I’m Steve Lawes
Certified Church Consultant
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Utilizing a process we call “Virtual Church Consulting” we work with you through a series of steps to help pinpoint problems and offer solutions. This all online church consulting method is effective and affordable.
Internet Impact (Learn about your digital footprint)
Community Statistics (Learn about your community)
Church Health Survey (Learn about your church)
Effective Outreach Ideas (Learn how to reach your community)
Internet Impact
Your website is the “digital foyer” for the church. It is the first impression for almost everyone that visits your church.
Community Statistics
Demographic information is helpful in getting an overview of what is happening in your community.
Church Health Survey
A church health survey/assessment is a helpful tool that will give you information on the overall health of your church.
Effective Outreach Ideas
An outreach strategy is a specific set of tactics intended to ultimately attract new people to your church.
Church Consulting & Coaching
We offer a wide range of Church Consulting and Ministry Coaching Services. Our desire is to help pastors and churches thrive so that they are able to fulfill the calling that God has on them for their community.
Church Marketing
Think of church marketing as a tool to help people who are in need of what your church offers to be able to connect with you. We are not trying to sell something people don’t need. We are trying to connect them with the One who changes everything. Click on this link to read more about developing a Church Marketing Strategy.
Church Revitalization
Church Revitalization is the process of leading a dying or declining church back to a healthy place so that it can continue to carry out the calling and purpose that God has for it. Steve Lawes is certified in Church Revitalization with Church Answers.
Ministry and Pastoral Coaching
We offer a wide variety of Coaching Services for pastors and churches. For more information go to Church Encourager.
Disciplship Training
Partnering with the Jesus Moment Bible Institute and Seminary we are able to offer a wide variety of Discipleship Training opportunites for pastors and churches.
Meet Steve Lawes
Steve Lawes is a Certified Church Consultant. He has been the lead Pastor of Keys Vineyard Church in Big Pine Key since 1992. He has a Bachelors Degree in Bible and Theology from Berean University and Masters and PhD Degrees from Atlantic Coast Theological Seminary. He lead the Cuba Missions Team for Vineyard Missions from 1995-2005 and traveled to Cuba more than twenty times helping to plant churches and build up local leaders. He served as the South Florida Area Leader for the Association of Vineyard Churches for ten years. He also founded the Jesus Moment Bible Institute and Seminary in 2014 which has a student enrollment of over 1800. He has written three devotional books, Daily Psalt Intake, Daily Sage Intake and Daily Strength Training which are now out of print but are currently available as free e-books.
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Recent Posts from Church Consultant
Kingdom Revealed Part 7
We are in a series called Kingdom Revealed and looking deeply into the first two chapters of Genesis. We have talked about the cosmic temple, imagers, and trees. This week, we will discuss mountains (high places) and rivers.
Genesis 2:10–14 (NIV)
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
While the Genesis account of the Garden of Eden doesn’t come right out and say that it is on a mountain, it is inferred by seeing that Eden is a high enough place for a river to flow out and water various distant regions of the land. Understanding Eden as a cosmic temple on a mountain or high place, from which flows a river of divine life that provides life for all nations, is foundational for the biblical story line.
The prophet Ezekiel refers to Eden as a mountain.
Ezekiel 28:13a (NIV)
13You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Ezekiel 28:14b (NIV)
14 … You were on the holy mount of God;
As you read the Bible, many important things, good and bad, happen in mountains and high places. About the rivers flowing out of Eden, each name is associated with various regions of the ancient biblical map:
Pishon – (Sinai Peninsula) Northern Egypt
Gihon – Cush, Southern Egypt, the upper Nile, Ethiopia
Tigris – Assyria
Euphrates – Babylon
Each of these areas, which are being sourced by the river flowing out of Eden, will play a significant role in the ongoing story of the Bible. With all these story pieces in place, let’s make some interesting connections with Jesus.
What we have seen so far in the first two chapters of Genesis is that we have a cosmic temple (tabernacle). It is on a mountain. There is a tree of life in the middle of the garden. There is a river flowing out of the garden that spreads life.
The apostle John is so amazing in picking up these threads of the story:
Jesus is a tabernacle.
John 1:14 (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is a river of life.
John 7:37–39 (NIV)
37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
The festival mentioned in John 7 was the feast of Tabernacles. There are some more amazing connections but we will save them for the weekend, so plan to join us at Keys Vineyard Church this weekend either in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Kingdom Revealed Part 6
We are in a series called Kingdom Revealed and we are taking a deep look into the first two chapters of Genesis. Last week, we started talking about trees. I said that in the Scripture, trees, people, and water are often seen together at significant times in His Story. This week, we will look at the two trees in the middle of the garden.
Genesis 2:8–9 (NIV)
8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The two trees in the garden are pictured next to each other. To eat from one, you have to walk by the other. The tree of life represents a gift that God wants to give humanity. The tree of life is not magical in offering its own life to the one who eats. The idea represented is that God is the giver of life, and the tree is at the center of the temple garden, so proximity to the tree means proximity to the author of life.
It is important to see that the divine command in Genesis Chapter 2:16 doesn’t place the tree of life off limits. God commands humans to enjoy the gift of eternal life.
Genesis 2:15–16 (NIV)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
Any tree included the tree of life. The tree of good and bad is a warning about forfeiting what God has already given.
Genesis 2:17 (NIV)
17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
God wants to shelter humans from good and bad until they can learn wisdom from Him. This is the real issue. Who will you listen to for wisdom? Will you trust that God is faithful and that you can trust Him even in those times when you have to wait? Or will you listen to other influences, the culture, the evil one, or your flesh, and reach out and take what you want?
The two trees in the garden illuminate the human condition while explaining the choice before each of us. God has commanded us to enjoy his good gifts, and we choose whether to receive those good gifts from God or define good and bad for ourselves.
This week at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all of this while also peering into Genesis 3 and looking at what happens as Adam and Eve choose who they will listen to. Make plans to join us in-person or online.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
The Process of Succession Planning
Succession planning is a topic that many organizations, including churches, often struggle with. The idea of handing over the reins of leadership, especially in a religious setting, can be emotionally charged and fraught with concerns about continuity, legacy, and the future direction of the congregation. This is where the invaluable guidance of a church consultant comes into play. For pastors considering or facing succession, a church consultant can provide clarity, objectivity, and strategic insights to ensure a smooth transition.
- Objective Perspective: One of the primary benefits of engaging a church consultant during the succession process is their ability to offer an objective, external viewpoint. Pastors, having invested heart and soul into their ministries, can sometimes find it difficult to see beyond their emotions and attachments. A consultant, being removed from the internal dynamics, can provide an unbiased assessment of the situation, highlighting areas of potential concern and offering recommendations for a seamless transition.
- Expertise and Experience: Church consultants often come with a wealth of experience, having assisted numerous congregations with similar challenges. Their exposure to different church cultures, leadership styles, and succession scenarios means they are well-equipped to offer proven strategies and solutions. They can share success stories and cautionary tales and provide a roadmap tailored to the specific needs and nuances of the congregation.
- Facilitating Difficult Conversations: Discussing succession can sometimes lead to sensitive conversations, especially if there’s resistance to change or differing opinions on the future direction of the church. A consultant can serve as a neutral mediator, helping to foster open communication, ensuring that all voices are heard, and guiding discussions in a constructive direction.
- Training and Development: An essential component of succession planning is ensuring the successor is adequately prepared. This may require training, mentorship, or development programs. A church consultant can assist in identifying areas where the successor might need support and recommend resources or training programs. They can also guide the sitting pastor on how best to mentor and prepare their successor, ensuring continuity in leadership and preserving the church’s values and vision.
- Assessing Organizational Readiness: Beyond just the leadership transition, there’s a broader question of whether the church community is prepared for the change. A consultant can conduct readiness assessments, gathering feedback from the congregation and church staff. This can help in identifying potential areas of resistance, understanding the congregation’s concerns, and developing strategies to address them.
- Building a Legacy: For many pastors, the thought of succession is intertwined with concerns about their legacy. A church consultant can help pastors articulate and define the legacy they wish to leave, ensuring that it aligns with the church’s mission and values. They can also guide pastors in communicating their vision and legacy to the congregation, reinforcing the continuity of the church’s mission even after the leadership transition.
- Strategic Planning: Succession is not just about changing faces; it’s about ensuring the church continues to thrive and grow. A consultant can help with strategic planning, setting a vision for the future, and identifying potential challenges and opportunities. This ensures that the succession is not just a reactive process but a proactive strategy to position the church for future success.
The succession process is one of the most critical phases in the life cycle of a church. While emotionally and organizationally challenging, it’s an opportunity to set the church on a path of continued growth, unity, and impact. Engaging a church consultant can demystify the process, provide essential tools and insights, and ensure that the transition honors the legacy of the outgoing pastor while empowering the successor for the journey ahead.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
Testimonials
“Steve and his team at Keys Vineyard Church have built a church that has done an inspiring job reaching their community. Steve is a treasure trove of experience and has continued to prioritize learning and growth throughout his more than 30 years of ministry in a way few pastors have. You’ll get a lot out of connecting with him!”
“I watched first hand as Steve experienced the devastation of hurricane Irma in his town of Big Pine Key, Florida. The town was destroyed, the church building rendered unusable and the staff impacted personally. I watched a leader rise to the need of his community and minister in a situation that not very many could. He has a powerful voice of experience and wisdom earned the hard way.”
“Steve Lawes is a valuable coach/ mentor. I’ve watched Steve over the last thirty years build a substantial outward focused church with disciples who do what Jesus did. He has inspired leaders of churches with simple/tested ideas to develop leaders and grow churches.
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“Steve Lawes is an outstanding coach. He is authentic, creative, and personable. He has more cutting edge ideas than any pastor I know in regard to evangelism and meeting the needs of people in his community.”
Interested in Becoming a Church Consultant?
We are pleased to be partnering with the Jesus Moment Bible Institute and Seminary to be able to offer Free Church Consulting Training. Even if you are not looking to become a certified church consultant, the free church consultant training will be beneficial for your personal ministry.
One of the greatest questions Jesus asked was “Do You Want to Get Well?”
I t would seem that the answer was obvious. But getting well for the man who had been not well for a very long time meant that he would have to do something different. It is not easy to change, but it always starts with a first step.
Take that first step now by sceduling your no obligation, free thirty (30) minute Zoom meeting with us today. You have nothing to lose and it may be your first step to a new and healthy way of doing and being the church.
Don’t Wait Any Longer. Take The First Step Toward Getting Well Today!
