Missions Reviewed

While Reading about the Apple iPhone 4 issues I found the following article from whatsbestnext.com. While refection the the Apple method of Business. I started to think of the way we have changed the approach to Missions over the years.

Lessons from Apple on Innovation
This is from my notes — I think I got these from an article a few years ago:
1. Innovation can come from without as well as within. Apple’s real skill lies in stitching together its own ideas with technologies from outside and then wrapping the results in elegant software and stylish design. Apple is an orchestrator and integrator of technologies, unafraid to bring in ideas from outside but always adding its own twists. This approach is known as network innovation.
2. Apple illustrates the importance of designing new products around the needs of the user, not the demands of the technology.
3. Apple teaches us that smart companies should sometimes ignore what the market says it wants today.
4. Fail wisely. Learn and try again.

Several items in this post rang true as I consider the function of the Church in Missions.
Lets start with Fail wisely. Learn and try again. When I was in college I worked for UPS. I was only a front line supervisor with 30 some employees, but one night I remember very specific as I cost UPS a few thousand dollars. I finished my work that evening and went to see my boss knowing full well I would be fired. When I entered his office I placed my ID on his desk and explained how I really had enjoyed working for the company. His response was priceless! Are you quitting? Well, Sir. I cost the company a lot of money tonight, I said. He responded, I would guess its not a mistake you are going to make again any time soon is it!
If we can learn from our mistakes our time and money invested are worth the effort. One idea that is currently a buzz is that of BAM (business as missions).
“business as mission is about being a follower of Jesus in the market place and seeing Christ revealed and God glorified among all peoples and nations”
I can personally speak to the experience of “failure” in this arena. I currently work as the president of a business that’s primary objective was to be established as profitable. While working to maintain opportunities to be in community and share the gospel. The business was established by a very gifted individual and set with a business plan to be self-supporting in 5 years.
The set objectives of our founders were only partly accomplished. We have established well in the community. We have many opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ. There are many opportunities to share stories that lead we hope will lead people to a clear understanding to the Gospel.
This is year 5 and we are not running a profitable business. The first question most would ask, is about the Goals. Were do we stand? What we have most certainly learned and are working to improve are some of our practices. While there are certainly some unseen setbacks in the business plan of the company for which I am working we are seeing some great opportunity in ministry.

Many right now are talking about the fall of Apple over this iPhone 4 reception issue. Will customers leave the over priced toys. Problems come and problems go, the laptops of the 90’s that caught fire didn’t break the company. I also dont think a few prideful Missionary types on the field using BAM will be the end all answer to the call of Christ and the Great Commission. We enjoy each day learning from our failure and growing in our relationship with Christ Jesus, and pray that we are in his will each step as we use BAM or any other form of ministry tool that helps us engage.