What's Our Why?
Several years ago, I was at a Leadership Summit and I heard something during a breakout session that really caught my attention. Maybe “caught my attention” just isn’t strong enough. What I heard this particular speaker say resonated with me so strongly that I couldn’t get it off my mind for several days.
It wasn’t so much a statement, but a question.
“What is your why?”
She explained that knowing the answer to that question and communicating it clearly and often was necessary for the health and sustainability of any organization. She contended that inability to define and articulate why you exist as an organization will eventually be the reason the organization falters and eventually fails.
She argued that businesses that don’t know their why will lack clear focus, are aimless as a result and will easily be distracted by lesser things. Corporations that have lost sight of their why are quick to throw in the towel when confronted with difficult circumstances.
On the flip side, organizations that know and clearly communicate their why are passionate about it. They operate with a sense of urgency and are laser focused on their mission.
While this was a secular Leadership Summit and she was talking about leading businesses and corporations, what she was communicating was true…and all truth belongs to God. As I listened to her and replayed her words over and over in my mind, it struck me that this principle certainly applies to the church.
It wasn’t so much a statement, but a question.
“What is your why?”
She explained that knowing the answer to that question and communicating it clearly and often was necessary for the health and sustainability of any organization. She contended that inability to define and articulate why you exist as an organization will eventually be the reason the organization falters and eventually fails.
She argued that businesses that don’t know their why will lack clear focus, are aimless as a result and will easily be distracted by lesser things. Corporations that have lost sight of their why are quick to throw in the towel when confronted with difficult circumstances.
On the flip side, organizations that know and clearly communicate their why are passionate about it. They operate with a sense of urgency and are laser focused on their mission.
While this was a secular Leadership Summit and she was talking about leading businesses and corporations, what she was communicating was true…and all truth belongs to God. As I listened to her and replayed her words over and over in my mind, it struck me that this principle certainly applies to the church.
North Anderson family, what is our why?
The answer to that wonderfully important question can be found in the Articles Of Incorporation that our church family presented to the South Carolina Secretary of State years and years ago.
A question is posed on the application, “What is the purpose of the said proposed corporation?”
The answer given by Church Trustees Jack Vaughn, Fred Looney, and Christine Smith is, in my view, perfect in its simplicity and clarity: “To carry the Gospel of Christ to the world."
That was and is our why. We exist to carry the good news of Jesus to the world.
That why must drive everything that we do and how we do it. It must be the filter through which we run every decision, strategy, and action. We must continually ask the question, “If we (fill in the blank), would it serve to support our why?”
I sincerely believe that in our day, knowing and very clearly communicating our why is paramount. Not only is knowing our why essential in our church family maintaining focus on the reason we exist but also for so that those who are new to our church (or to church period) understand why we do what we do.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be publishing several articles that will prayerfully help to do just that.
In the first series of posts, we’ll use the Bible to answer questions about who we are and what we do at North Anderson. We’ll deal with questions like, “Why do we emphasize missions at North Anderson?”, “Why do we sing corporately?”, and “Why do we give through the church?”.
These articles and the ones to come will be written by church staff, leaders, and lay people at North Anderson. Join us in praying that they have a great impact and clearly communicate our purpose, vision and values.
Grace, peace, and blessings,
Pastor Kyle
A question is posed on the application, “What is the purpose of the said proposed corporation?”
The answer given by Church Trustees Jack Vaughn, Fred Looney, and Christine Smith is, in my view, perfect in its simplicity and clarity: “To carry the Gospel of Christ to the world."
That was and is our why. We exist to carry the good news of Jesus to the world.
That why must drive everything that we do and how we do it. It must be the filter through which we run every decision, strategy, and action. We must continually ask the question, “If we (fill in the blank), would it serve to support our why?”
I sincerely believe that in our day, knowing and very clearly communicating our why is paramount. Not only is knowing our why essential in our church family maintaining focus on the reason we exist but also for so that those who are new to our church (or to church period) understand why we do what we do.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be publishing several articles that will prayerfully help to do just that.
In the first series of posts, we’ll use the Bible to answer questions about who we are and what we do at North Anderson. We’ll deal with questions like, “Why do we emphasize missions at North Anderson?”, “Why do we sing corporately?”, and “Why do we give through the church?”.
These articles and the ones to come will be written by church staff, leaders, and lay people at North Anderson. Join us in praying that they have a great impact and clearly communicate our purpose, vision and values.
Grace, peace, and blessings,
Pastor Kyle
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