Strategy gives us opportunities to succeed

After nearly 20 years of service, I am no longer an editor and writer for New Tribes Mission.

No, I didn’t get fired.

Really.

Yesterday made it official: I am now a strategist.

“What’s that mean?” you may ask. “Do you sit around drinking coffee, smiling and thinking all day?”

No, I wrote, smiling as I drank coffee and thought about how to answer that.

A strategist develops strategy.

“You had to think about that answer?”

Not really. That answer sets the stage for me to explain what strategy is, and why it’s important. That’s what I had to think about.

On the field, New Tribes Mission has a clear strategy that guides our work all the way from deciding where to begin a ministry to the point a thriving church is established. The challenges are different each time, but a flexible framework helps ensure non-negotiables are in place and the work moves forward.

We’re bringing that same thinking to our work in the USA.

Our teams in Communication (that’s marketing, creating materials, etc.), Mobilization (finding more missionaries) and Development (fundraising) can go in so many different directions that it’s difficult to stay unified, effective and practical.

Strategy unifies us by keeping us working toward the same big goals and clear, measureable objectives.

Strategy makes us effective by pointing us in directions that we know are good, or by fleshing out an innovative plan, and measuring results. Those measurements tells us whether we need to change our tactics, adjust, or stay the course.

Strategy keeps us focused on what we can do well – where we have the resources and the know-how to make the most impact.

Strategy gives us opportunities to succeed.

But I’ll face challenges.

Some people think working in a strategic framework limits God. Others want to measure success by anecdotes instead of facts. And then there are people who fear I’m going impose strategy on them, when the only way we can have a good strategy is to work together to develop one.

So please pray for me as I transition into this new role.

Please also pray regarding a trip to Thailand during most of November. I’ll attend a conference of NTM leaders from around the world, and then to go gather a story and photos. (Yes, I’m still writing.) I still need some gear, must make a few arrangements and want to know out the story better before I go. Soon I’ll let you know specifically how you can pray and help.