2. St. Demetrios
MISSION, VISION, VALUES
MISSION The Mission of St. Demetrios Church is to continually create a
sacred community, sharing faith, wisdom and love all dedicated to
serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom with the Father we shall
worship and glorify in all that we say, do and feel. We seek to inspire
a commitment among our members, to one and other, to the greater
Orthodox community and the Pan Christians of the world through the
study of the bible, observance of the liturgy, receiving the
communion of salvation, and performing by word, deed and thought
our love of God from this time and forever more.
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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3. St. Demetrios
MISSION, VISION, VALUES
VISION The St. Demetrios community will be a warm, welcoming
and socially responsible congregation of Orthodox Christians who
pray, learn and grow. We will be inspired by the Christian martyrs
such as our Patron St. Demetrios, Άγιος Δημήτριος της
Θεσσαλονίκης, who was fervent in his faith and inspired many to
Christianity, while helping others, such as helping the young
Christian Nestor to overcome all odds in his single combat with
the giant Lyaeus.
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4. St. Demetrios
MISSION, VISION, VALUES
VALUES The Congregation of St. Demetrios should be governed by
Four Main Values:
WORSHIP (Liturgia): A SPIRITUAL RESURGENCE
WITNESS (Martyria): MANIFESTING THE FAITH
SERVICE (Diakonia): MINISTERING THE FAITH
FELLOWSHIP (Koinonia): COMMUNION IN THE FAITH
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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5. St. Demetrios
WORSHIP (Liturgia)
“He that eats flesh and drinks my blood dwells in me, and I in him.” (John 6:56)
WORSHIP (Liturgia) refers to our relationship with God through prayer, worship and
the sacramental life. It is through Liturgia that we actually experience and get to
personally know the personal Godhead — who is the Father, and the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, “the Trinity, one in essence, and undivided". How and why each
practicing Orthodox Christian worships God is an essential question that each must
be resolved if he is to be a true member of Christ's Church.
The Divine Liturgy and the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church provide basic
spiritual nourishment, but they must become a meaningful personal experience for
the worshipper, and not simply an empty form.
Liturgia, then, means encouraging and developing a penetrating program for
spiritual growth, both as individuals and as groups. All other dimensions of Christian
life depend on this. Man does not live by bread alone, but must seek and come to
Christ, be nourished by Him and confess Him as Lord.
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6. St. Demetrios
WITNESS (Martyria): MANIFESTING THE FAITH
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me." (Matthew 16-24)
Worship is just the beginning. Man is both a spiritual and a physical
being, and therefore the spiritual reality is expressed through the
physical world. We cannot only have faith, we must also exemplify it in
our life.
WITNESS (Martyria) is the living and witnessing of Christianity to others
within the faith, to those who may have left the faith, and to those
outside the faith, by sharing and actually living the Gospel Of Jesus
Christ.
Witness (Martyria) is the logical extension of worship (Liturgia). If we are
united with God, we will certainly reflect Him in our daily life.
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7. St. Demetrios
SERVICE (Diakonia): MINISTERING THE FAITH
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you
did it to me." (Matthew 25:37-40)
Christ came not to be served, but to serve, and He urges us to do the same.
We can live in the image of God by loving and serving mankind. Orthodox
Christians, and especially young adults and adults, may use their respective
"charismata" (God-given grace/gifts/talents) to be kind and merciful just as
Christ was when He walked among the sick, the poor, and the down-trodden
… and extended His holy hand.
We all share in the mission of the Church, working side by side together with
the ordained priest. SERVICE is lay ministry.
Each person is blessed with unique God-given talents, and each person is
called by God to offer their very life, in love and thanksgiving, and to use their
talents, not to bury them in the sand. Diakonia is a call to each Orthodox
Christian to energetically participate in the active ministry of the Church.
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8. St. Demetrios
FELLOWSHIP (Koinonia)
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment, and the second is
like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, on these two commandments
depend all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
In Fellowship (Koinonia) we are one.
FELLOWSHIP refers to the way in which the Orthodox Christian brings
his faith into his daily and social life.
We begin to realize and become aware that Christ is the focal
point of all our activities and relationships with one another. Our
love for Christ and our faith in the Holy Spirit begins to guide us as
we center our lives around loving one another the way Christ loves
us, unconditionally, unselfishly, and wholeheartedly.
INSPIRED by Father Michael Lewis.
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9. St. Demetrios
What It Is — and Isn’t:
A STRATEGIC PLAN.
A Strategic Plan is a tool that provides guidance in fulfilling a
mission with maximum efficiency and impact. If it is to be
effective and useful, it should articulate specific goals and
describe the action steps and resources needed to accomplish
them. As a rule, most strategic plans should be reviewed and
revamped every three to five years.
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10. St. Demetrios
Strategic Vs. Operating Plan
An Operating Plan is a coordinated set of tasks for carrying out
the goals delineated in a strategic plan. It thus goes into greater
detail than the strategic plan from which it is derived, spelling out
time frames and the roles of individual staff and board members,
for example. It also has a shorter horizon than a strategic plan —
usually one fiscal year.
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11. St. Demetrios
Strategic vs. Business Plan
A Business plan is typically focused on the actions and
investment necessary to generate income from a specific
program or service. A business plan includes information about
an organization’s products, competitive environment and
revenue assumptions.
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12. St. Demetrios
10 Key Steps to Successful Strategic
Planning for Non-Profits
1. A clear and comprehensive grasp of external opportunities
and challenges.
2. A realistic and comprehensive assessment of the
organization’s strengths and limitations.
3. An inclusive approach.
4. An empowered planning committee.
5. Involvement of senior leadership.
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13. St. Demetrios
10 Key Steps Continued
6. Sharing of responsibility by board and staff members.
7. Learning from best practices.
8. Clear priorities and an implementation plan.
9. Patience.
10. A commitment to change.
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15. St. Demetrios
SWOT ANALYSIS
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Strengths
• People willing to try
• New board elected
• Strong surveyed belief
Weaknesses
• Past Successive failure
• Disunity
• Neg. worship
Objectives
• Retool and task
• Target Funding
• Planned Funding
Threats
• Inflexible new programs
• Chronic deficits
• Fiscal overspending
16. St. Demetrios
PROACTIVE vs. REACTIVE
DECIDE ON DIRECTION
DIAGNOSE PAST AND PRESENT PROBLEMS
GUIDANCE AND PLANNING
EXPLAIN COHERENT, COGENT AND
COMPREHENSIVE ACTION PLANS
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17. St. Demetrios
Why follow a strategic plan?
1. FOCUS REQUIRES US TO HAVE VISION AND ADDRESS WHAT MAY
ULTIMATELY BE ACHIEVED.
2. PRIORITIES CREATE A LIST TOP TO BOTTOM IN ORDER OF
IMPORTANCE, ENEGRY, EFFORT AND FINANCE.
3. RECOGNITION PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES.
4. ASPIRATIONS ALLOWS STRATEGIES TO CONNECT WISHES TO
REALITIY.
5. DECISIONS ACTION TO MAKE THINGS GO.
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18. St. Demetrios
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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Board
Steward-
ship
Ways &
Means
Legal &
Insurance
Budget &
Finance
Commun-
ications
Admin/St
affing
Church
Services
Education
Ministry &
Outreach
Physical
Plant
19. St. Demetrios
10 standing committees:
Infrastructure for stability
1. STEWARDSHIP Provides for the operating expenses for the
church.
2. WAYS & MEANS Meeting church wide need through revenue
raising, dance festivals, raffles, and membership to those
receiving sacrament and families.
3. LEGAL AND INSURANCE All filings with state, city, and
Archdioceses. Annual review of all insurance policies,
property casualty, employment. By-laws, corporate kit.
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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20. St. Demetrios
10 Standing Committees cont.
4. BUDGET FINANCE Quarterly annual review of spending
income of all church organizations under charitable number.
Sweep all accounts.
5. COMMUNICATIONS Web page e-blasts, bulletin, all letters
from organizations, mailings, outreach programs, publicity &
advertising.
6. ADMINISTRATIVE/STAFFING Priest, cantor, choir, maintenance
salary, benefits insurance payment, church hardware,
software, updates, order supplies, paper, ink, handbook of
job duties.
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21. St. Demetrios
10 Standing Committees cont.
7. CHURCH SERVICES Duty Roster, greetings, candles, service,
choir, Sunday school, guests, special services, incense, altar
supplies.
8. EDUCATION Sunday School, Greek School, Bible Studies, adult
education, speakers bureau, young adults.
9. MINISTRY & OUTREACH Pan Orthodox, interfaith, charitable
projects, faith based initiatives, field trip pilgrimages.
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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22. St. Demetrios
10 Standing Committees cont.
10. PHYSICAL PLANT Engineering, electrical, paint, trash, storm
prevention, emergency evacuation, fire drills fire equipment,
maintenance contracts.
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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23. St. Demetrios
ST. DEMETRIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH
PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY
STRATEGIC PLAN TIME TABLE
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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Period: 2012-2013
Current Situation Desired Situation
Diminishing membership Increased membership
Prevalent feeling of spiritual non-
fulfillment
Reestablishment of spiritual fulfillment
Absence of Youth programs Increased Youth programs
Financial deficits Creating budgetary guidelines/enhance
revenue
Disharmony/Division Reestablish a familial lovein parish
Lack of clear vision, direction, planning Create a short and long term plan,
vision, direction
G
A
P
24. St. Demetrios
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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Key Indicators Objectives
1. Membership and revenue diminution last two
years.
1. Stop the loss of membership/stabilize revenue.
2. Interview subject/objective about worship
deficiencies. Ex. No bible studies, prayer,
participation ecumenically.
2. Reestablish worship as primary focus. Expand
religious learning and activities as faith based.
3. Sunday school, Greek School Goya, Joy
attendance dropping.
3. Create new innovative faith based activities for
youth.
4. Stewardship down, nonoperation contribution
down.
4. Establish transparency in expenses, spending,
and expand giving opportunities.
5. Limited communications opportunity. 5. Bulletin work of one or two people must be
community based/expand to web and hard
copy with advertising.
6. Lack of tolerance and trust from community to
Clergy and parish council.
6. Reestablish proper boundaries, guide posts
and duties for clergy and parish council.
25. St. Demetrios
Specific Actions Planned to Fill the Gap:
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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Action Due Date
1 Reestablish participatory Sunday worship: greeting, candles, altar, choir. Varies
2 Recreate faith based programs for spiritual fulfillment: monthly prayer
groups, monthly Bible studies, lecture series, ecumenical outreach to City &
County with Pan Orthodox gatherings.
Jan-Mar
3 Create family oriented faith based programs: crop walk, feed homeless,
elder shut in visits, hospital ministry, and grave site care.
Jan – Mar
4 Create blog and post relevant posts under church auspices. Jan 15,
Ongoing
5 Re-establish family based activities-spaghetti lunch, pancake breakfast, 1st
Sunday holy communion.
Feb 1, Ongoing
6 Fix organ, get organist, get English AND Greek hymns sung with youth and
adult choirs. Participate in interfaith choir programs.
March - Dec
7 Create budgetary guidelines made know to community with profits and
loss. Close deficit through newly created endowment effort.
Feb 15, Ongoing
26. St. Demetrios
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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ADDITIONAL GOALS
Reducing paper usage by 50%
to decrease my impact on
environment
Audit, budget guidelines and
strategic planning to be
repeated quarterly.
Have children and parents come to
church together.
Action Due Date
8 Design membership site offering and electronically on credit card with
downloadable stewardship and non-operational giving with explanation of
needs.
April
9 Develop cooking and baking course within parish and open to the public. July-Aug
10 Identify other affiliate rentals of church halls to offer to increase building
profits.
July-Aug
11 Develop phone tree call for emergency situations. March 30
27. St. Demetrios
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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ACTION PLANS BY PARISHONER NEED:
Maximize Worship Experience Generate New Parishioners Revitalize Lapsed Parishioners
1 Inclusive and respectful
attitude of clergy. Make the
liturgy meaningful with sermon
and message.
1 Each committee chair should
invite parishioners to
participate in small ways.
Candles, physical plant
inspection, ways and means
fund raising, chairing events.
1 Membership committee and
Priest must mend fences and
reinvite lapsed or absent
congregation members.
2 Improve customer service by
sending thank you notes and
501 c3 tax receipts no less than
7 days after receipt. People
want to know their donation
served the church.
2 Rotate bible and epistle
readings throughout
community members young
and old-male/female.
2 Invite lapsed members to
special church events: St.
Demetrio’s night, holy week,
and Christmas service.
3 Physical plant of church should
be accessible, clean and
presentable.
3 Invite other Orthodox
worshippers to bible study,
prayer worship.
3 Place ill members on prayers
list for prayer group and
community with family
members follow up not just the
person who is ill.
28. St. Demetrios
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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ACTION PLANS BY PARISHIONER NEED cont.
Maximize Worship Experience Generate New Parishioners Revitalize Lapsed Parishioners
4 From entry to exit worship
experience should be positive,
warm, friendly and upbeat.
4 Place at least 5 guest-blogging
posts per month.
4 Make lapsed members honored
guests at events such a glendis,
breakfast.
5 Communication by bulletin,
web, e-blast should prepare
worshippers for knowledge of
bible reading, hymn, saints
holidays.
5 Enhance web page to include
music icons heritage
information.
5 Encourage legacy giving to
those who have had family here
but may have moved out of
state in the family name.
6 Youth should feel inclusive in
spiritual function not just extra-
curricular.
6 Offer novel programs for
Orthodox Christians to
participate. Greek school to the
public-why not?
6 Create permanent honor roles
of plaques, furniture altar
offerings in honor of family
members or events.
29. St. Demetrios
Key Strategic Initiatives
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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JANUARY
• Audit
• Strategic
planning
executive
summary general
assembly
• Bulletin self-
sustaining from
advertising
• Web page and
software
redesign with
archdiocese
software
FEBRUARY
• Committee
chairs from
board 10
committees
• Request for
congregation
membership
• Monthly prayer
society formed
MARCH
• Establishment of
endowment fund
Leadership 2500
• Repair organ
• Recruit choir
director senior
and junior choir.
• Hire organist
• Organize youth
choir
APRIL
• Begin monthly
bible studies
• Begin weekly
speakers for lent
30. St. Demetrios
Key Strategic Initiatives cont.
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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MAY
• Maximize church
attendance by
announcing
schedule to all
present and lapsed
members, bilingual
programs of service
available
incorporate English
with Greek in Holy
Week observance
JUNE
• Honor all graduated
with inspirational
speaker and
breakfast with
community
JULY
• Vacation bible
school for youth
and seniors
AUGUST
• Church picnic
SEPTEMBER
• Sunday school and
Greek school for
adults and children
OCTOBER
• Pan Orthodox
invitational in
Middlesex County
to St. Demetrios
vespers
NOVEMBER
• Community
outreach to
homeless and
hungry in Perth
Amboy
DECEMBER
• Cooking and baking
classes to the
congregation and
public
31. St. Demetrios
Priorities for 2013
FIRST: To reestablish fiscal control and transparency
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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32. St. Demetrios
Priorities for 2013
SECOND: To reestablish faith based initiatives
throughout all church programs, reestablishing a
familial, loving and prayerful congregation.
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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33. St. Demetrios
St. Demetrios Life Survey for
Congregation Perth Amboy
New Jersey
o Total of 40 participants
o 31 responded in English
o 9 in Greek
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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34. St. Demetrios
St. Demetrios Life Survey for Congregation
Perth Amboy New Jersey
Part 1: You & Your Congregation
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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35. St. Demetrios
1. How often do you go to worship
services at this congregation?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
35
Hardly ever or
special
occasions only
18%
Less than once
a month
8%
Once a month
3%
Two or three
times a month
15%
Usually every
week
51%
More than
once a week
5%
36. St. Demetrios
2. How long have you been going to
worship services at this congregation?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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Less than one
year
2%
1-2 years
0%
3-5 years
5%
6-10 years
3%
11-20 years
0%
More than 20
years
90%
37. St. Demetrios
3. Are you current in your stewardship
pledge?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
37
No but I
participate
regularly there
3%
No
0%
Yes
97%
38. St. Demetrios
5. To what extent do the worship services or
congregation help you with everyday
living?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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Not at all
10%
A small extent
28%
Some extent
26%
A great extent
36%
39. St. Demetrios
St. Demetrios Life Survey for Congregation
Perth Amboy New Jersey
Part 2: About Your Faith
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
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40. St. Demetrios
6. How often do you spend time in private
devotional activities?
(such as prayer, meditation, reading the Bible alone)
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
40
Hardly ever
7%
Occasionally
22%
Once a week
7%
A few times a
week
9%
Every day or
most days
51%
Never
4%
41. St. Demetrios
7. Over the last year, how much have
you grown in your faith?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
41
No real growth
14%
Some growth
20%
Much
growth, mainl
y through this
congregation
33%
Much
growth, mainl
y through our
congregation
8%
Much
growth, mainl
y through my
own private
activities
25%
42. St. Demetrios
8. Agree or disagree: “My spiritual needs are
being met in this St. Demetrios Church”?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
42
Strongly
disagree
27%
Disagree
27%
Neutral or
unsure
19%
Agree
13%
Strongly agree
14%
43. St. Demetrios
9. How satisfied are you with what is being
offered here for children and youth (under
19 years of age)?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
43
Not sure
17%
Very
dissatisfied
10%
Dissatisfied
12%
Mixed feelings
48%
Satisfied
3%
Very satisfied
10%
44. St. Demetrios
10. Does St. Demetrios Church have a clear
vision, goals, or direction for its ministry and
mission?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
44
I am not aware
of such a
vision, goals or
direction
26%
There are ideas
but no clear
vision, goals, or
direction
40%
Yes, and I am
strongly
committed to
them
26%
Yes, and I am
partly
committed to
them
8%
45. St. Demetrios
11. How often do you experience the
following during worship services at St.
Demetrios?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
45
32.00%
31%
17%
33%
43%
9%
8%
17%
3%
22%
32%
36%
37%
36%
27%
26%
17%
29%
28%
8%
A sense of fulfillment
Joy
Boredom
Inspiration
A sense of God's presence
Always Usually Sometimes Rarely
46. St. Demetrios
12. Do you agree or disagree: “I have a
sense of excitement about our
congregation’s future”?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
46
Disagree
48%
Agree
52%
47. St. Demetrios
13. Would you be prepared to invite to a
worship service here any of your friends and
relatives who do not now attend services at
St. Demetrios?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
47
No
57%
Yes
43%
48. St. Demetrios
14. To what extent does our priest take into
account the ideas of those who worship
here?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
48
A great
extent
28%
Some extent
8%A small
extent
22%
Not at all
14%
Don't know
28%
49. St. Demetrios
15. Of the following, which one best
describes your opinion of the future
directions of St. Demetrios?
ST. DEMETRIOS PERTH AMBOY NEW JERSEY
49
20%
41%
17%
13%
9%
Our future is very unclear or doubtful
We need to rethink where we are heading
We are currently headed in the right
direction
We are currently headed in the wrong
direction
We need to get back to the way we did
things in the past