Tony and Sheryll: Some of the best results we have ever gotten in ministry happened when we “took a flyer.” The Revolve Campus is a great example—we didn’t bet the bank, but we took a chance that it would work and the result is teenagers giving their lives to Jesus and taking ownership of the church. Churches, businesses, and our lives stagnate, get in a rut, when we move into “maintenance mode”-maintaining what we are doing instead of looking for new opportunities. It is an easy trap because we find ourselves doing something well and getting results, so we spend our time, talent and resources on that instead of seeking God and sensing His Spirit for new opportunities. The result is a rut—we, and those we lead, lose focus, energy wanes and, instead of maintaining the level, we actually begin to fade.
Make it a leadership lifestyle to be continually seeking God for His ideas on new opportunities. Encourage those you lead to join you and make leading an adventure. God promised us he would lead us in finding creative ideas and witty inventions. (Proverbs 8:12) He says about himself, “Look, I am doing a new thing.” Let’s follow his example and take a flyer.
Here’s a couple of tips on making sure you are taking a flyer and not betting the farm. Make new ideas something you are trying for a short period. If it works, you just make it part of what you do. If not, it was something you were just trying and people don’t view it as a failure. Make sure it does not compromise the current level of ministry. For instance, trying Revolve did not lower the level of ministry at Pavilion. It was not an increase in cost because we were already paying for the property. If it failed, our members would have still thought it was cool that we tried to do something extra special for our students. It would not have been a failure, it would have been an idea that didn’t work.
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That was good stuff PT and PS.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter has challenged me big time. It implies faith and wisdom. I often do not distinguish between the two. I tend to either bet the farm or fall into ruts. I can't wait to see what others have learned from taking risks and taking "flyers".
By the way...i really am confused on exactly what he means by taking a "flyer". Thoughts anybody?
I believe taking a Flyer is like investing. A wise investor will never put it all into one enterprise or product. The wise investor is always looking for another avenue that promises increase and strength to his or her portfolio. In the kingdom, diversify wisely and if you try something that does't work, we still gain a new knowledge and wisdom for the next investment.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Matt - I didn't get the flyer part either and glad you asked! I am seriously simple minded and not very abstract when it comes to thinking...lol.
ReplyDeleteI get the investment and taking risks although this can be seriously scary for me. I tend to want to do this right the first time and have a hard time with letting things go when they aren't done right! This is an area that God is showing me His grace and I am learning to see the bigger picture and weigh out the cost.
But yep- still don't understand what that has to do with a flyer - we are talking about a piece of paper right..like a handout? Or fly through the air?? Somebody help.
God is always stretching us. As leaders, He uses us and the teams we lead to stretch the organization or church. One comfort in this is that we get to take smart risk as a team. That just makes me feel better. If we miss it then we miss it together.
ReplyDeleteI understand that many people fear change, but we can gain their support if we can show them how the risk fulfills the overall purpose and vision. When working with students, we constantly are discussing ways to "take a flyer". Pastor's talked about the launch of the Revolve campus being a smart risk. Another one we have recently started is Wednesday night Remix. At fist my thought was, Sundays at Revolve are not perfect yet; so is this the time to step into something new? We are now into our third week and we are seeing amazing things happen. Sometimes you gotta just do it!
Long time reader, first time poster.
ReplyDeleteWow, awesome stuff.
In website development A/B testing is a huge part of a site's success. You deliver a different experience (exp A or exp B) to viewers and see which one works better according to your predetermined goal. On ecommerce sites your goal is normally a sale.
The key to the testing, though, is not just the test itself but the ability to measure the results.
I would say that in order to test and take risks responsibly in a ministry environment we have to be able to measure the results of our tests or risks.
How we measure our results and how we decide if it worked is an individual test mechanism but it is just as important to determine that mechanism as it is to do the test or take the risk. If we don't, I think we test and risk in vain.
To me the "Take a Flyer" concept is a great idea, you take a low risk for a big reward. This way if it fails you just move on to the next idea. I thought Pastor Tony had a great example with the Revolve Campus, it turned out a huge success because there was not much room for failure.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter makes you think that your not always trying to come up with the big ideas, but a lot of small ideas to get you to the same place in the long run without losing the farm.
I think a flyer is simply being willing to go for something--like jumping off a wall to my dad when I was a kid. There was a risk, but it wasn't like jumping off a cliff with no parachute. That's the difference in betting the farm and taking a flyer--the flyer won't kill me if it fails. Like Jody said, it is a measured risk. Like the old Kenny Rogers song, "You got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them." Tony A
ReplyDeleteKenny Rogers...wow. I love the Revolve Campus and it was a total flyer. I love stepping out into thise types of areas because you set people up to succeed. I think it's important that we look for "flyers" for those we lead. The more "flyers" we lead them into successfully, the more willing and excited they will be when we actually take a risk on something.
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