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Death By Minnows 

In February 1993 Albert Mohler became the 9th President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. With an effigy hanging outside the window of the chapel, Dr. Mohler took the podium an began to announce his intentions as the newest President of a drifting seminary. Here is what he read:

Let those who would understand Southern Seminary understand this:…That this Abstract is a sacred contract and confession for those who teach here – who willingly and willfully affix their signatures to its text and their conscience to its intention. They pledge to teach “in accordance with and not contrary to its precepts.

  Steve Haas, Vice President of World Vision stated, “Getting eaten by a whale or nibbled to death by minnows results in the same thing. One demise is typically more difficult to diagnose.”

Protecting from Drift

It seems that protecting your organization is a daily exercise that must be taken serious. According to authors Greer and Horst there are two common variables to pay attention too:

1.Clarity of Christian Mission

2.Intentionality In Safeguarding It

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

This law states that energy proceeds in the same manner based upon the influencers impacting it. Therefore, if faith-based organizations do not infuse their mission intentions regularly with prayer and intentional management steps, the gravitational pull of secularization will be unstoppable.

One of the biggest barriers is “PAIN AVOIDANCE!” We would rather do the easy work first as opposed to the difficult work that is challenging our mission purpose and future.

Closing Actions Steps

1.Seek Clarity First – Map your destination!

2.Acknowledge that the pressure of drift is constant. Breathe the Mission daily.

3.Realize there is a point of NO RETURN! No one is exempt from this extreme – not even Harvard or Yale University.

4.Make the hard decisions to correct the drift. Pain avoidance is the fastest way for Mission Drift to devastate an organization’s Christ-centered identity.

LINKS

Self-guided Assessment to determine Mission Drift

T.R.I.M. Assessment Tool – Private Message Me

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast is now on iTunes – SUBSCRIBE

FREE GIFT – “The Art of Balancing Candor With Care” – Click on the icon at the bottom of the page

Executive Coaching Premier Service – Private message me for details on this customizable service

Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!