INNOVATION EFFORTS START...

IF you could fill in the remaining title of this blogpost you may come up with a number of thoughts or statements. Today I was challenged by a brilliant business mind, Gary Hamel, on how INNOVATION takes place in the marketplace and the church. The TAKE-AWAY for me was this thought: Innovation efforts start with unpacking traditions without loosing core foundations. In the church, just like the marketplace, we cannot lose the foundations on which the church was built, but we can be innovative in our efforts to push the church forward. The idea of Apple was presented. Apple computers is a company that has capitalized on 4 industries in recent years that were out of Apple's market 10 years ago. They decided that they would take industry standards and make a better product and innovation to push products. That they did. They are the number one company for music sales thanks to the introduction of itunes. They hold the NO. 1 position for the computer sales market for computers over $1,000. They also are now a top retailer of merchandise by opening APPLE Stores throughout the globe. Innovation in the church must start by unpacking traditions and seeing how we can take the message of Jesus Christ to a hurting world using new methods and innovations. Technology is obvious one of those ways, but it is just one way. We have to think outside in. Step away from the inside of the church, and see what it would look like to stand on the outside of the church and see how we can be more effective. The foundations of the church are solid, now we just have to find a way to build on those foundations that let us use our creativity and innovative minds. There are ways this must be done, to advance the Kingdom of God. So let the innovation efforts begin...you my friend play an important role. 10 years ago the most innovative tools were not even on the radar of culture yet. Let's see what the next 10 years hold, but lets not wait, lets make it happen.