Will Mancini

While at PGF, I co-lead with Alan, author of The Shaping of Things to Come and Forgotten Ways. Alan mentioned that Shaping was really written for church planters. They had no idea that it would become the foundational missional work that it has become. Following that work which was co-written with Michael Frost, Alan did the solo project entitled Forgotten Ways which focuses on the nature of missional movements. Here are a few quotes from his speaking:

–”If everything becomes missional than nothing is.”
–”We design our buildings and then our building design us.”
–”The best way to change is not revolution or evolution, but to tell an alternative story.”
–”You have to challenge the system for the sake of the gospel.”

If you want a little taste of Alan or you are new to the missional conversation, click here for an Out of Ur interview with Leadership Journal on the definition of “missional.”

Yesterday I shared a coaching platform with Alan Hirsch and throughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn and dialogue. We are at the PGF conference (Presbyterian Global Fellowship) My favorite quote of the day was, “There is no silver bullet, but there is a silver imagination.” “Constantine is still the emperor of our minds” when it comes to how we think about church, Alan states. The silver imagination is about re-calibrating to our founder- Jesus; a process Alan calls radical traditionalism. He urged the presbyterian leaders wrestling through missional transformation to think like beginners and not experts- “we have to be OK with not knowing all of the answers.”

Yesterday I had a second meeting with the Mission Church team, and dynamic group with a vibrant missional vision that’s about to launch a power plant in the Helotes area of west San Antonio. (More on them later.) One of their team referenced a recent launch in Kansas called Aviator Church. I love the specific target of a growing aviator community. What I love even more is a the clarity that weaves its way through this simple website. Check out the simple strategy on the video and their mission to honor God and build healthy relationships at the speed of life.

Catalyst asked me to submit an article related to Church Unique. Here it is:

Leadership conversations these days are laced with a common thread: we are rethinking the “vision” word we use so often in ministry. Like a burr under a saddle, something is irritating the collective soul of church leadership. What is it? Read Article

Andy continues his 5 random “quote learnings” at DRIVE 08 with the last two quotes:

4) “If the board got rid of us and brought in a new CEO, what would he do. Why shouldn’t we walk out the door, come back in an do it ourselves.” Andy Grove. Andy reminds us that we are all emotionally attached to the way we do ministry. Long after our methods are ineffective we are still attached. The crisis for the local church is that we won’t change until the we are really desperate; and that desperation is related to financial income. At Northpoint’s staff meeting this past week, they asked the questions: “What’s in decline, and where are we manufacturing energy?”

5) “When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near” (Andy did not give attribution to this quote.) The challenge is that success breeds complacency, and complacency breeds failure. Don’t let success or momentum overshadow your vision. Keep the vision out in front. Andy shared that as they grew they accomplished their vision of reaching the unchurched. “Now,” Andy says, “We want to create churches that create churches that unchurched people want to attend.” What is fueling your vision? If something is not breaking your heart, then you don’t have a vision.