How to start a movement (for Christian ministry)
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 8:40PM I have been a long time 'fan' of Seth Godin and so enjoyed his book 'Tribes' which discusses how to set up and lead a community of common interest (whether it be an idea, a ministry movement, or some kind of project).
A few days ago my friend Roger Scholtz posted the following video from the TED conference, 'How to start a movement'.
I think it is crucial that persons in ministry understand the importance of social dynamics and how to work within those (and in spite of them) to achieve the aims of Christ's Gospel and the establishment of His Kingdom of grace.
If you have the bandwidth and can watch this video I would love to hear your thoughts (on the video in general, the concepts discussed, and the relationship between this video and the Christian ministry).
Dr Dion Forster
'The first follower is what turns a lone nut into a leader' ~ Derek Sivers (how to start a movement).
Movements are critical to Christian ministry. Theologically we can trace this back to the central importance of relationship in God's economy for the world (we are created in the image of God who is a relationship of three persons). Of course the ministry of Jesus illustrates this truth more clearly than any sermon ever could. The carpenter from Nazareth who dies a premature death in the prime of his life starts a movement that transforms all of society from that moment onward.
Watch this short 3 minute video and let me know what you think...
Perhaps one of the great problems with contemporary ministry is that we have too many leaders and not enough 'first followers'.
What do you think?
Reader Comments (6)
I think it may be the same as a 3-minute video we were shown at a meeting to discuss mission and catechesis a few weeks ago. An illustration of II Timothy 2:2.
A very instructive little video clip - I like the idea that its not simply about the leader, but about the first follower(s?). It reinforces the idea that as a leader you don't have to persuade everybody - just the first one or two. Of course, this is the hardest part! Thanks Dion
Hi Steve,
So sorry for my slow reply - indeed this is the superb 3 minute video. Amazingly simple, yet so powerful isn't it? Thanks for the reference to II Timothy!
Nick,
See my follow up post. I agree wholeheartedly with you! Nurturing the followers and placing the focus on the movement / ideas are more critical than the leader's ego! We have much to learn in the contemporary Church!
Rich blessing,
Dion
I just musing on how this applies to Christ during his incarnation. I fully understand what the video is telling us but I have this niggling feeling its is the antithesis of Christ's leadership. Is Christ's leadership different from the world's leadership? How should this play out in Christian leaders today?
If I was selling a product then the Siver's video tells me a lot about what I should do. If I was building a team of people to create software or run a motor racing meeting it tells me very little. Maybe I'm out of step but it seems many in the church think they selling a product when we are involved in doing more than building a team. Tell me I'm wrong! Please?
Hi Simon,
You know I had not even considered the perspective you share in your comment above! That could be some indication that you're correct! We do tend to think of leadership in ministry in a similar way to 'selling a product or service' (i.e., getting acceptance of a message, a particular perspective on the world, and then of course trying to encourage others to model how we believe that message and perspective require us to live in the world).
I need to give this some more thought!
Simon, would you be willing to consider joining the Lausanne Global Conversation? I posted this video here http://conversation.lausanne.org/conversations/detail/10183 and would love to have your comment and interaction on that platform (even if just a repost of what you posted here). If you're not interested in joining but are willing to let me repost your comment there please just leave me a note.
Thanks so much!
Have a great day!
Dion
Thanks for the insight Simon. It gave me pause for thought! Perhaps I don't fully understand your comment, but if you would permit I'd like to make a few observations:
1. During his incarnation he spent a lot of time with his disciples, or the "first followers". What scripture doesn't tell us a lot about is what transpired before he called those first few men - but we do know that because of those few men, the Gospel was spread.
2. We are made in God's image and are commanded to be imitators of Christ. If one man stood out in front of the crowd it was Jesus, making known the way to God. The disciples were the first followers in his new movement. So in some ways its very much like the video. The main difference for me, and where we as humans fall down, is acknowledging that the work is God's, not ours. We try take credit for being 'obedient' and make the movement our own. Christ made it clear that His desire was to do the Will of the Father
I hope that makes sense!