Make it Transformational: A Blog for Champion Discipleship

This past year I have noticed a few organizations who’ve closed their doors (and a few that seem like the end is inevitable) all cease to exist because they have failed to hold one another accountable for what they do. Either the leadership felt like accountability was something that wasn't needed, or they didn't understand that they should be holding themselves, and others, accountable to see that the cause (they mutually care so deeply about) is making an impact.

If you had read an article recently written by Audrey Barrick in The Christian Post, you would also say many simply don't see accountability as important.

Is accountability important even if some don’t view it as such? Sure it is!

In this article written by Barrick, titled "Survey: 1 in 20 Christians Cite Accountability in the Church," she states that “Only 5 percent of Christian adults indicated that their church does anything to hold them accountable for integrating biblical beliefs and principles into their life.”

As a Christian non-profit you are no different than the church when it comes to connecting with and growing your champions.

George Barna, director of the survey that Barrick cites, stressed that mutual accountability is one of the cornerstones of the biblical concept of community. He continues, "With a large majority of Christian churches proclaiming that people should know, trust and obey all of the behavioral principles taught in the Bible, overlooking a principle as foundational as accountability breeds even more public confusion about scriptural authority and faith-based community, as well as personal behavioral responsibility."

No wonder many churches and organizations no longer exist.

Do you see the need for accountability for what you and your champions do or don’t do?

What are you doing to hold your champions accountable? Do you help them integrate biblical beliefs and principles in their life as they connect with you and your cause?

Mission Increase Foundation's Transformation Giving Principle #5 says that, "transformational giving relationships between champions and organizations are primarily peer-level accountability relationships, not friendships or organizational support relationships."

This doesn't imply that we can't have friendships! What it does mean is that we must hold each other accountable to see that something we care about is making or having an impact.

My challenge today is that we would not be listed as one of the 19 of the 20 that don’t care (or have a plan) to help those who connect with us to grow.

We must realize that accountability is the key by which all of us (who are connected) grow and find encouragement in what we are a part of.

As the New Year begins I would like to encourage you make this Transformational Giving principle a priority as you seek to connect with your champions in a greater way in 2011.

A November blog posting by Bob Buford, author of Halftime: Moving From Success To Significance, tipped me on to a new book by Robert Putnam titled American Grace.  Putnam’s book encompasses his findings on the state of religion in America today based on 3,000 interviews he conducted.  Here’s how Buford introduces it:

“The book is titled American Grace, and it is the best work in print on the state of religion in America today. I want to give you a sense of the exciting findings that this dispassionate secular Harvard sociologist has discovered and documented. .. Putnam begins by saying “any discussion of religion in America must begin with the incontrovertible fact that Americans are a highly religious people. … In general, Americans have high rates of religious belonging, behaving, and believing."

Uplifting words to believers, huh?  But it’s the next part about ‘the cellular model’ of evangelical and megachurches that got me to thinking:

“The typical megachurch is both evangelical and nondenominational. For many people, their small group is their church. Putnam discovered that in any given month, Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church will host some 3,000 separate events. In a September 2005 New Yorker article entitled “The Cellular Church,” writer Malcolm Gladwell discovered the key to Saddleback was its small groups meeting together and working on projects together.”

It was while reading that last bit that I got inspired – why not create small groups for the champions within your non-profit ministry?    

Before I continue, you might be thinking about MIF’s summer 2010 webinar on giving circles.  Yep, it’s a similar idea of connecting people in a small group to get more deeply involved in a cause(s) – and to learn, together, about philanthropy and generous giving. 

Since giving circles seem to be catching on like wildfire, why not consider your existing champions.  What would it look like to create intentional small groups or ‘cohorts’ – even a group of two or three people matched up - to leverage the power of peer to peer relationships to promote growth in the cause? 

Transformational Giving principle #7, by the way, reminds us that peer to peer relationships are as important as peer to organization relationships.  Gladwell, too, confirms the effectiveness of small groups within mega churches when he writes,

“The small group was an extraordinary vehicle of commitment. It was personal and flexible. It cost nothing. It was convenient, and every worshipper was able to find a small group that precisely matched his or her interests.”

If you’ve tried some form of this idea, post a comment.  Otherwise, a good starting point would be to share this idea with a few interested champions (at the same level of involvement as far as P, E, and O).  Together with your champions, identify a small group willing to experiment.  Better yet, identify a P group as well as an E group.

·         1.  Encourage the group(s) to do some ministry projects together.  Ask the group to take 15 minutes after  the project to share meaningful moments or recognition of growth and transformation.  Ask them to update you afterwards.

·         2.  Read a book or watch a documentary about your shared cause and discuss what you learned or share observations.  This could be done over email as well.

·        3.  Encourage the group to brainstorm ideas for a new Signature Participation Project  which would equip champions in the cause.  Challenge them  to plan and direct an SPP for other champions. Ask one member to write it up in an upcoming newsletter.

·        4.  Recognize and ritualize any step taken by champions on the path to full maturity. (See Eric Foley’s related blog posting on this topic).

Remember, your goal as a ministry leader is to equip those around you to do ‘greater things’ in the cause.   And just think: it will indeed be a happy new year – for yourself and those individuals – when, together, you accomplish this goal!  

Transformational Giving Principle #9 states that giving is learned, not latent in champions.

Consider that principle in light of the following excerpts from the book Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker.

The muggy summer of 1952 teemed with mosquitoes and clingy Midwestern humidity. The school year ended (I was fresh out of first grade, Suzy liberated from fourth), but instead of that lazy, hazy wide-open summer feeling, we found ourselves in a world of closed doors and shuttered windows. It seemed to Suzy and me as if the city of Peoria had pulled into itself like a turtle, afraid to poke so much as a toe out to do anything…

These days we’ve all but forgotten what a scourge it was, but in 1952, there was a global epidemic. “Infantile paralysis” was a malevolent phantom that shadowed every summer day and haunted every cricket-filled night, poised to cripple and kill with one touch to the spine, the most deeply dreaded disease of the twentieth century worldwide.

“Right this minute, scientists are working to develop a vaccine,” she said. “We have to do everything we can to help. Like this bake sale.” She set a Tupperware container on the table. Through the milky-opaque plastic, we could just make out mounds of pink-tinted frosting topped with maraschino cherries. “Every little cupcake will do its part to end the epidemic. The money helps the scientists, the scientists help physicians, and if lots more mothers and daughters collect lots more money and the scientists keep working, someday, they’ll be able to give people a shot and-“She snapped her fingers. “No more polio.”

***
Along the way, of course, skeptics in all their towering intellect persistently pointed out the many reasons the virtual eradication of polio could never be accomplished.

My mother respectfully disagreed, efficient and undeterred in her daily purpose. Suzy and I were bundled into the family station wagon every weekend to accompany Mom on her various missions. It wasn’t up for debate; it’s what we did.

“Instead of dwelling on all the things you can’t do, said Mother, “figure out what you can do. What you will do. My mother used to say, ‘If you have to ask what to do, get out of the kitchen.’ I’ll bet you girls could come up with something if you put your heads together.”
We piled into the station wagon and set out on our appointed rounds. Sweltering in the backseat, Suzy and I complained and deviled each other like a couple of spiny pill bugs.

Mother didn’t raise her voice, but her tone crackled with aggravation. “Out.”

Mother stood in front of us in the blazing sun, shielding her eyes with her hand.

“People have died for this country,” she said. “People have sacrificed their lives so you could live in peace and freedom, and all that’s asked of you is that you take care of it. Stewardship. That’s all. You care enough about your community to look after those who aren’t as fortunate as you. When you see someone in need, you give. When you see something wrong, you fix it. Because this is your country, it’s your community. You can’t sit around on your duff waiting for someone else to make it better. It’s up to you.”

“If you girls devoted half the energy you use complaining and bickering to actually doing something for somebody else, I think you’d be amazed at what you can accomplish. So can I count on you? Are you willing to be good stewards for your country?”asked Mother.

***
“Nanny? I know what we should do to be good stewards.”

“What?” I yawned.

“Variety show.” Suzy hatched her brilliant idea like a magician turning a pigeon out of a top hat. “A song-and-dance variety show and you can sing and dance and I’ll sell tickets. We’ll get everybody to help.”

***

Mother drove us to St. Francis Hospital on Glen Oak Avenue. Elated, Suzy and I marched to the administrative desk in the front lobby and presented the receptionist with a crisp white envelope containing $50.14 in pure polio-killing, spine-saving, all-American do-gooding cash.
Nuts and bolts. Dollars and cents. Cause and effect. The lesson wasn’t lost on Suzy or me. This is where the rubber meets the road, I realized. This is where will meets way.

A fundraiser is born.

So began Suzy’s and my charitable life together. It was my earliest inkling of what goes into the chemistry of change: moment meets messenger, information becomes action. Hearts and minds shift to a new paradigm, money happens and it all comes together.”

***

The above story chronicles the early life of Nancy G. Brinker. Her sister Suzy is better known as Susan G. Komen. Nancy founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure after promising her dying sister to one day find a cure for breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has since contributed more than $1.5 billion for cutting-edge cancer research and community programs.  Nancy. G. Brinker was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 but I believe her mother also is to be commended for her insistence that her daughters learn to be givers.

Christmas is upon us. We’re accustomed to talking about giving in introspective ways, “How can I give more meaningfully this year?”, “What was the most meaningful gift I ever received?”  Here’s another question to consider; ‘How can you help someone in your sphere of influence learn to give?’ Giving isn’t a latent gene waiting to be prompted or inspired. Start thinking of yourself as a teacher and begin designing lessons in giving. That is what Jesus did; after all. He was the best giving instructor. Nancy promised to work for the cure to breast cancer if it took the rest of her life. Jesus taught us to give by giving his whole life.

If you’ve still got shopping to do, I commend Promise Me to every mother, sister, daughter; anyone really who’s been touched by breast cancer. It’s a fabulous story of a remarkable life. And Nancy G. Brinker’s giving continues; all proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas is upon us and I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.  “Only a hippopotamus will do!  I don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy - I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy!”

Well, maybe not, but this song humorously illustrates how we think about Christmas - giving and GETTING!

It won’t be long before we’re all unwrapping presents (and hopefully I WON’T get a hippopotamus!) and thinking about the gifts we gave and received.  It’s an enjoyable time, but I’d like to take this opportunity to talk about giving specifically.

It’s a constant effort to avoid being sucked into the consumerism of the Christmas season, but it is important for us to remember why giving is such an important value to embrace -- it is because of God’s great gift of Jesus Christ that we have life everlasting! And so it is during this season that we focus on giving to reveal the character, love and spirit of Christ who dwells in us.  We love because He first loved us, and we give because He first gave to us.

We often think about how people will respond to the gifts we gave them.  Will they enjoy it?  Will it bless them?  Will they find it useful?  But let me give you something else to consider this Christmas season...  how does your gift giving transform YOU?  

In other words, what gift could you give, or how might you give a particular gift so that it changes you from the inside and grows you more in the image of Christ?  It’s not too late to think about this AND we don’t have to think about it just for Christmas, but let’s consider a few ideas:
Could it be taking a special dinner to a family you know who is going through a difficult period, and taking time to get to know them better?

Could it be opening up your home ON Christmas (or any special occasion) to someone who has no family to share such an occasion with?  

Could it be going out of your way to hand deliver a card or gift instead of mailing it in order to show your love for someone?

These are things I’m thinking about - what are you thinking about?  How is God leading you to give so that you are emulating the same love He graciously and undeservedly shows us?  How is He leading you to give so that you’ll grow in His image?  Please do share your thoughts - you just might inspire and nudge others to do likewise!

My dad had a pretty good sense of direction when I was a kid.

Nevertheless, there were more than a few occasions when just a couple of wrong turns landed us right back in the place we had started. After realizing that we’d simply made a circle he would initially deny it, then attempt to recall the place where he must have “taken a wrong turn,” and then boldly attempt to channel his internal Magellan and try try again – of course under the stern protest of my mother. As the male species is prone to do, it was only after a failed second attempt that we may have then stopped to ask someone for directions. Perhaps you can relate.

Relatively fleeting are the days when stopping to ask for directions is a necessity, especially with the proliferation of the personal GPS device, but the days of needing clarity of direction are not. NPR recently posted a fascinating article entitled A Mystery: Why We Can’t Walk Straight. While I would encourage you to visit the site and watch the helpful video explaining the research and read some of their postulated reasons as to why this is the case, here’s one conclusion I found very insightful.

Humans, apparently, slip into circles when we can't see an external focal point, like a mountain top, a sun, a moon. Without a corrective, our insides take over and there’s something inside us that won't stay straight.

Do you find that peculiar? I did, and then upon further consideration resonated with their conclusion and found it to be illustrative of my personal experience. It’s so easy to lose my external focal point and with it the clarity of direction that’s so necessary to faithfully following Christ.Though such a study is analogous in so many ways.

The Scriptures are full of wisdom concerning the importance of such a focus, and instruct us often, as in Prov 4:25-27, to:

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

Often at the end of the year we spend time introspectively reviewing the year past and resolving to make meaningful changes in our lives. So, how was 2010? Was it a successful year? Did you maintain your focus and a clarity of direction? Did you at times wander in circles? As well, where did God grow you into the past year? Where do you see evidence of His grace in your life and for what are you grateful?

In light of those answers, what changes are you considering relative to your own growth in the cause God has called you to serve in 2011? To be more explicit, do you have a personal growth plan or a PEO chart for yourself? Are you inviting other champions in the cause to speak into your personal growth plan? Do you have champions that are going to hold you accountable to fulfill those commitments?

I pray that 2011 will lead each of us into deeper intimacy with our Father, a deeper appreciation of His glorious Gospel, and further maturity in our respective causes.

P.S. - A word to the guys in the audience, while the NPR study is illustrative of natural human behavior when a focal point is lacking, and does give us some logical reason for our misguided directional nature, let’s make sure we’re not appealing to this study next time we find ourselves lost...as the people in the study were blind-folded.