| | | | | | New path, same summit New Vertical is changing its path from individuals to groups. While change is hard, we are excited about this opportunity.
The mission and vision are the same, but the future route will be different. The following explains why the previous path was chosen and how the new path can better accomplish our existing mission and vision.
Acknowledging the need for change has been a difficult process. On the one hand, changing paths meant accepting some realities I had hoped to avoid. On the other hand, this change required "defragmenting" some existing work.
I use the word "defragmenting" because all is not lost. Imagine designing a real town out of Lego blocks. In this process you realize that long-term success requires undoing some short-term labors. So, you pivot and do your best to re-use the existing resources.
Yes, you must dedicate valuable time to "defragment". Yes, future designs will look different. But the resources gathered, time invested, and lessons learned can be part of the future success. | | From individuals to groups The shift sounds simple. Build a two-way path between the Church and the Marketplace with groups instead of individuals. However, this shift engages a new set of problems.
Para-church groups often connect to churches in one-way relationships. Resources flow from a church to a ministry in a single direction. As a result, communities formed within para-church organizations (which are often highly homogenous), typically remain disconnected from the Church.
This is not true of all ministries. Some, like RUF, try to function as two-way paths. They receive resources and in return support local churches with time and talent. But when one-way paths do occur, it demonstrates an underdeveloped ecclesiology. The result is a low ceiling to discipleship for group participants and the community at large.
Despite these challenges, "one-way" ministries can be extremely valuable as they typically occur in blind spots of injustice, poverty and neglected demographics. Additionally, the dynamics that created the blind spot also serve as barriers to local church participation. So the "one-way" model is a natural outcome.
In contrast, the vision of New Vertical is to build a "Two-Way path" between the Church and the Marketplace. As a result, the original architecture of New Vertical did not emphasize groups in an attempt to bypass this problem. But groups are interwoven into our social fabric. Bypassing groups is like trying to climb a mountain without going uphill. | | Talk The Talk. In short, building a sustainable pipeline in our culture requires groups. If you want to sell bread in France, you better speak French. If you want to coach baseball, you better know how to call signs. Good or bad, groups are the language of the land. Investors, participants, Christians, sceptics, etc. are all looking for groups. Making this change turns a social headwind into an organizational tailwind. | | The Right Blocks In a previous illustration I mentioned defragmenting. This process revealed that many existing resources are needed for the rebuilding process. These are relationships, lessons learned, or something else. Either way, the result is a wonderful surprise.
Practically speaking, from the time of embracing this new path, New Vertical has successfully initiated strategic steps for engaging blind spots in our marketplace with a two-way group framework. Additionally, these steps provide a tangible scalable model for a broad range of communities.
While things are still early, I am excited to report that next Wednesday (Sept 3rd) we are launching a joint initiative with Thrive Coworking and Living Fellowship Church. The goal is to engage the marketplace with the gospel in a zero-barrier format while providing a positive touch point to a local Church.
But the vision does not stop at Thrive Alpharetta. We are exploring ways to expand this process through Thrive, Nexus, Roam and other Co-Working spaces. While Co-Working is not the only application, it does provide rapid contact to community leaders who often have no spiritual support structures. | | A Test Bridge The picture below is recycled from last month. But it's a window into those "Lego blocks" I've mentioned. The space you see is Nexus Office Solutions. They function as a mini campus for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Others like Industrious, WeWork, Switchyards, Thrive, Roam are strategic gathering hubs for those who live in the gap that New Vertical seeks to reach.
Part of what makes this so exciting is the positive tractions we have already received with the senior leadership of these organizations. New Vertical brings a value-added service to their model and can easily mitigate the historic pitfalls of groups. | | Pray Please This shift provides a tangible path to a national network for chaplains to engage the marketplace. It includes specific cities, businesses, and many other precise details. But embracing this path cost time and money. So please pray for the following: - A movement of the Spirit amongst the ownership of these Co-working spaces
- For the Gospel to go forth through these co-working meetings. (Starting in Thrive next week)
- Funding to support our revised path.
We are grateful to the PRCC (The multi-denominational chaplaincy arm of the PCA), our AMAZING Board of Directors, and the many friends who support us. We cannot do it without you. | | Grateful We know support comes in many forms. We cannot pioneer marketplace ministry without you. Thank you for your support. You are loved and we are grateful.
His Grace is enough. | | | | | | | |
