OCTOBER 13 & 14, 2007
Dayspring grew very rapidly just after it was born. Why? What led to the exponential early growth?
I decided to conduct some informal interviews to learn the hallmarks of this initial success. In today's installment of these Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll share the results of my research. Let me quickly clarify: I'm not investigating this with the thought that we can or should try to return to some supposed "glory days." Such thinking is not wise. After all, some of the features that led to such notable early success are related to the initial stage of an organization's development and are therefore not reproducible. Other features that made Dayspring great in the early years are still present and are even stronger now. And some very notable aspects of Dayspring's history are not good at all, but absolutely terrible. Still, some of what was true at the outset of this fellowship should be revived and renewed.
What came to my mind as I investigated all of this was the thought that fruit cannot be produced when there is a disconnection from the roots (see John 15). I've discerned three important foundational features of Dayspring that we would do well to revisit. These are healthy roots that produce healthy fruit.
1. A confident expectation that the church would grow. In the early days of the church, there was faith in God and also faith in Dayspring.
2. A clear dependence upon God expressed in prayer: There is already evidence that momentum is building here as we are focusing on prayer once again.
3. Many obvious opportunities to connect and serve. I've long said that the best means of assimilation is mobilization. Dayspring still has lots of people involved in ministry, but the opportunities to connect are not as numerous or obvious as they once were.
You'll be hearing more from me about these three items: expectation, dependence, and opportunities to connect. I believe these are roots of our early growth that can provide us with a resurgence of enthusiasm and growth. Commit yourself to pray about these items with the confidence that your leaders will also be praying, planning, programming, preaching and praying some more about the same!
I decided to conduct some informal interviews to learn the hallmarks of this initial success. In today's installment of these Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll share the results of my research. Let me quickly clarify: I'm not investigating this with the thought that we can or should try to return to some supposed "glory days." Such thinking is not wise. After all, some of the features that led to such notable early success are related to the initial stage of an organization's development and are therefore not reproducible. Other features that made Dayspring great in the early years are still present and are even stronger now. And some very notable aspects of Dayspring's history are not good at all, but absolutely terrible. Still, some of what was true at the outset of this fellowship should be revived and renewed.
What came to my mind as I investigated all of this was the thought that fruit cannot be produced when there is a disconnection from the roots (see John 15). I've discerned three important foundational features of Dayspring that we would do well to revisit. These are healthy roots that produce healthy fruit.
1. A confident expectation that the church would grow. In the early days of the church, there was faith in God and also faith in Dayspring.
2. A clear dependence upon God expressed in prayer: There is already evidence that momentum is building here as we are focusing on prayer once again.
3. Many obvious opportunities to connect and serve. I've long said that the best means of assimilation is mobilization. Dayspring still has lots of people involved in ministry, but the opportunities to connect are not as numerous or obvious as they once were.
You'll be hearing more from me about these three items: expectation, dependence, and opportunities to connect. I believe these are roots of our early growth that can provide us with a resurgence of enthusiasm and growth. Commit yourself to pray about these items with the confidence that your leaders will also be praying, planning, programming, preaching and praying some more about the same!
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