Category: assimilation

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assimilation missional

Assimilation and Mission | Repost Set 1

Vacation Repost Set 1: Assimilation and Mission

I’ve written several posts that refer to assimilation and mission, and the complexity of doing both well.  Take a look at them below:

Please read the comments as well, as they contain some great thoughts!

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assimilation

Spontaneous Emergence and Connectivity | Alan Hirsch meets Seth Godin

network

I came across this quote today from Alan Hirsch, and thought it dove-tailed nicely into my thoughts on assimilation as connectivity.

Most change in complex systems is emergent; that is to say it comes about as a result of the free (and often informal) interactions between the various ‘agents’ in the system. In an organization the agents are people—themselves complex systems. Complexity theory suggests that when there is enough connectivity between them and the complexity reaches a critical point, emergence is likely to occur spontaneously.

In a rapidly growing and complex organization, the function of connectivity creates the framework for the emergence of new systems.  We’ve seen this happen in the context of The Austin Stone, with a variety of new and fresh ideas, opportunities, and missional communities doing some really great ministry.

As an assimilation ministry in a missional context, one of the best things we can advocate for is establishing connectivity in the complex system that fosters emergence, which in turn facilitates connection for individuals pursuing mission.

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assimilation leadership

Tribes Thoughts | Assimilation is Connectivity

In Tribes, Seth Godin talks about Senator Bill Bradley’s elements of movement:

  1. A narrative that tells the story of who the tribe is and the alternate future they are building
  2. Connection between the movement leader and the tribe
  3. Something to do, or actionable items

In my context, number two is the hardest to accomplish, and I’m thinking through how my ministry and our church can do a better job of connecting leaders and the tribe.  Assimilation ministry is essentially fostering the second point, connecting individuals to the leader.

Adapting the model for church, here’s what I come up with:

  1. Narrative and alternate future = preaching and visionary leadership
  2. Connection between leader and tribe = assimilation and “community”
  3. Actionable items = mobilization

Preaching and visionary leadership can engender actionable items, but sustainability in mission comes from the second point.

I realize this is pretty simple, but it seems to make sense to me…any challenges/thoughts?

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assimilation austin stone college ministry leadership

Wearing Many Hats

Through the last few years, I am becoming infinitely more aware of the necessity of adaptation and flexibility in whatever environment I am working. No matter how much I desire to have things under control, or how much I want to have the requisite skill set completely mastered for a job, I continue to find myself needing to grow and change to obey God and succeed in what He has called me to.

I think a few years ago this would have left me completely frustrated and feeling out of control. More recently, I think God has been teaching me that it is the natural course of walking in obedience to Him. Quite simply, my lack of control generally means that God is moving. Adaptability is simply the fruit of obedience and sensitivity to where God is taking me.

When I get frustrated about having to adapt or grow in my skills, it is nothing but simple ignorance to how God is shaping me more onto His image, and pruning me to bear more fruit in His kingdom. I must repent when this idolatry of comfort takes hold.

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assimilation austin stone church missional

Attractional and Missional | TheResurgence

Below is quote from a post a The Resurgence on the Attractional vs. Missional “debate”.

People often set up attractional church and missional church as polar opposites. Attractional has a come-to-us mentality. It’s about drawing people to the church. Missional is a go-to-them mentality. We take the gospel to people, meeting them on their terms and their turf.

But biblical missiology contains both elements.

via Attractional and Missional | TheResurgence.

At The Austin Stone, we are very much involved in both sides of the equation, and believe that biblically based and effectively leveraged, the Attractional and Missional concepts of church can be effectively married.

The post concludes with this point:

The problem with a lot of attractional churches is not their missiology, but their ecclesiology. Church is seen as a meeting. Attracting means attracting people to an event or even a performance. But biblical mission is about a community life, ordinary life, lived under God’s Word that attracts people to God.

I would tend to disagree…the problem with many attractional (more specifically seeker-driven) churches is their missiology, and basing their core strategy on addressing felt needs.  This leads to the improper ecclesiology based on consumerism, which develops into an event driven church.

Thoughts?