Since the birth of Calvary Ministries International in 1981 (now named Go To Nations), the ministry has grown from one missionary family to an international missions organization that has impacted thousands of lives around the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today, Go To Nations continues to move forward in its global expansion and in its cross-cultural missions effectiveness. Because of this ongoing development, it is vitally important that the board of directors of Go To Nations continues to increase in its capabilities as well. The more advanced the ministry becomes, the more effective the board must become in using its affluence, influence and expertise to help advance the vision God has given Go To Nations.
In order for the board of directors to maximize its effectiveness, and to help maintain an active and productive board in the years ahead, it is essential that clarity is brought to every facet of the operation of the board. When it comes to issues like board responsibilities, the function of committees, governance, board member selection, and others, it is important to have a tool that helps get all our board members on the “same page.” This is the purpose of the Board of Directors Operational Handbook.
This handbook serves the board in three distinct ways:
- It provides a tool to train board members in their roles.
- It provides the necessary guidelines that lays out systems and processes for board function.
- It serves as a living document in its ongoing development that will be modified over time by the board in order to create the ability to address new future issues due to the on-going growth and changes of the ministry.
At the same time, the Board of Directors Operational Handbook is designed to help eliminate certain negative aspects of board function. An extensive survey of non-profit boards identified six common reasons why non-profit boards are not effective. These are:
- The purpose and function of the board was not clearly established.
- Board members do not know their roles as board members.
- Poor governance of the board caused confusion and ineffectiveness.
- The board lacked clear processes to carry out board tasks.
- A lack of accountability of board members created a low standard of board member performance.
- Board members were misplaced in the use of their abilities and interests.
The ministry capabilities of many non-profit organizations are severely limited due to the ineffectiveness of their boards, but this does not have to be the case. To help build and maintain a healthy and productive board with active and effective board members, here are six areas of consideration to help the board keep its focus:
- Connectivity: One of the greatest contributions a board member can bring to the board is his/her willingness to connect people to the vision of Go To Nations. God has given everyone a sphere of influence. By introducing people to what Go To Nations is doing in the world, the board member is giving God an opportunity to connect people’s hearts to the global harvest.
- No Surprises: With the help of the Board of Directors Operational Handbook, we want to make sure new board members know exactly what it means to be a board member with no hidden surprises.
- Importance of Time: Every board member serves on a voluntary basis while maintaining another profession or vocation. For that reason, it is important to understand that board members only have so much time to give. This constitutes the need for the board and the ministry staff to use the board member’s time wisely.
- Improved Communications: It is important for the board members to receive regular updates on the ministry’s progress. Fresh testimonies from the field and overall observations from the president helps keep the board members informed and connected.
- Accountability: No part of the board will continue to function with high productivity and efficiency without systems that maintain a high level of accountability. This included the function of the board as a whole and as members individually.
- Organizational Focus: It is of the utmost importance for a ministry to know “who they are” and what God has called them to do. To be faithful to the heavenly vision is the responsibility of the president along with the board of directors.
Board Source, formerly the National Center for Non-profit Boards, states that if you want to run an outstanding non-profit organization that does meaningful work and does it well, it requires three things: 1) visionary leadership, 2) hardworking staff, 3) an effective and committed board. If one of these are lacking behind the rest, it affects the whole.
Strong, active non-profit boards do exist; but not by accident, but rather through the results of divine focus, operational clarity and long-term commitment to the cause. May that be the long-standing heritage of the board of directors of Go To Nations!