BETWEEN TRAPEZES
Reaching for an effective future
Life in the kingdom of God is a lot like flying from one trapeze bar to another. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, it’s about continually releasing the past and reaching for the future in order to accomplish our God given mission and become mature in Christ. Today, it’s more critical than ever that we properly negotiate the precarious but thrilling life between trapezes. If we are to lay hold of God’s preferable future we need to let go of some things in the past. Not only the bad, but even good things that served us well may need to be “forgotten,” so we can focus on the best possible future. So, as we release the trapeze bar of the past, along with its reassuring familiarity, and catapult forward into an exciting, yet unknown future, allow me to describe what I believe is an effective future for a “high flying” association.
1. Focused. Life between trapezes requires a clear focus on what the association is about, not about, and where it’s headed. Values and vision must align with the purposes of God, and these become both filter and fuel for what it does. Therefore, MVA is a network of churches advancing God’s kingdom together @ “light speed” through churches that are healthy, trained servant leaders, starting new congregations, and being on mission for God (ACTS 1:8 On Mission).
2. Fast. Effective associations will need to respond quickly to challenges and opportunities. Timely decision making and on time resourcing will have to be the norm. “Light Speed” is a term borrowed from Erwin McManus, that defines “light” as the revealed will of God, and “Speed” as the immediate obedience of God’s people. It describes the life of a Christ follower, and characterizes the on mission association. Structures will need to be streamlined, the organization becoming lean and not layered.
Future associations can ill afford operating like a snake that has swallowed a large meal; just laying there, doing nothing while the issue works its way through the system.
3. Flexible. Rapid change will require increased flexibility. Leith Anderson, in speaking on “mapping the future,” compared the changing nature of various maps. Topographical maps, rarely, if ever, change. Mountains, rivers, streams, etc. exist for generations. Road maps change, but, slowly, over years. However, weather maps change, almost hourly. Our hyper changing world is more like a weather map, and we will need to adapt accordingly.
Our documents and structures will need to remain pliable if we are to ride the chaos of change to an effective future. The challenge will be to anchor ourselves in Biblical values while being animated by bold vision. Like the children of Israel, who were instructed to dress for travel, and wear their sandals as they ate the Passover meal, we must live in the ready position, anticipating the next move of God.
4. Friendly. Maintaining a friendly posture will be the hallmark of an effective association in the future. Friendly relationships with one another, and other entities will allow for productive cooperation and collaborative ministry opportunities. Staying user friendly and people friendly will enhance the resourcing and fellowship capabilities of the association.
5. Fruitful. Without question, effectiveness requires fruitfulness. The association exists to make a difference; to see people, churches, and communities transformed. Measuring that fruitfulness, however, may necessitate more creative approaches. Our reaching, keeping, and growing effectiveness will still be measured by baptisms, new churches, attendance, and giving. But, tracking fruitfulness in sending, engaging, and partnering will become a challenging, but non-negotiable means of determining missional living on the frontiers of the future.
Living between trapezes demands a high level of trust. At the crucial moment of release from one bar, there is nothing left to do but surrender and trust that the catcher on the other bar will grasp you securely. Fear not, as we reach for the future, we rely on a flawless catcher, just as Paul discovered as he focused on the prize that lay ahead, “I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12).
Bob Beike
