they’re not your thing.

• Over time, too many ministries outside the bullseye will leave your church exhausted, unfocused, and ineffective.

Here’s the key truth: Programs aren’t the mission—they’re tools to serve the mission. If a program no longer serves your OEM, it must be retooled or released.

Ask yourself today: Is your church aiming at the bullseye—or scattering arrows all over the target? If you’re not sure, I’d love to walk with you. I provide a free, one-hour consulting call to help pastors and leaders begin clarifying their OEM.

Practical Realignment Steps

1. Evaluate Everything – Lay all your ministries on the table. Nothing is off-limits.

2. Ask the Mission Question – Does this ministry directly support our OEM?

3. Retool or Release – If it doesn’t align, either reshape it to fit or gracefully set it aside.

4. Refocus Resources – Redirect time, money, and energy to ministries that hit the bullseye.

Healthy churches are not the ones doing the most things, but the ones doing the right things.

Reflection & Discussion Guide

Use these questions with your leadership team to discern where God may be leading you:

1. Clarity Check – Can every leader clearly articulate our One Excellent Mission? If not, how can we bring unity of language and focus? If you can’t quote it, you can’t hit it.

2. Bullseye Test – Looking at our current programs, which ones hit the bullseye of our OEM? Which are near-misses? Which are distractions or just simply aimed at us?

3. Courage to Change – What ministries would be hardest for us to retool or release? What fears might be holding us back?

4. Resource Allocation – If we funneled 80% of our resources into our top 2-3 bullseye ministries, what impact could that make on our community?

5. Next Step Commitment – What’s one ministry we can begin evaluating this month to ensure alignment with our OEM?

Encourage open conversation with your leaders. Remind them that releasing a program doesn’t mean it wasn’t valuable in its season—it simply means you’re choosing to steward resources more effectively now.

Final Call to Action

Your church has one excellent mission—and everything you do should aim at the bullseye. Programs come and go, but God’s mission through your church is what will leave a lasting impact.

If you’d like guidance in walking this process with your team, I’d be glad to come alongside you. Reach out today—I offer a free, one-hour consulting call to help pastors and leaders begin the journey of discovering and living out their One Excellent Mission. Contact me at Small Church Coaching