Action Reflection Model Living System Ministry Action Reflection Model A Useful Tool in Ministry © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

What is it? The Action/reflection Model is reflecting on the usefulness of our activities and making adaptations accordingly. It’s an iterative process where you reach your goal through: trying something doing analysis starting again from where you left off last time © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center 2

Why is it useful? We’re checking to see if we’re being Because unintended negative returns exist. We’re checking to see if we’re being counterproductive so that we can adjust our actions. © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center 3

Why is it useful? Because evaluation is useful. It’s beneficial to evaluate a program while it’s still running so that you can make midcourse corrections. © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center 4

How do you do it? Either by yourself or with your ministry peers, stop and think about what you are doing. Ask questions such as: “What is really getting the job done, from a systemic perspective?” You seek to know what instruments of change are already at work within and around the system. © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center 5

How do you do it? “What are the dynamics that make this work?” You seek to understand what powerful and invisible variables may be affecting the system. “How can we strengthen what is really working?” You seek to know how you might come alongside the dynamics at work to make their impact even more effective. © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center 6