Time for reinventing the movement?
Reinvention might be too strong, but realignment is too weak. There are a few deeply missional paradigms that need to be revisited.
Start with, ‘why do we do what we do?’
Then go to, ‘how’s that working out?’
How does God measure us?
What does He think about us?
Is it possible that our faithfulness to God leans more towards our faithfulness to what we’ve always done?
These questions are admittedly subject to generalization. Beyond the shadow of a doubt there is plenty of authentic SA mission happening at a level and pace that would make the founder grin and warm the heart of God. I am proud to be a Salvationist, especially in the USA Western Territory.
That’s not to say we don’t have work to do. Will you join me in reinvesting in this movement until every corner and every fibre is in concert with God’s purposes for us?
Let’s start with our own hearts, kneeling before God, sanctifying ourselves for His glory. Then let us come together with a freshly inspired resolve to win the world for Jesus, rolling up our sleeves, loving our neighbors, determined to follow The Lord with all that we are. Hallelujah!
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 NIV
your words speak to my heart, thank you Commissioner
This resonates deeply with my spirit Commissioner and further fuels my resolve to be the sort of officer and leader who is “reinvesting in this movement until every corner and every fibre is in concert with God’s purposes for us.”
Your questions remind me of Ed Koch when he was mayor of New York who’d ask each Monday morning; How am I doing?
I’m going to add your words to our blog as an article. We’ve been doing a series for the last two weeks looking into the attrition rate among SA officers worldwide, with some 4000 visitors and many sharing excellent comments .
We have, and will be featuring articles by Commissioners Brian Peddle and Joe Noland, and Generals Paul Rader, John Gowans and Albert Orsborn at http://WWW.FSAOF.BLOGSPOT.COM .
Blessings, sven
@Sven….love the question by Ed Koch…”How am I doing?” And there’s something powerful about asking it every Monday morning. It keeps us honest, doesn’t it? Called…yes! But when I look around, taking a look @ each officer-each unit- & I have to include myself certainly; I wonder if our calling is truly “fulfilled” within the context of where we are placed TODAY—where we wake up each morning, where we walk through our days, who we walk by, who we “don’t walk by”; who we speak and who we do not speak to. Choices. Perspective. Personal holiness & authenticity. Thrust into the middle of mission each day, aren’t we? I think of the apostle Paul, a 1st C. mover & shaker- his primary mission to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the Gentile world…to the whosoever…yet, from prison- absolutely sidelined, he makes a way..spectacularly so! His voice is heard…or is it the Gospel of Christ- the voice of Christ rippling out from this dark place? Out of the dark- in the place where we stand…our call is the same.
Reinventing is powerful. Movements continually need to be reinvented lest they grow old and ineffective. http://stevesimms.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/rocket-science-cant-reinvent-the-thrill-in-your-life-but-christ-can/
How about reorganizing? Too risky? What if the Army reinvented the way its system functions? We talk about it, but then leadership changes and we lose momentum. Suppose we placed less emphasis on numbers, and more emphasis on lives changed (we are making progress, but not enough). How about less emphasis on programming and more emphasis on discipleship (we lose a lot of young adults because of this)? Imagine less authoritative measures in leadership, and more shared power. What if we changed the way operated within our ranks and became more egalitarian in the way we approach our infrastructure? “It isn’t ‘the old ways of doing things’ that block renewal; it is the people whose shared assumptions and habits hold the hold ways in place” (Gardner, On Leadership).
“Start with, ‘why do we do what we do?’
Then go to, ‘how’s that working out?’
How does God measure us?
What does He think about us?”
Why do we do stats and how is it working out for us? How does God measure us? Why do we offer countless music programs and so few discipleship classes? Why do we dictate from the top down, when Jesus taught us to serve from the bottom up? Maybe all leaders don’t take the top down approach; but many do, and it’s somewhat oppressive for the person at the bottom. Why are women still often stereotyped in their roles just because they are women?
Just some thoughts while I wait for Cameron’s bus! ?
Thanks, Nancy. We know you speak from experience that are working in the middle of all of this. God bless you.