When querying the universe, Albert Einstein once commented, “When the solution is simple, God is answering.”
Several weeks ago, I finished reading “Simple Church” by T. Rainer and E. Geiger. I liked their approach, committed as I am to a “less is more” philosophy in movement building. Rainer and Geiger argue that churches (and movements) often make the process of discipleship too complex. Such churches and ministries design elaborate, multi-level outreach strategies and processes. Simple churches (and movements) in contrast make disciples thru a singular, simple, state-able, strategic, sequential process which everyone understands, is aligned to, and remains focused upon.
Rainer and Geiger argue their appeal to simplicity using four concepts: Clarity, Movement (or Sequential Flow), Alignment, Focus. In the following paragraphs, I’ve adapted their four-fold understanding of “simple church” and applied it conceptually to movement building in a high school, college, or military environment. I hope that after grappling with it conceptually I’ll be able to unpack it more practically in future posts. I’d appreciate any thoughts or help on the idea of building “simple movements.”
Definition of Simple Movement:
A simple movement is designed around a straightforward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth. The leadership of the movement is clear about the process (clarity) and are committed to executing it. The process flows logically (in sequential steps) and is implemented in each area of the movement (alignment). The movement abandons everything that is not in the process (focus).
Let me unpack each concept as I see it.
Clarity:
Simple movements are built around a “simple, clear, state-able purpose or mission” that defines the “how” of making disciples. Clarity and simplicity go hand in hand. They are close friends. When the process is clearly defined, the leadership and the people know exactly how the movement is structured to move people toward spiritual growth. The process or the “how” is clear, being constantly discussed, taught and illustrated so that everyone gets it. Understanding always precedes commitment. Leaders of movements know the process and can articulate it to others with conviction. They can do so because they own the process.
Sequential Flow: (Rainer and Geiger use the word “movement” here. I’m using different words to avoid confusion with our “movement-building” purpose.)
Simple movements follow a process in which a sequential set of steps causes people to move to greater areas of commitment. The sequential flow of these steps rests in both their inherent logic and their strategic purpose. Rainer and Geiger argue that the success of a “sequential process” depends upon handoffs–just as a relay race depends upon the crucial handoffs of the baton during the race. In building a movement with sequential flow, it’s all about handoffs–what happens to the person between one level of commitment to the next greater level of commitment.
For example, sequential flow in the process of discipleship happens when the movement moves someone from a weekly meeting into a small group, or from being just an observer into joining as a contributor or leader. The simple process must naturally and simply facilitate the handoffs. All parts (programs, meetings, small groups, projects, events, etc) of the movement must reflect and contribute to this sequential and strategic flow of handoffs toward greater levels of commitment.
Alignment:
Alignment is the arrangement of all ministries and leaders around the same simple process. All movements naturally drift away from alignment, so leaders must always help the various parts of the movement embrace and follow the same ministry blueprint—that sequential, strategic process as described above. Philosophy and process agreement are critical. Without alignment on these issues, the movement becomes a multitude of sub-movements. And sub-movements by nature will compete for the same space, resources, volunteers and time. Without alignment, the “body concept” is gone; symphony dies.
Focus:
Focus is the commitment to abandon everything that falls outside of the simple ministry process. All three of the above elements are ineffective without focus. Focus, according to Rainer and Geiger, gives power and energy to clarity, sequential flow, and alignment. “Without focus, the movement becomes cluttered despite its process. Without focus the process is unrecognizable because so many other programs and events surround it. Without focus, the process is buried somewhere underneath a myriad of special events and activities.”
Leaders are focused people because they realize that a lack of focus leads to scattering. Anything that is “outside the simple, sequential, strategic process” will cause people to move in multiple directions and steal attention and energy from what has been determined as necessary. Such leaders may appear mean. And they certainly don’t like saying “no” all the time. But they realize that a commitment to a single, simple process brings success and that new ideas must funnel into the ministry process as defined.
Questions to Ask Ourselves:
Does our movement have a clear process to move people toward greater levels of commitment?
Is that process simple, sequential and strategic?
Does everyone understand the process? Are they committed to it?
Does our movement stay focused or are we bouncing from event to event, program to program, paradigm to paradigm?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.–Leonardo da Vinci
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