Pastor's Corner - March 14, 2019

We’ve all heard of “smart cars,” “smart phones” and even “Get Smart,” but how about “smart goals?” At an annual pastor’s retreat that I attend, our guest speaker, Gordon Penfold, gave us a good dose of leadership principles, one of which was “Smart Goals.” Gordon is a pastor, but also works with a ministry called “Fresh Start,” which comes alongside churches to help them navigate times of transition and action plans. Among the many things he said, I found this to be one of the most helpful. Here’s essentially what it means to use Smart Goals:

S= Specific. What exactly is the goal?

M=Measurable. How will you know when you’ve reached the goal?

A= Aligned. Is the goal aligned with your core commitments?

R= Results-oriented. What results do you want to achieve with this goal?

T= Time-constrained. How long will you pursue this goal? (e.g., weeks, months or years).

I was reminded by Gordon Penfold that we need to be “smart” about how we use our time, talents and treasures before the Lord. Let me encourage all of us to pursue the goals we may have for this current year and be “SMART” about them in the process!

Pat Coyle is pastor of Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church.