Managing Projects for Ministry

Session 2: The Constraints and Benefits of Project Management 31

(2) Isa. 32.8 – But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.

(3) Prov. 6.6-8 – Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. [7] Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, [8] she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

2. Why is managing resources so critical in project management?

a. Projects, by definition, deliver something to someone (a report, service, prototype, product, service, event, procedure, happening, etc.), and always have a definite “resource tag. ”

b. Projects involve the coordination and proper use of different kinds of resources at the appropriate time for the maximum impact (i.e., money, people, facilities, equipment, technology, etc.). (cf. 1 Chron. 22.2-5 – David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. [3] David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, [4] and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. [5] For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will there- fore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.)

c. Projects can easily unravel if attention is not paid to sound management of resources in light of the project’s scope and definition (i.e., its deliverables).