Steering Through Chaos

Change is constant. Sometimes change happens slowly and is missed by those closest to it and sometimes it is abrupt and can have positive or negative consequences.

In Steering Through Chaos Scott Wilson provides a clear path to not only expecting change, but embracing it.

Throughout the book it becomes increasingly clear that we as church leaders, vocational or lay leaders, need to understand that it is God who owns the church and not us. This is especially important for the generation that “pays” for the church because they will often resist change and try to keep the church, that they spent so much time building through blood, sweat and tears, just the way they like it.

There is something very attractive about an organization that has a clear purpose and is driven by its mission. In the book Made to Stick this principle is called “commanders intent” and when employed properly will guide each and every decision made by every member of the organization. In that same vein Scott has clear goals written for the leadership at his church and, through those goals, decisions are made and the church is allowed to ebb and flow with the community as it grows and changes. This is especially important as the church should continuously be moving to better reflect what their community needs.

At our church (and yours too), we are called by God to reach the lost and build disciples who love him above all else. That was our calling from the first day, and it will be out calling on the last day. But our strategy to accomplish that objective changes over time as God leads us in new directions to touch more people.

This is so important for people both young and old to understand.

If we confuse vision and strategy, we’ll rigidly cling to buildings and programs, and we’ll fail to adjust our sails to go in the direction God leads us.

I would certainly recommend this book to every pastor I know as well as any person that is in any way involved with their church. As a lay person this book provides a blue print on how we can best serve our pastors as well as recognize a great leader within the church. Many people spend their lives looking for the perfect church or feeling like there is something better our there. This book is a great tool for recognizing a leader who will keep the Word fresh, exciting and most important challenging.

Leaders aren’t perfect but they are in constant pursuit of change and recognize what they have to offer as well as what they can work on.

Hope this finds you well.

~jc

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