In order to be effective in the world and its changing cultures we, CCC, and other large Christian organizations or churches must adapt. We definitely don't adapt our core message, the gospel, but we must adapt our methods of communicating the greatest story to the world around us. If you haven't seen the stats (Revolution - Barna), churches in American are shrinking and dying as a whole. Yet around the world, especially in Asia, South Africa and Latin America churches are growing rapidly (The Next Christendom - Jenkins).
What is it? Why are they seeing some success?
I was listening to the audio of the World is Flat by Thomas Friedman a few weeks ago and something caught me as he was talking in chapter 11 (I think-it is 18 hours into the audio version). He mentioned that in order to compete small companies must make themselves big, using the flatteners of the internet, free trade and commerce, communication, and other described in his book. He used a shipping company in the middle east that does all the shipping for Airborne Express. They are run out small back room offices but now, this small company has made a huge impact and made themselves big.
But on the flip side, companies that have been big must make themselves smaller. He used E-trade as an example. They took something, your finances, that is normally operated by large companies and put that power into your hands the consumer via the internet. Now you can trade stock, check out your mortgage and make more investments all with the click of the mouse. The company is basically run out of your office, kitchen, or wherever you have a computer.
Now there are people that don't want to mess with their finances and just hire some big firm to take care of them. They don't call and they don't care. But others in this changing world, want that power in their own hands. They understand the rules for making money and taking care of debt haven't really changed; positive is good, negative is bad. But the methods to make those positives bigger and the negatives smaller has changed significantly. From what I have read and heard, not many just want to leave their hard earned money in their company pension accounts for some other guy to make decisions on. They want to maximize that investment.
In order to compete in this financial world big investment firms have had to make themselves small to us, catering to our needs and desires.
How do I see this playing out in Campus Crusade the past 55 years. In the 50's and 60's we were a small organization, new to the Evangelical church world, yet in all our actions and influence we were big. It seemed that if there was a "I found It!" evangelistic campaign or some sort of ministry training, Campus Crusade and it's small band of faithful and radical staff and students were behind the scenes sharing vision, mission and a belief that the Great Commission would be fulfilled. Small had big impact.
Today, 40 some years later, and after many successful ministries that were birthed, millions of people saved and sent into the world as missionaries, Campus Crusade is BIG. I think we may be the biggest Christian organization in the world. What does that bring? Great influence. Great impact. Great glory to God.
It also brings missed opportunities because in our hugeness we move slower. We trust in the tried and true that worked the year before or the generation before. We get a bit comfortable because we are big and we miss moving out in bold, radical, passionate faith. We miss the millions of people, our target audience, that are looking for a Savior and possibly have been hurt by traditional methods or are thinking a bit different than our grandmother would have thought 50 years ago. They still want to be saved but they just don't see any relevancy in the methods we use to get to them; a church service, praise and worship, a mass mailing, an apologetic speaker using all sorts of logical proof or just convincing preaching that misses their questions and doubts.
The reality is that the whole world is not calling for change. There are still hundreds of thousands who still want to and can find Jesus in this method. But there are millions of others that want to touch Him, experience Him, and see Him through their neighbors, on their streets, in the projects, in their language, on their campus and through a friend. They want to access Christ and His never changing message, the Gospel, personally, just like those using E-trade. This generation doesn't want some big firm making decisions on how they practice the methods of knowing a Biblical Jesus and His mission all while they sit in a pew and listen. They want control. They want leadership. They want change and impact in their neighborhoods and on the streets. They want Jesus in their lives making a difference
I would dare bet if we were to take a survey of young radical, sold out, Christian men and women they would not point to Campus Crusade as being the radicals of the faith anymore. We are present. We are hard working. We do have great strategies. We are big. But I would guess they wouldn't say we are the ministry that will allow them to change the world. I think what needs to happen is that we must become small once again with a big influence. We must take the control, power, and Gospel message out of the hands of the professionals, the big firms, the board rooms and put it back in the hands of those we say always could change the world, STUDENTS. Didn't Dr. Bright always say, "Reach the Campus today. Reach the world tomorrow." If we continue to be the big ministry that makes room for all the professionals/staff desires and giftedness and forget that we're a movement of students then we have missed the point. Then all we become is a club of Christian leaders that like using their gifts. Its not to say these gifts are valuable but the often times we missed the giftings of the students and their ability to make a difference. Maybe it isn't all about our orthodoxy, right doctrines, correct preaching, perfect weekly meetings and creative outreaches that are birthed in our staff meetings and offices. I would dare bet it is the passions, the conversations, the dreams, the prayer groups and the students behind them in their dorm rooms, coffee shops, bars, frat houses and workplaces that will make a difference.
It's humbly stepping aside. Letting go of the reins and control of our ministries. Sharing the vision and mission. Releasing students (people) to change their campus, neighborhood, workplace and the world. Renewing and refocusing our mission for existence as an organization and church, "Turning lost students (people) into Christ Centered (Missional) Laborers.""For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10
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