In a recent blog post, Will Mancini, author of Church Unique, writes about why North Point Community Church (home to Andy Stanley) shut down one of its most strategic ministries, 7:22. Mancini interviewed Jarrett Stevens about this strategic shut-down, who was hired from Willow Creek for the task of taking 7:22 to the next level after Louie Giglio, of Passion Conference fame, left the ministry.
From Mancini’s bullet points of the interview, we can gain some important insights about when shutting down a ministry is the most strategic thing to do. I took away three things from this post by Mancini:
1. There are times when our unique niche for a ministry ceases to exist. When this happens we should consider whether our ministry should cease to exist.
2. Two key questions worth asking in these times are:
- Q #1: Do you think that 722 is doing what only it can do to reach people that no one else is reaching?
- Q #2: So there is any reason to continue what we are doing now?
3. As leaders of ministries, one of our greatest challenges is that we can’t see quitting as winning.
What do you think? When do you think you reach the point where the most strategic thing to do is to shut down a ministry?
Below is the video clip that Mancini posted of Jarrett Stevens announcing that 7:22 would be shutting down.
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Matthew Erickson 
I know what’s difficult for me is hearing from God a second time when I know full well he said otherwise the first time. It’s tough to close something you know he told you to open.
As long as we follow God more than we follow his calling, I believe we’ll stay agile enough to turn, adjust, or shut down on his timing. I think this is a lordship & listening kind of issue.
Good point, Brian. I think it’s hard for us to imagine that God’s calling upon us for a certain task or use for a certain function may be time limited. Many times, we default into thinking that a ministry will last until Jesus returns or we die.
The issue, I think, is being flexible enough – or ‘agile enough’, as you said – to constantly hear and re-hear what He is saying.
“Lordship & listening” is a good phrase for that. He is the Lord, even when we feel that He’s tasked us with taking leadership in an area. We must continually listen to what He is saying about it all.