IBL is often called upon to assist ministry organizations enmeshed in difficult circumstances or struggling with hard-to-diagnose barriers to effective service.  Local churches and other Christian ministries are not immune to the challenges faced by secular organizations:

• no unified vision of “who we are, where we’re headed, and how we’re going to get there”

• internal strife and conflict

• damage caused by unbiblical decision-making

• the limitations of the skills (the talents, experiences and giftedness) of its leaders

• unwholesome communication, slander, and gossip

If such issues remain unaddressed, the ministry’s impact is constrained and the cause of Christ hampered.

More significantly, Christian ministries are subject to the very real struggle of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12).  Too often the Evil One deflects leaders from their objectives, deceives people into sinful behavior, and destroys a ministry's effectiveness.

David leading a ministry planning workshop with an extended leadership team at a church in the western US.

We serve side-by-side with the leadership of struggling, stagnant, hurting, or disunited churches and para-church ministries.  We identify root causes and apply biblical solutions, to restore the ministry to health and vitality so that they can move forward in their service for Christ.

IBL assists leaders as they seek to establish or improve the plans, objectives, policies, or organization of their ministry.  We conduct leadership training and team-building workshops to enhance team effectiveness.  We consult with leaders on specific areas of concern and assist leadership with strategic and tactical ministry planning.  We conduct needs assessments and offer recommendations; and we conduct surveys to identify key issues that must be addressed.

Russ on the mission field in Papua New Guinea; conferring with missionaries and national leaders to address a crisis in the village.

On occasion, a ministry leader or organization is overcome by a severe, debilitating problem that threatens the life of the ministry; for example, the moral failure of a leader.  In such cases, IBL provides timely biblically-based intervention so that God can “turn ashes into beauty” and the ministry can move forward with integrity.