Will Mancini

Thanks to those of you who joined me for the free webinar today. I wanted to provide some additional resources:

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• Down the Vision Frame Overview.
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Be sure to look for the VisionRoom.com coming in August.

FInally if you would like to start a 24 coaching track with 8 other churches, Vince Antonucci of Verve Church in Las Vegas will be kicking off a virtual Vision co::Lab. Get more info here and click start a conversation to sign up.

Seeds come from living plants. But before they bring more life, they must die.

Good Friday reminds us of a life-death-more life pattern. The death of Jesus would bring a dramatic multiplication of the body of Christ on earth. Seeds would be scattered to the four corners of the globe as “dead-to-self” disciples lay down their life in Gospel service.

I am thinking about the death that must come before multiplication in a different way this week. As I enter a new chapter of multiplying my work as a Vision Pathway Navigator with Auxano, I meet the end of my own gifts. For one man’s passion, ability, and experiences to really multiply, death must happen. Death to efficiency, death to control and death to ego. For me to multiply I must die to enjoyment of doing and being good at doing. Only then can I significantly invest in others and see the benefits of my clarity cause reach more leaders.

If you aspire to multiply, a great question to ask is, “How are you dying to your doing?”

• How are you dying to efficiency to show someone else the ropes?
• How are you dying to control to let someone else have 100% responsibility?
• How are you dying to ego to let someone else be the hero?

Remember, the first command given to humans was all about multiplication – “Be fruitful and increase in number (Gen. 1:28)” This verse is the proto-commission to everything, including the Great Commission.

• Are you a disciple? Then multiply.
• Are you given a unique set of spiritual gifts and natural talents? Then multiply.
• Do you have a special vision or calling? Then multiply.

You have some thing to multiply. Just don’t forget death before multiplication.

Where have you see this principle at work in your life?

A few days ago I posted some church leaders take-aways from the Kony 2012, Invisible Children video, 70 Million Views in 7 Days: A Vision Analysis. I also mentioned  the opportunity to see this video through The Six Elements. (Grab the free tool on the previous post.)  Here are just a few observations of how the video weaves through The Six.

And remember… Scheudule 45 minutes in your staff meeting in the next 2 weeks to watch the video and discuss this as a team (30 to watch it and 15 to discuss). Have each team member right down a few phrases for each of The Six Elements.

Common Denominator

• The video opens with a child being born and a statement about how we all come into the world. The framework of a Father son relationship is leveraged for all the viewers.
• Use of his own child’s ability to understand the story’s gravity brings stunning clarity and universality to the cause
• Justice as a universal concept and basic human drive is established
• The use of social media, great design and simple things like bracelets create a community identity and emotional bond to the cause
• The inclusion of Jacob and his story, makes the cause personal and relatable and sets up the “Jacob thread”

Burning Platform

• The repetition of child abduction and reality of being transformed into murders.  The emotional connection made by referencing his own son, “If my son was abducted and forced to murder, it would immediately make the news.”
• The emphasis on “invisibility” of the children as the dominant idea to drive the movement. The emotional connection is deepened by the political irony that initially the US turned a blind eye, because there was no self interest on the basis of self-defense or financial gain.
• The use of the international criminal list to strengthen the credibility of the problem and Invisible Children’s cause. The emotional connection is heightened by the use of Hitler as a comparable figure to Kony.
• Jacob Thread: Hearing Jacob talk about wanting to die. Watching Jacob cry and long to be with his dead brother paints a picture of pure hopelessness.

Golden tomorrow

• The video clip of an abducted child returning to their parents.
• The idea that common people can make a difference in a world that is connected.  A better world is one in which the worst bad guy is really captured. This is heightened by the simplicity of the action kit. It’s easy and fun to be a part of the solution.
• The better world that we currently live in as Americans is continually seen throughout the clip. The better world is one where this basic freedom is extended naturally by those who enjoy it. The better world is one where we are “responsibly free” not “selfishly free.”
• The dominant story of Jacob helps us feel the better world. What will happen to all of the other like Jacob?

Wake-up Call

• The reference to the fact that during other times in human history we could not have acted like we can now. The reference to how easy it is to forget the ongoing problem by politicians after the first 100 soldiers were sent.
• The use of 2012 and gutsy claim that it must be over by December 31^st. Strengthening this punch of this end date is the reference to the years of battle undertaken.
• The immediate action step of “Covering the Night”  on April 20^th The amazingly simple action steps: wearing a bracelet, sharing a poster, etc.
• The promise to Joseph that something will be done about the problem.

Mind Stretch

• The multiple layers of evil – child abduction, sex slavery, arming children for war, forcing children to kill their parents, the pure selfishness of Kony. The ironic idea that by making him famous we will stop him.
• The idea that everyday people can make a such a dramatic difference. The use of the pyramid logo to demonstrate the big idea that the people can set the agenda for justice to reign rather than pure political influence and financial motivation alone.
• The idea that 20 culture makers and 12 policy makers all feel passionate and have been recruited in advance
• The use of Joseph to show how everyone is the same. We all want to have a home and be with our family. But based on where we are born, with no choice of our own, can lead to dramatically different outcomes.

God Smile

• The video does not reference God.  Christian leaders should note how humanistic some of our most God-like causes can be. Is the Gospel being integrated into the Invisible Children work and chase for Kony? I hope so. If not, the movement will have remedied a short-term hell unaware of the eternal one. Thanks be to God for the Great Remedy, Jesus.

On a side note: I am aware of the both the controversy and unfortunate incident surrounding the leader of this movement in the last few days. (Please pray for Jason Russell.) Yet, the amazing response to this video alone warrants our attention as ministry leaders, vision-castors and story tellers. This video has reached 100 million viewers faster than any other in internet history.

If you have not seen the 30-minute Kony 2012 video yet from Invisible Children, I encourage you to do so. It’s one of the best vision videos you will ever see.

My teenage kids saw it first, as the viral video reached their high school friends in a hurricane-force social media blitz. While in the airport for spring break, Romina and I viewed the story on my iPhone, while my kids watched a second time. Although I know of Invisible Children, I have now been infected with an amazingly clear and compelling one-year milestone. And I am only one of  seventy million others who watched this media in its debut week on Youtube alone.

My analysis will come in two parts. First I want to make some general observations for church leaders. Second, in a post tomorrow, I will share my observations on the Six Elements of Vision I use with ministry leaders everywhere I go. I strongly encourage you to use the Vision Casting Spider Diagram as a team and watch the video. Take careful note on how each of the Six Elements are utilized in Kony 2012. Again, I will share my observations on this tomorrow. If you have not seen this stuff from my book Church Unique, you can download it here: Articulating Vision Proper – 6 Elements of Compelling Vision

WHAT CAN CHURCH LEADERS LEARN?

1) There are no overnight success stories. The amazing response to this story is connected to a consistent ten year journey of compassion and action.

2) Your influence is directly related to your ability to tell your story.

3) Social media removes walls blocking the communication of and emotional connection to your vision like never before.

4) The ability to clarify a simple, easy and obvious action step is a hallmark of a great vision casting experience.

5) Vision was meant to be communicated visually. Not only the use of video, but the integration of great design and the creative use of symbol keeps the vision alive in the minds eye and makes the big idea more sharable.

As you digest this vision casting experience, ponder the question:

What are you committed to doing in the next year and what would your 30 minute video look like?