The Power of Asset The Power of Asset MappingMapping

(based on the work of Luther K. (based on the work of Luther K. Snow)Snow)

Planning for Planning for TransformationTransformation

Presented by Dan R. DickPresented by Dan R. DickDirector of Connectional Director of Connectional MinistriesMinistriesWisconsin Annual ConferenceWisconsin Annual Conference

What is Asset What is Asset Mapping?Mapping?

Intentional Intentional Focus on the Positive Focus on the Positive – our cup is – our cup is half full.half full.

ExplorationExploration of all we have to work with – of all we have to work with – people, knowledge, gifts, skills, experience, people, knowledge, gifts, skills, experience, relationships, property, possessions, relationships, property, possessions, resources, etc.resources, etc.

CelebrationCelebration of blessings – reflection on of blessings – reflection on everything we have to be thankful for.everything we have to be thankful for.

Building bridges Building bridges between the assets we have, between the assets we have, the needs of the community, and the passions the needs of the community, and the passions of our hearts.of our hearts.

Five Types of AssetsFive Types of AssetsPhysical assetsPhysical assetsIndividual Individual

assetsassetsAssociational Associational

assetsassetsInstitutional Institutional

assetsassetsEconomic Economic

assetsassets

Physical AssetsPhysical AssetsPhysical assets are Physical assets are

material objects you material objects you can see and touch –can see and touch –Land and propertyLand and propertyBuildingsBuildingsTechnologyTechnologyEquipmentEquipmentMaterials & suppliesMaterials & suppliesFurnitureFurnitureResourcesResources

Individual AssetsIndividual AssetsIndividual assets Individual assets

are the gifts, are the gifts, knowledge, skills, knowledge, skills, experience and experience and abilities unique to abilities unique to each person –each person –IntellectualIntellectualArtisticArtisticCreativeCreativeRelationalRelationalConstructiveConstructive

Associational AssetsAssociational AssetsAssociational Associational

assets are assets are relationships and relationships and networks we all networks we all have:have:FriendsFriendsColleaguesColleaguesClubsClubsAcquaintancesAcquaintancesNeighborsNeighborsOrganizationsOrganizationsCommunitiesCommunities

Institutional AssetsInstitutional AssetsInstitutional assets Institutional assets

are the staff, are the staff, structure, resources, structure, resources, and agencies and agencies connected with your connected with your church:church:CircuitCircuitDistrict/District District/District

SuperintendentSuperintendentConference/Conference/

Conference StaffConference StaffDenomination/ Denomination/

Denominational Denominational ResourcesResources

Economic AssetsEconomic AssetsEconomic assets Economic assets

are the financial are the financial assets necessary assets necessary to support our to support our work:work:GivingGivingFund RaisingFund RaisingInvestingInvestingTimeTimeMarketable skillsMarketable skills

Asset Mapping’s 3 Asset Mapping’s 3 StepsSteps

Step # 1 – Recognize Your Step # 1 – Recognize Your AssetsAssets

Step # 2 – Connect the DotsStep # 2 – Connect the Dots

Step #3 – Vote With Your Step #3 – Vote With Your FeetFeet

Step #1 – Recognize Your Step #1 – Recognize Your AssetsAssetsIn groups of four-to-eightIn groups of four-to-eightTake Take onlyonly 2 minutes per category of 2 minutes per category of

assetsassetsGenerate a list of 2-to-4 assets for each Generate a list of 2-to-4 assets for each

of the five categoriesof the five categoriesIn large, legible print, write one asset In large, legible print, write one asset

per Post-Itper Post-It©© Note NoteShare your list with others at your Share your list with others at your

table, thentable, thenPost your notes on a blank wall, Post your notes on a blank wall,

whiteboard or newsprintwhiteboard or newsprint

Recognize Your Physical Recognize Your Physical AssetsAssets

What are 2 or 3 physical assets of our What are 2 or 3 physical assets of our congregation?congregation?

What are some physical assets that are What are some physical assets that are unique to our church?unique to our church?

What are some of the physical assets we What are some of the physical assets we are most proud of?are most proud of?

What are some of the most valuable What are some of the most valuable physical assets with which we have to physical assets with which we have to work?work?

Each person should write their answers in large print on Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.the wall or newsprint.

Recognize Your Recognize Your Individual AssetsIndividual Assets

What do you know how to do really well?What do you know how to do really well?What do you enjoy doing most of all?What do you enjoy doing most of all?What are you most experienced doing?What are you most experienced doing?What is something you are good at that What is something you are good at that

most people don’t know about?most people don’t know about?What is something you really love doing What is something you really love doing

that you would like to share at church?that you would like to share at church?

Each person should write their answers in large print Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.them on the wall or newsprint.

Recognize Your Recognize Your Associational AssetsAssociational Assets

Who are the people who know and trust you Who are the people who know and trust you most?most?

Who could you call on to help with almost Who could you call on to help with almost anything?anything?

What are some of the groups you connect with What are some of the groups you connect with outside the congregation?outside the congregation?

What people or groups are you connected What people or groups are you connected with that share similar concerns and interests with that share similar concerns and interests as your church?as your church?

Each person should write their answers in large print on Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.wall or newsprint.

Recognize Your Recognize Your Institutional AssetsInstitutional Assets

What assets are available through your What assets are available through your circuit?circuit?

What resources and support can you count on What resources and support can you count on from the Annual Conference?from the Annual Conference?

What resources and support are available What resources and support are available from the denomination?from the denomination?

What are some other institutions working on What are some other institutions working on similar issues and concerns in the similar issues and concerns in the community?community?

Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.or newsprint.

Recognize Your Recognize Your Economic AssetsEconomic Assets

Other than the giving of congregational Other than the giving of congregational members, what financial resources are members, what financial resources are available?available?

What financial resources are available outside What financial resources are available outside the church?the church?

What are some untapped sources for revenue What are some untapped sources for revenue inside the church?inside the church?

What financial knowledge and fund raising What financial knowledge and fund raising skills exist within the congregation?skills exist within the congregation?

Each person should write their answers in large print on Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.wall or newsprint.

Dig Deeper/Think BiggerDig Deeper/Think BiggerDig Deeper – look at Dig Deeper – look at

the assets listed –the assets listed –Are any missing?Are any missing?Are we taking any Are we taking any

assets for granted?assets for granted?Do we have Do we have

“invisible” assets “invisible” assets that need that need revealing?revealing?

What can we do What can we do together that is together that is impossible impossible individually?individually?

Think Bigger – look Think Bigger – look at the assets listed –at the assets listed –What are some What are some

assets we haven’t assets we haven’t tried to tap?tried to tap?

What “unchurchy” What “unchurchy” things are we good things are we good at?at?

What are some weird What are some weird or crazy assets we or crazy assets we could name?could name?

Who has needed Who has needed assets we could assets we could invite in?invite in?

Step #2 – Connect the Step #2 – Connect the DotsDotsIn groups of four-to-eightIn groups of four-to-eightTake 2-3 minutes to reflect on all the assets Take 2-3 minutes to reflect on all the assets

listedlistedWorking together, cluster assets togetherWorking together, cluster assets together

Don’t put all the similar assets togetherDon’t put all the similar assets togetherThink about ingredients in a recipeThink about ingredients in a recipeIf you take asset A and add to it assets B, D & If you take asset A and add to it assets B, D &

G you could do X. (e.g., If you take music + G you could do X. (e.g., If you take music + youth + community need for daycare + great youth + community need for daycare + great community center = new musical outreach community center = new musical outreach ministry to children)ministry to children)

Don’t be limited by thinking about what you Don’t be limited by thinking about what you already do – think “what if…?”already do – think “what if…?”

Step #2 – Connect the Step #2 – Connect the DotsDotsMake a list of possibleMake a list of possible

ProjectsProjectsEventsEventsProgramsProgramsServices – you might create with these assetsServices – you might create with these assets

Share your thinking with your groupShare your thinking with your groupTogether, identify 3-to-5 possible ways to Together, identify 3-to-5 possible ways to

use your assets and write them on use your assets and write them on newsprintnewsprint

Take 5-to-7 minutes to walk around and Take 5-to-7 minutes to walk around and look at other group’s listslook at other group’s lists

As a large group, ask any questions for As a large group, ask any questions for clarificationclarification

Step #3 – Vote With Your Step #3 – Vote With Your FeetFeetLook at the list of new possibilitiesLook at the list of new possibilitiesSpend 3-to-5 minutes in silent reflection Spend 3-to-5 minutes in silent reflection

and prayer, asking “Where is my heart and and prayer, asking “Where is my heart and passion? What most excites me? Where is passion? What most excites me? Where is God calling me to serve?”God calling me to serve?”

Move to stand next to the project, Move to stand next to the project, ministry, program, activity ministry, program, activity that you will that you will make a commitment to work onmake a commitment to work on

With others who gather with you, discuss With others who gather with you, discuss three questions:three questions:1.1. What excites me about this is…What excites me about this is…2.2. Why I am committing to this is…Why I am committing to this is…3.3. What I hope we can accomplish is…What I hope we can accomplish is…

Step #3 – Vote With Your Step #3 – Vote With Your FeetFeetTake 5-to-10 minutes together to Take 5-to-10 minutes together to

develop an action plan – what will you develop an action plan – what will you do next after you leave this meeting?do next after you leave this meeting?

Share your conversation together in Share your conversation together in the large groupthe large group

For consideration –For consideration –How will you expand your circle?How will you expand your circle?How will you coordinate with others?How will you coordinate with others?How will you communicate your vision?How will you communicate your vision?How will you keep the energy and How will you keep the energy and

momentum going?momentum going?

SummarySummaryFaithful stewardship requires that we manage Faithful stewardship requires that we manage

wisely and well what we DO HAVE; it is not wisely and well what we DO HAVE; it is not about compensating for our weaknesses or lackabout compensating for our weaknesses or lack

What we What we cancan do is only as important as what we do is only as important as what we willwill do do

Everyone brings gifts, knowledge, resources, Everyone brings gifts, knowledge, resources, energy, attitude, skills, hopes, dreams and energy, attitude, skills, hopes, dreams and potential to every group they joinpotential to every group they join

Keep the energy POSITIVE – what we can’t do, Keep the energy POSITIVE – what we can’t do, what we don’t know, and what we don’t have what we don’t know, and what we don’t have doesn’t define us. doesn’t define us.

Our God-given assets proclaim who we Our God-given assets proclaim who we are, what we possess, what we can do, are, what we possess, what we can do,

and why it is good!and why it is good!