Key Mobilization Concepts: A Thought Experiment

By: Scott Armstrong

Every two weeks I touch base with our Missions Mobilization Coordinators in the region. As I was conversing with our leaders in the Caribbean, we engaged in a thought experiment. What would our ministry look like at a district level if it were thriving? It may not be there yet – or in some districts yes, and in others no – but what will Missions Mobilization look like when we are at our healthiest? I think what we came up with is valuable for anyone interested in mobilization, leadership, or ministry.

Reminder: in Missions Mobilization, we seek to discover, develop, and deploy missionaries from our nations to the world. On a regional and field level we have seen advances and engaged in exciting conversations, but not every district has grasped the vision to send and support their own missionaries. Yet.

When the day comes that we see all 78 of our districts plowing full steam ahead in mobilization, these are some of the things we will witness:

District MM Coordinators (as well as other leaders) will:

1. Be Proactive and not Reactive.

2. Think Bottom-up and not Top-Down.

3. Function Organically in Ministry and not Robotically.

Our Roles as Regional and Field Coordinators will be to:

1. Facilitate, not Mandate.

2. Empower, not Control.

3. Offer Frameworks, not Straitjackets.

These characteristics are great. But specifically, what would a ministry based on these principles look like? Here are some practical ideas we came up with:

• Mobilization and mission trips will be envisioned, planned, and executed by local and district leadership. Community to community, church to church, and district to district collaboration will be prevalent.
• Leaders and MM Coordinators won’t wait for directives from regional or field leadership before mobilizing. Effective communication will still take place between all levels, but new initiatives will be birthed from local and district more than regional and global levels.
• Natural and intentional partnerships will be formed between mobilizers and NYI and NMI (as well as other ministry) leaders at all levels.
• MM Coordinators will visit local churches and be present in key activities at the district and local levels, with the purpose of impassioning and mobilizing others in God’s mission.

This is just a start to our thought experiment. What would you add?

May our structure and leadership foster growth and creativity. May we see a mobilization movement from all churches and all nations in our lifetime.