This is the final in a series of posts about getting the Orange philosophy to pervade your entire team, from top to bottom. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

The third benefit of an Orange philosophy being squeezed into your staff this coming year is influence.

When everyone on your staff is headed in the same direction, your voice gets very loud in the ears of your congregation and community. When we are all saying the same thing from birth through college, people are eventually led to listen.

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:20–22

There is no greater way to influence families than for a church staff to pray, prepare, and present a unified plan to parents. Parents are hearing so many conflicting voices from our world today. If we can present a clear and compelling family strategy, parents will be grateful and equipped.

Here are four ways your team can increase your influence:

1. Do not try to do everything. By doing a little of everything, you will end up doing a lot of nothing. There is no way in our current economic times for a church to have influence while employing a shotgun approach to ministry.

2. Don’t just invite people to “come” to church, invite people to “be” the church. There should be family strategies that are external and focus on your community and not just your congregation.

3. Partner with other organizations in town such as community pregnancy centers, the YMCA, and other churches to promote family and faith. This is a visual illustration of the principle that Jesus said would allow people to believe that God has sent Him!

4. Remain faithful, as longevity instigates influence.