Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day three)
“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Yes, powers will rise and fall, cultures will conquer and get conquered, and nations will go from ruler to ruled. But Jesus invites the disciples out of obsessing over a geopolitical conundrum and into occupying an eternal kingdom. This is invitation done perfectly. It doesn’t squash peoples’ interest in matters at hand and try to sell them a bigger idea. Jesus’s invitation just says, “Yeah, some questions will work your soul to death. Or we can use our energy in a way that will make those questions seem too small. Ready to get to it?” We can build a workaround for our current circumstances, or we can rethink our future, but we can’t do both. What if a church put that invitation in front of people?
This blog reminds me of an article I published on LinkedIn professional network on November 9, 2014. Why change? I hope it will invite you to ask yourself whether a workaround or a transformation is needed. These questions are universe for an organizational strategic planner as myself, leaders and non-leaders, for any organizations, including profits and non-profits ones, such as churches.
Why Change in Organizations: Change Perspectives
PHUONG CALLAWAY, PHD, CA | Nov 9, 2014
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141110003122-191099839-why-change-in-organizations-change-perspectives
In life, there will be times when a complete transformation seems to be more appropriate. Life is a journey. Organizational life is a journey. Organizations will not be in existence if there are no people in them. I agreed with author Bryan Richardson in a sense that when workaround strategy does not eliminate your concerns or improve your situations, the transformation strategy is the only choice.
Do we have a problem socially, economically, politically, morally and spiritually, ethically, or organizationally? Can we workaround or need a brand new perspective or a transformation to get to where we want to be? Where are we now? How can we move people or members from where they are to where we want them to be? Do we have the resources and the capacity (financial and human resources) to help us get to where we want to be?
We cannot realistically determine appropriate strategy (workaround or transformation) until we admit that there are real problems and what are they? Are there underlying symptoms that will lead to problems? Are problems about leadership, people/organizational members, budgeting and financial management, beliefs, values and philosophies, strategic plan with unrealistic and unreachable goals and action items, organizational systems, structure, policies, procedures, and processes, engagement levels of stakeholders, people attitudes and behaviors, and so on?
Change is inevitable. Society has been changing and has been increasingly diverse. Today’s organizations and workforce of today include 5 generations,Traditions, Babyboomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Y; and as a result, understanding the needs, the wants/desires, and the expectations of these groups is critical if we want to succeed as an organization now and into the 21st century.
What works yesterday may not work tomorrow; and what works in the past may not work in the future. What we have today can be taken away by Mother Nature or an act of God overnight. Think of the Harvey devastation as an example. Devastating for all God’s creations in affected areas. If we want to be relevant in today’s diverse and fast changing society, change is the only way. We cannot fix and hope it will work when all dependent factors have changed in some shapes or forms.
Organizationally, can the church engage all of these 5 generations in a way that we all can advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What is the rethink perspective church members and the church leadership need to focus on? Is there a disconnection between church members and the church? Individually, are we connected with each other as Brothers and Sisters in Christ in a way that we can comfortably help each other and enrich our life by the Holy Spirit and together can advance the Gospel of Jesus? Are we still relevant in today’s society and with one another?
A rethink perspective deserves a close examination!
Rethink Church | Tomorrow’s World
https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/rethink-church
This is an interesting read! Hope this will give readers different perspective on where the “rethink” mode can be useful!