Those who know me at all know that I have a love for sneakers. They are my art. I read through various street wear websites and blogs on a weekly basis and today I came across an article about the CEO of Nike; Mark Parker. The article said something that got thinking about the way I approach ministry. It is something that I have always believed and this one sentence become very faith affirming for me today. Here is what the blog had to say about Nike...
"Everything that Nike does from the top down is considered from a design perspective, not a sales, product, or marketing perspective."
In the world of big business profit margins often dominate the conversations and intern dominate the end product. Not within Nike though. Nike has been committed to design and quality from the beginning and there is no doubt that they are the largest shoe company in the world. Not only in terms of sales, but more importantly, in terms of cultural influence. Nike hasn't allowed themselves to deviate from their mission and vision for their company as a result of financial pressure. They have simply focused on their desire to create a culture around each of their departments and helped people to feel connected to that community through their products. For example, as a sneaker head, someone who loves sneakers, I know that when I see someone wearing a pair of Air Jordan 3's I can go up to them and start talking sneakers because no one but a sneaker head would be wearing those shoes. Nike, more specifically Air Jordan, has helped to create a culture unique to their brand.
This approach to business is not the "easy" approach. It takes commitment, vision, time, and perseverance because you have to develop a relationship with your customers and you do that by building a cultural movement. This is done through research development, advertising, talented design, etc. So what does this have to do with ministry you ask?
I am convinced that Christian ministry that is done Biblically doesn't happen over night. It happens over years because creating a cultural movement relies on relationships. Just like Nike has spent years building relationships with its customers I must take time developing relationships with the people within my ministry just as Jesus did with His disciples. Relationships take trust and trust takes time. Very intentional time together living life in community.
I am called by Christ to lead a campus ministry at Trinity Western University and I know that my end result is to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ but I must never forget that in order to share the Good News with students I must first gain their trust through authentic relationship. As I have already stated; that takes a lot of time. That takes time eating together, playing games together, talking, laughing, traveling and when I look at that list I realize that those are all things that Jesus did with His disciples.
I order for any ministry, including my own, to really accomplish any positive work for Jesus Christ I must be committed to relationship. Not only relationship with others, but more importantly, relationship with Jesus. I know that I can accomplish nothing of eternal value without first surrendering my ambitions for the ambitions of God.
So, like Nike, I am committed to the mission I have been called to. A mission that is far more important than Nike's. I am committed to "...making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19&20) and I will not allow for numbers, profit margins, to distract me from carrying out my mission because it is about lasting influence, eternal influence in fact, as opposed to immediate impact.
Nike has remained atop the Footwear market for years because they were committed to they're call; so to speak. Christian ministries, including my own, will only remain relevant if they too are committed to their call of Following Jesus Christ through obedient relationship.
I will not get caught up in numbers but I will get caught up in relationships, especially my relationship with God.
For His Kingdom.
"Everything that Nike does from the top down is considered from a design perspective, not a sales, product, or marketing perspective."
In the world of big business profit margins often dominate the conversations and intern dominate the end product. Not within Nike though. Nike has been committed to design and quality from the beginning and there is no doubt that they are the largest shoe company in the world. Not only in terms of sales, but more importantly, in terms of cultural influence. Nike hasn't allowed themselves to deviate from their mission and vision for their company as a result of financial pressure. They have simply focused on their desire to create a culture around each of their departments and helped people to feel connected to that community through their products. For example, as a sneaker head, someone who loves sneakers, I know that when I see someone wearing a pair of Air Jordan 3's I can go up to them and start talking sneakers because no one but a sneaker head would be wearing those shoes. Nike, more specifically Air Jordan, has helped to create a culture unique to their brand.
This approach to business is not the "easy" approach. It takes commitment, vision, time, and perseverance because you have to develop a relationship with your customers and you do that by building a cultural movement. This is done through research development, advertising, talented design, etc. So what does this have to do with ministry you ask?
I am convinced that Christian ministry that is done Biblically doesn't happen over night. It happens over years because creating a cultural movement relies on relationships. Just like Nike has spent years building relationships with its customers I must take time developing relationships with the people within my ministry just as Jesus did with His disciples. Relationships take trust and trust takes time. Very intentional time together living life in community.
I am called by Christ to lead a campus ministry at Trinity Western University and I know that my end result is to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ but I must never forget that in order to share the Good News with students I must first gain their trust through authentic relationship. As I have already stated; that takes a lot of time. That takes time eating together, playing games together, talking, laughing, traveling and when I look at that list I realize that those are all things that Jesus did with His disciples.
I order for any ministry, including my own, to really accomplish any positive work for Jesus Christ I must be committed to relationship. Not only relationship with others, but more importantly, relationship with Jesus. I know that I can accomplish nothing of eternal value without first surrendering my ambitions for the ambitions of God.
So, like Nike, I am committed to the mission I have been called to. A mission that is far more important than Nike's. I am committed to "...making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19&20) and I will not allow for numbers, profit margins, to distract me from carrying out my mission because it is about lasting influence, eternal influence in fact, as opposed to immediate impact.
Nike has remained atop the Footwear market for years because they were committed to they're call; so to speak. Christian ministries, including my own, will only remain relevant if they too are committed to their call of Following Jesus Christ through obedient relationship.
I will not get caught up in numbers but I will get caught up in relationships, especially my relationship with God.
For His Kingdom.
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