When is the last time your leaders conducted a thorough asset mapping of your congregation? For those who might be unfamiliar with the term, asset mapping provides extensive organizational information about your strengths, assets, and resources. We often limit our inventory of assets to strictly cash, investments, receivables, and real estate. With this limited inventory viewpoint, church leaders are at a great disadvantage of first recognizing the expanded assets of the congregation. Secondly, the leadership is unable to leverage these unknown assets for missional alignment and effectiveness. Asset mapping provides church leadership with a much deeper dive and a more comprehensive understanding of the church’s truest and most complete picture of its assets.
Beyond cash, investments, receivables, and real estate, what other potential assets might a church possess? Here are some examples of additional church assets:
- Equipment (portable smoker, food truck, commercial mowers, tractors, tools, wagons, trailers, mobile offices)
- Vehicles (vans, cars, buses, golf carts, shuttles)
- Commercial kitchens
- Parking lot(s)
- Undeveloped land
- Unused or underused space
- Wedding, meeting, or convention venue/space
- Skills (teaching, law, accounting, sewing, art, woodworking, medical, plumbing, electrical, gardening, fishing, hunting, canning, quilting, photography, scrapbooking, sign language, music – vocals and instrumental, interior design, graphics, computer technology, cooking, fitness, etc.)
- Gifts (hospitality, organization, leadership, compassion, relatability, mentorship, networking, time, energy, passion for children/youth/shut-in’s, encourager, mercy, visionary, generosity, wisdom, administration, service, etc.)
- Community Partners
- Campsites (conference or district camps, church-owned campgrounds)
- Ponds
- Basketball Courts (inside or outside)
- Walking tracks (inside or outside)
- Playground(s)
- Location
This list is not exhaustive, but you get the idea. The church often sells themselves short when they consider all the assets they have been blessed with. But what is the purpose for mapping the church’s assets? Obviously, it isn’t about just having a more accurate balance sheet! It is about having an accurate picture of all the possibilities and potential as leaders are tasked with leveraging the assets of the church in living out its purpose of disciple-making. With our sometimes-limited view, we have limited thinking and therefore exert limited leverage in missional alignment and effectiveness. But, with comprehensive asset mapping, a whole new world of possibilities is opened up for churches and its leaders. It is like removing the blinders and seeing a much fuller and richer picture with a significantly brighter future. Add a trained professional to help you process those possibilities and dream God-sized dreams and your leaders will likely see possibility and potential like never before.
When is the last time your church conducted a thorough asset mapping of your congregation? If it has been more than a couple of years or perhaps your church has never had the opportunity, now is the perfect time to explore asset mapping. Now is the time to explore how best to leverage your assets for the best possible kingdom impact. Our sister company, Creation Incubator, is ready to serve you.
