Fast Company, Willow Creek & the Business World

The December/January print edition of Fast Company will include a fascinating article, available to you now on-line, entitled, "How Willow Creek is Leading Evangelicals by Learning From the Business World". It is a longer article but worth the read, especially if you want a case study in mixing practical (in this case, business) wisdom with ministry philosophy.

While most of the article features Willow's Leadership Summits, I am intrigued by:

1. The insights into Bill Hybels as a man and a leader. For instance, "I've been put in a position of influence, and reading is one of the most economical ways to get better at it."
2. The tensions over Willow's intentional embrace of "secular" wisdom. How would you respond to David Wells critical comment? "Willow Creek has confused what leadership is in a company and what it must be in a church. We're in a very different orbit from the corporate world. Our objective is night-and-day different."
3. Common quote attributed to Calvin, "all truth is God's truth." Actual quote from his Institutes, "If we believe the Spirit of God is the only fountain of truth, we shall neither reject nor despise the truth itself where it shall appear, unless we wish to insult the Spirit of God." That, of course, frames the discussion around "truth". But is it better framed around "wisdom", and, if so, what difference does that make?
4. Willow's amazing international influence--"some 53% of the Willow Creek Association's nearly 9,000 congregations are now overseas"-- yet recognizing that the model hasn't worked everywhere, "Two years ago, the association quit India; the cost of putting on an event there...was prohibitive." Intriguing, in part, due to the reality that India is both an emerging global influence (especially in business) and home to a significant portion of the remaining "unreached" peoples for the gospel. That is one location I would expect to be a very high priority.

Of course, it is important to bear in mind, as with any article, you are getting the "author's perspective", and not all can possibly reflect the reality or views of Willow. But it is still a helpful (10-15 minute) read.

Thanks, Willow, and thanks, Fast Company.

The Evangelism Model: Leading Movements of Evangelism

For the last twelve years, the Campus Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ has been operating from what has been known internally as "The Evangelism Model". One of the tools based up on it is Getting Biblical About Evangelism. While it has been applied in many different contexts, its principles have helped clarify what is involved in leading movements of evangelism.

Here is a "introduction" I used with team leaders this summer.

Since evangelism always involves:

God - The Master

• Evangelism is first & foremost a work of God.
• Therefore, a leader must learn to discern and align to what God is doing in their context.

World - The Masses

• The audience is the defining context.
• Therefore, the leader must understand and adapt to the audience in their context.

Believers - The Messengers

• Believers are the primary initiators in evangelism.
• Therefore, the leader must empower, equip and engage the labor force in effective outreach.

Gospel - The Message

• The true gospel is always about Jesus—who he is, what he has done and why.
• Therefore, the leader must ensure that the unchanging gospel is communicated with life-changing power.

Communication - The Methods

• Methods will vary according to the context.
• Therefore, the leader employs methods that bring it all together.
• Empowering laborers—aligned with God and adapting to the audience—who are communicating the unchanging gospel with life-changing power and relevance.
  

If we are effective at developing leaders of evangelism with these competencies, how are we doing?

Then & Now -The Measure of a Ministry

Time tests the fruit of our efforts. True success in ministry is measured less by what is happening today, and more in what is happening five, ten, even twenty years from now because of what we do today.

I was reminded of that on Friday when I received an e-mail from Jeff. He wrote:

Last night I spoke at the UNL CCC weekly meeting. That was a joy as well to share a bit of the journey. Their launching some evangelistic efforts and I spoke from Romans 10 encouraging them to just take the next step. I told them about the FIRST time I shared my faith—when you took with you on an appt to the Sig Ep house and I was absolutely scared to death! Then I shared how that first step has led to so many others including all that God is letting me be a part of in India today. Thanks for challenging ME to step out way back then! I so appreciate you friend.

Jeff is a pastor for administration and outreach in largest church in his city. But what is more exciting (to me) is that he has been the catalyst for an amazing church planting movement in India. Take a glance at their website and then think back to the significance of the of our time together, taking the first steps of outreach in a fraternity house:

http://www.300in3.org/

Makes you want to keep investing in the lives of young Christ-followers, doesn't it?

Leadership Development - "Amazing Grace" Movie

Thursday, I attended the screening of a great new Leadership Development movie - “Amazing Grace”, the life of William Wilberforce. Wilberforce, of course, was the Englishman who led the fight for the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire at the turn of the 18th century.

This movie is a great case study on the life of a leader – ideal for leadership development. Take a group of leaders together to view it and then sit over coffee and talk of leadership insights and lessons.

• Explore the relationships of a leader -- relationship with God (he was a man of faith), with others and his own character.
• Then discuss the roles of a leader – A Direction Setter: How was direction set? A Coach: How was Wilberforce a leader to those within the Abolitionist movement? A Spokesperson: How was he a spokesperson to those outside, eliciting support and alignment? A Change Agent: How did he help bring about change in society?
• There is plenty to discuss about the responsibilities of a leader— vision-casting, aligning, motivating, and strategy formulation.
• And, of course, the results of a leader—History has been etched with the lasting influence of this man and the movement which he led.

This is a very good movie about a great subject. It’s well done; though I’m quite sure it won’t compete for awards nor will be a box office blockbuster. But that is primarily because its subject matter won’t appeal to the masses. But if you want to be inspired by the life of a leader, it’s worth the ticket price. And, if you want to build into your leaders, it’s worth a group outing!

Other possible connections for you:

• Integration of faith and social impact (a man of faith changing society. Hmm…Can you serve God and humankind?)
• Social Justice (after all, this was the cutting edge of the abolition movement)
• Spiritual journey (the title should give this away)

Both of my thumbs are up on this one. BTW - It will be in theaters later in February.