1. The Power of Asset Mapping (based on the work of Luther K. Snow) Planning for Transformation Presented by Dan R. Dick Director of Connectional Ministries Wisconsin Annual Conference

2. What is Asset Mapping? Intentional Focus on the Positive – our cup is half full. Intentional Focus on the Positive – our cup is half full. Exploration of all we have to work with – people, knowledge, gifts, skills, experience, relationships, property, possessions, resources, etc. Exploration of all we have to work with – people, knowledge, gifts, skills, experience, relationships, property, possessions, resources, etc. Celebration of blessings – reflection on everything we have to be thankful for. Celebration of blessings – reflection on everything we have to be thankful for. Building bridges between the assets we have, the needs of the community, and the passions of our hearts. Building bridges between the assets we have, the needs of the community, and the passions of our hearts.

3. Five Types of Assets Physical assets Physical assets Individual assets Individual assets Associational assets Associational assets Institutional assets Institutional assets Economic assets Economic assets

4. Physical Assets Physical assets are material objects you can see and touch – Physical assets are material objects you can see and touch – Land and property Land and property Buildings Buildings Technology Technology Equipment Equipment Materials & supplies Materials & supplies Furniture Furniture Resources Resources

5. Individual Assets Individual assets are the gifts, knowledge, skills, experience and abilities unique to each person – Individual assets are the gifts, knowledge, skills, experience and abilities unique to each person – Intellectual Intellectual Artistic Artistic Creative Creative Relational Relational Constructive Constructive

6. Associational Assets Associational assets are relationships and networks we all have: Associational assets are relationships and networks we all have: Friends Friends Colleagues Colleagues Clubs Clubs Acquaintances Acquaintances Neighbors Neighbors Organizations Organizations Communities Communities

7. Institutional Assets Institutional assets are the staff, structure, resources, and agencies connected with your church: Institutional assets are the staff, structure, resources, and agencies connected with your church: Circuit Circuit District/District Superintendent District/District Superintendent Conference/Conference Staff Conference/Conference Staff Denomination/ Denominational Resources Denomination/ Denominational Resources

8. Economic Assets Economic assets are the financial assets necessary to support our work: Economic assets are the financial assets necessary to support our work: Giving Giving Fund Raising Fund Raising Investing Investing Time Time Marketable skills Marketable skills

9. Asset Mapping’s 3 Steps Step # 1 – Recognize Your Assets Step # 1 – Recognize Your Assets Step # 2 – Connect the Dots Step # 2 – Connect the Dots Step #3 – Vote With Your Feet Step #3 – Vote With Your Feet

10. Step #1 – Recognize Your Assets In groups of four-to-eight In groups of four-to-eight Take only 2 minutes per category of assets Take only 2 minutes per category of assets Generate a list of 2-to-4 assets for each of the five categories Generate a list of 2-to-4 assets for each of the five categories In large, legible print, write one asset per Post-It © Note In large, legible print, write one asset per Post-It © Note Share your list with others at your table, then Share your list with others at your table, then Post your notes on a blank wall, whiteboard or newsprint Post your notes on a blank wall, whiteboard or newsprint

11. Recognize Your Physical Assets What are 2 or 3 physical assets of our congregation? What are 2 or 3 physical assets of our congregation? What are some physical assets that are unique to our church? What are some physical assets that are unique to our church? What are some of the physical assets we are most proud of? What are some of the physical assets we are most proud of? What are some of the most valuable physical assets with which we have to work? What are some of the most valuable physical assets with which we have to work? Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.

12. Recognize Your Individual 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 most people don’t know about? What is something you are good at that most people don’t know about? What is something you really love doing that you would like to share at church? What is something you really love doing that you would like to share at church? Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.

13. Recognize Your Associational Assets Who are the people who know and trust you most? Who are the people who know and trust you most? Who could you call on to help with almost anything? Who could you call on to help with almost anything? What are some of the groups you connect with outside the congregation? What are some of the groups you connect with outside the congregation? What people or groups are you connected with that share similar concerns and interests as your church? What people or groups are you connected with that share similar concerns and interests as your church? Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.

14. Recognize Your Institutional Assets What assets are available through your circuit? What assets are available through your circuit? What resources and support can you count on from the Annual Conference? What resources and support can you count on from the Annual Conference? What resources and support are available from the denomination? What resources and support are available from the denomination? What are some other institutions working on similar issues and concerns in the community? What are some other institutions working on similar issues and concerns in the community? Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.

15. Recognize Your Economic Assets Other than the giving of congregational members, what financial resources are available? Other than the giving of congregational members, what financial resources are available? What financial resources are available outside the church? What financial resources are available outside the church? What are some untapped sources for revenue inside the church? What are some untapped sources for revenue inside the church? What financial knowledge and fund raising skills exist within the congregation? What financial knowledge and fund raising skills exist within the congregation? Each person should write their answers in large print on Post-It© Notes – one per Post-It© – then place them on the wall or newsprint.

16. Dig Deeper/Think Bigger Dig Deeper – look at the assets listed – Dig Deeper – look at the assets listed – Are any missing? Are any missing? Are we taking any assets for granted? Are we taking any assets for granted? Do we have “invisible” assets that need revealing? Do we have “invisible” assets that need revealing? What can we do together that is impossible individually? What can we do together that is impossible individually? Think Bigger – look at the assets listed – Think Bigger – look at the assets listed – What are some assets we haven’t tried to tap? What are some assets we haven’t tried to tap? What “unchurchy” things are we good at? What “unchurchy” things are we good at? What are some weird or crazy assets we could name? What are some weird or crazy assets we could name? Who has needed assets we could invite in? Who has needed assets we could invite in?

17. Step #2 – Connect the Dots In groups of four-to-eight In groups of four-to-eight Take 2-3 minutes to reflect on all the assets listed Take 2-3 minutes to reflect on all the assets listed Working together, cluster assets together Working together, cluster assets together Don’t put all the similar assets together Don’t put all the similar assets together Think about ingredients in a recipe Think about ingredients in a recipe If you take asset A and add to it assets B, D & G you could do X. (e.g., If you take music + youth + community need for daycare + great community center = new musical outreach ministry to children) If you take asset A and add to it assets B, D & G you could do X. (e.g., If you take music + youth + community need for daycare + great community center = new musical outreach ministry to children) Don’t be limited by thinking about what you already do – think “what if…?” Don’t be limited by thinking about what you already do – think “what if…?”

18. Step #2 – Connect the Dots Make a list of possible Make a list of possible Projects Projects Events Events Programs Programs Services – you might create with these assets Services – you might create with these assets Share your thinking with your group Share your thinking with your group Together, identify 3-to-5 possible ways to use your assets and write them on newsprint Together, identify 3-to-5 possible ways to use your assets and write them on newsprint Take 5-to-7 minutes to walk around and look at other group’s lists Take 5-to-7 minutes to walk around and look at other group’s lists As a large group, ask any questions for clarification As a large group, ask any questions for clarification

19. Step #3 – Vote With Your Feet Look at the list of new possibilities Look at the list of new possibilities Spend 3-to-5 minutes in silent reflection and prayer, asking “Where is my heart and passion? What most excites me? Where is God calling me to serve?” Spend 3-to-5 minutes in silent reflection and prayer, asking “Where is my heart and passion? What most excites me? Where is God calling me to serve?” Move to stand next to the project, ministry, program, activity that you will make a commitment to work on Move to stand next to the project, ministry, program, activity that you will make a commitment to work on With others who gather with you, discuss three questions: With others who gather with you, discuss three questions: 1. What excites me about this is… 2. Why I am committing to this is… 3. What I hope we can accomplish is…

20. Step #3 – Vote With Your Feet Take 5-to-10 minutes together to develop an action plan – what will you do next after you leave this meeting? Take 5-to-10 minutes together to develop an action plan – what will you do next after you leave this meeting? Share your conversation together in the large group Share your conversation together in the 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 momentum going? How will you keep the energy and momentum going?

21. Summary Faithful stewardship requires that we manage wisely and well what we DO HAVE; it is not about compensating for our weaknesses or lack Faithful stewardship requires that we manage wisely and well what we DO HAVE; it is not about compensating for our weaknesses or lack What we can do is only as important as what we will do What we can do is only as important as what we will do Everyone brings gifts, knowledge, resources, energy, attitude, skills, hopes, dreams and potential to every group they join Everyone brings gifts, knowledge, resources, energy, attitude, skills, hopes, dreams and potential to every group they join Keep the energy POSITIVE – what we can’t do, what we don’t know, and what we don’t have doesn’t define us. Keep the energy POSITIVE – what we can’t do, what we don’t know, and what we don’t have doesn’t define us. Our God-given assets proclaim who we are, what we possess, what we can do, and why it is good!