One of the books I want to read next is Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement by Will Mancini. The book is intended to be “a field manual” based on Mancini’s “vision work and missional coaching with church leaders.”
Awhile back, I downloaded a free visual summary of the book (see churchunique.com). There’s a lot of good stuff there, but the part that’s stuck with me—the part I’ve quoted a few times here and there—is this …
There are four kinds of people in your church when it comes to vision.
Passengers to nurture and challenge
Crew members to equip and empower
Stowaways to find and convert
Pirates to confront and eliminate
It reminds me of Aubrey Malphurs’s early adopters, middle adopters, late adopters and never adopters. Mancini’s terms are more fun and descriptive, and certainly more provocative, especially “pirates.” Pirates are never adopters, but they’re more than that—they work against the vision!
Most churches (especially small churches, or larger churches with a small church mentality) never reach their potential because they are unwilling to confront the pirates. Until they confront the pirates they will always be held hostage by them and the vision will not be realized!
Good stuff. Help the Passengers, Crew Members, and Stowaways embrace the vision. Don’t let the Pirates keep you and your church from pursuing the vision God has given you!
I am intrigued by his description of the 4 kinds of people in the church and how to respond to them. I wonder if his book goes into how to identify and how to meet them where they are.
Nancy, I’ll let you know — I’m reading this book now!
Shared this with Barb P. today and it generated much prayer. Also think there is another category–man overboard. People who are part of the church but have abandoned the ship. No longer see a need to be on board. They don’t see the danger of trying to make the journey in their own little life boat!