I found this article to be interesting as well as thought provoking. It comes from a site calles Passion for Preaching. Be sure to check them out and add to your feed reader.
In the Video below, you will see a crash test between a 2009 Chevy Malibu and a 1959 Chevy Bel-Air. The head to head test was created and performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to highlight the advances that have been made in vehicle safety over the past fifty years. Practical wisdom would suggest that the much heavier Bel-Air with lots more steel in the front end would dominate this head-on collision. The video below clearly shows the Malibu as the hands down winner.
But what’s the take-away for ministry? Many of our ministries hang on to old, heavy, outdated models because they have “stood the test of time,” or “it has always been done this way,” without ever considering upgrading your ministry style or methods. Our assumptions carry great weight, until we actually put our assumptions to the test.
I cuddled up in front of my computer screen to watch the Bel-Air dominate, but was pleasantly surprised at the end result. I wonder how many of us would be presently surprised at the end result of ministry upgrades or changes if we were only willing to work hard and try something different. Just imagine how great it would be if a lighter weight ministry were to replace one of your old behemoths and result in greater effectiveness, faithfulness, and results.
The Bel-Air is a classic and the Malibu will never be, but if safety is what counts most, the Malibu rules the roost. Don’t let your “classic” ministry model hamper you from moving into a more effective ministry model.
Chuck Mullis 