In the Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, Minneapolis Star Tribune was an column by Harvey Mackay about the movie, Moneyball. I often read Harvey's column as he is a sales person and I learned to appreciate good salespeople from my eight years spent selling encyclopedias and children's books for World Book-Childcraft. I have also wanted to see the movie, Moneyball, but have not found anyone who wants to go see it with me.
Anyway - Harvey uses elements from the movie to make some good points that fit in a congregation as well as in a business. Here is a quote from his column: "When an organization has spectacular challenges such as an inadequate budget, creative thinking and bold actions are frightening and daunting to even the most unflappable managers. But you can't afford to do things the ways you've always done them. If that had worked, you wouldn't have all those challenges would you?"
I think this is true for many congregations. I have worked in two congregations which looked back to how things used to be. Older members wanted the congregation to look and function like it did 30 years ago - to be the way it used to be. There was also the mantra, "We've never done it that way before. " or " We tried that twenty years ago and it did not work. " Harvey gives some good questions to ask yourself and your committee or team.
1. What would happen if we tried (fill in the blank)? Would the firm fall apart? Or would it open new paths?
2. Is there another way to do what we've always done?
3. What is the craziest way we could proceed? Might that be worth considering?
I agree with Harvey when he says to let everyone contribute and use every available resource. In our congregations, the greatest resource are the members. How can we more effectively involve more people? We can not wait for people to step up. We have to go invite them.
Remember we will never catch any fish if we do not get our line wet. Also no one catches a fish every time. Be persistent.
