Leverage Influence

My team spends a lot of time talking about exactly what pieces to put in each one-hour experience. What's going to be the most effective? What will make it sticky? What will really grab their attention? But in the last several months I think we've finally started to shift our discussion to the better Orange questions.

What can we incorporate into this hour that will draw them into action during the week? How can we make their stories from home a part of what we share with others? Is this message immediately actionable? What outcomes will we see in kids and students who are jumping into this and putting it into practice in their lives?

With all the effort I've put into curriculum development and other aspects of creating the church experience over the years, I can truly say that when we hear amazing stories of life transformation from kids and students, it has always been things they've actually done outside of the church walls that made the difference. Sure, something in a message or discussion question or illustration may have been a catalyst to get that rolling, but the change in their hearts took place while they were serving.

My very favorite quote from this chapter in Think Orange is, "You don't begin to serve when you feel compassion, you feel compassion as you start to serve." Our role then is (this is probably an awful example!) is the drug dealer who passes out free samples to kids on the neighborhood playground. We do whatever it takes to get them hooked. :) I have found it to be true in my life, and it gets confirmed again every time a friend gets back from a mission trip, that little opportunities to serve and give are just a gateway drug to the really hard stuff. You get them to sponsor a needy child in Africa, and next thing you know, they're writing letters to them and pretty soon they're all strung out on spending their weekends ministering to the kids in shelters.

Today, at the Orange One Day in Dallas, I know the Compassion International people will be there too talking to us about how we can make a difference in Haiti. Don't think of stuff like that as an intermission the real show. This past weekend, my son gave more in our Haiti offering than I did. And that's cool with me. The outcome of a church full of compassion junkies is about the best you could hope for. :)