Quick… Get Me Brad Pitt!
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, May 19, 2008
- Viewed 66
- (10) comments so far
What is the point of this exercise? For me, it was just the recognition that we are all subject to the latest ministry trends and innovative leaders. That’s all well and good. The problem is when we model our ministry on our favorite leader or ministry rather than asking God (and then listening to) what he would have us do. Often times, we set ourselves (and our ministries) up on this ministry ‘lifecycle’ based on some model or personality who’s never even been to our church.
A good case in point is what we have seen this in the past year with Willow Creek and the Reveal study. In its defense, Willow Creek did a very introspective look at what was working and what was not working in their philosophy of ministry. AND they have the guts to implement some of those changes in the areas that things were not as productive as they’d liked. The downside is that now there are a ton of churches who are now, according to the life cycle above: a) looking for a new version of Willow Creek or b) Asking the question, ‘Who is Willow Creek’? That’s not the right question to be asking! The right question to be asking is “What would God have happen in our Church?”
FOR YOUR INPUT: So… what’s the lifecycle of your church? Every church has a brand. Every church has a philosophy of ministry. And most churches, quite frankly, adopt theirs from other churches they respect. Where are you at in your lifecycle; and what do you need to change today before someone asks you “I wonder what ever happened to Brad Pitt!”
Have a great week in ministry!
Todd
In his blog, marketing guru Seth Godin recently talked about the five steps of a brand lifecycle. These are interesting to take a look at:
1. Who is Brad Pitt? [insert your brand/name here]
2. Get me Brad Pitt!
3. Get me someone like Brad Pitt, but cheaper!
4. Get me a newer version of Brad Pitt!
5. Who is Brad Pitt?
Another blogger added a couple others to the scenario:
6. I wonder what happened to Brad Pitt.
7. Get Brad Pitt back.
As I was reading this ‘lifecycle’, I thought… “That is EXACTLY” what we do in church leadership many times. Do the test with me. Choose some ministry leader or church that you’ve looked up to over the years that has changed the church culture (a couple names/churches immediately come to my mind). Now, do the exercise above, inserting that name(s).
Comments
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Peter Hamm on Mon, May 19, 2008
GREAT POST!
Then there’s…
8. This new version of Brad Pitt is WAY cooler!
and
9. Brad Pitt is timeless. (Think Henry Fonda, or Sean Connery…)
If we really seek what God wants to do in our ministry, we might bypass that stuff and get right to 9. Since the Gospel is timeless, we at least have THAT going for us.
Chasing trends = bad, but being totally insulated from cultural trends and changes is equally bad, maybe worse.
Bryan on Mon, May 19, 2008
I agree, great post, Todd!
It frustrates me when people say that they have some way to “reinvent” or “revolutionize” ministry. Isn’t it all just marketing hype? I know that we all need someone to stir up our thinking to help us grow and improve in ministry, but sometimes I think we just like the drama of thinking that we’re going where no church has gone before.
Take Willow’s Reveal Study for instance. Willow’s critics have been raising this concern for years. It’s great that Willow finally recognized it, but now they’re presenting it as if it’s some hot new idea that will revolutionize the church.
That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Frank Chiapperino on Mon, May 19, 2008
It is great to seek other churches and leaders for ideas but every time we have attempted to take a “cookie cutter” approach to ministry it doesn’t work. People in the suburbs of Chicago are different from people that live in Manhattan and different from people that live outside Philadelphia or Phoenix. We have got to think about how our churches can help the people in our towns and cities find God and become fully devoted. That means learning from others at the same time as listening to God. Thanks for the great question!
Cathy Harwick on Mon, May 19, 2008
Great Post!
We need to be the church that God has called us to be. Sometimes I think churches get caught up in the hype of “doing” church and all that , that entails but forget about “being” the church. I do believe to reach the next generation we should be culturally relevant in our approach but how that looks will be different depending on the vision God has given each church and the culture in each community. I’m all about reaching lost people at whatever the cost and going extreme and outside the box but not because so and so church has done it etc….at that point then we are manufacturing the outcome. I’m just sayin’...be true to what God has called your church to be and it doesn’t matter what others say! Our highest calling is obedience and how that looks will be different depending on the DNA God has put in that leader’s heart! As long as people are being saved, who cares what the method looks like! It will all change again and again as it should; however, our message will always be the same.
Jerry on Mon, May 19, 2008
I am so grateful that my church and pastor adhere to the Spirit’s direction and not the world’s (according to Oprah, Dr. Phil, or the latest pastor-turned TV evangelist/motivational speaker).
God’s Word has never changed, but we must hear His voice concerning how to best apply it across generations and culture.
GR Guy on Mon, May 19, 2008
I agree with Frank. Take what you like from other churches, but make it your own. Kudos to churches that are trying to keep their approach fresh but remember it’s always substance over style when it comes to church. The style may bring people in, but it is the substance of the Word that will keep them coming back.
Nick Taylor on Mon, May 19, 2008
Every church wants to do things well. And certain churches have the size and/or stature to undertake seminars for other churches. This itself is wonderful for the Kingdom. The underlying challenge, however, is a potentially unhealthy circle… the attendees value a conference by what is new/cutting edge, because that’s where they come away with more than when they went, and this must to a degree influence seminar-providers to feel a need to always be offering “new”. “New” can be good or bad, but it is not necessarily synonymous with “wise” or “best”. Churches throughout our country seem to be chasing the new at an ever-increasing rate the past decade. Test the “new” against the Scriptural teachings of the role of the church, test the new against common sense, and be sure to understand what are the trade-off’s, because there always are pluses and minuses.
Vicki on Mon, May 19, 2008
Honestly - we’ve followed so many models in the past few years that I think we’re really confused. We say, “This is the Main Thing” and four months later we’re saying the same thing about something new. Small groups, venues, you name it. It wears me out. I absolutely believe we MUST be relevant to our culture, but too often we’re looking outside OUR culture (every city, town, state and county has its own culture) in an attempt to be relevant. We’ve got to be like the sons of Issacar and study OUR times, OUR culture. What fits rural Washington state is completely different than what works in urban Chicago!
ann onymous on Thu, May 29, 2008
http://hookedongrace.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/quick…-get-me-brad-pitt/
someone has copied your entire post without full attribution! thought you would like to know.
hook on Thu, May 29, 2008
dude, its been quoted and sourced.
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